You don't need to become a member of your own publication to test your paywall. If you have installed a paywall, go to your website and click on "Continue with Steady" once the paywall appears. When you log in, Steady automatically recognizes you and lets you skip the paywall. You will then be redirected back to the article after logging in.
To see the paywall from the member view, you can simply use the Incognito mode of your browser.