After pushing through multiple stories, I’ve finally burned out. But what is burnout, and how do you deal with it?
Burnout is a type of exhaustion. It’s accompanied by things such as feeling underwhelmed or underproductive. You might sit at the computer, unable to write. Or maybe the words you’re putting down hurt to type. You worry about things that you pay little mind to when feeling more like yourself. Writing now fills you with anxiety and dread when it once brought happiness and fulfillment. You might identify with all of this list, or part of it, and have additional symptoms I didn’t list. And that’s okay.
With writing, the best thing you can do is take a break. Put the stories away and find something else to do. You might have TV shows to catch up on. Maybe there is a movie you’ve put off watching. Maybe you have hobbies you’ve neglected, or friends you want to talk to and spend time with (safely, of course.) Doing those other things that you enjoy will help you reset because chances are the idea tank is empty and you need to give it time to refill.
Burnout is different from being tired and needing to step away for a day or two, though the way to manage it is similar. You can read my piece on resting here. But instead of being a couple days, or a week, burnout takes longer to reset. For me, it’s a couple of months of doing nothing writing related, beyond jotting down the occasional idea here and there. It’s totally disconnecting from writing so I can recover, especially since I often push myself too hard.
Part of the problem with burnout is you can’t write through it without making it worse. Burnout is your body’s way of telling you that you need to take a break. So when you’re dreading sitting down in the chair, when it fills you with anxiety instead of happiness, it’s time to take a break.
Writing is hard. It’s often filled with stress. But it should be something that leaves you fulfilled. I’m not saying if it doesn’t, there is something wrong with you. But I am saying things might need adjusting. It’s okay if you don’t write every day. Most people don’t because they don’t have time. It’s more important to set a schedule you stick to, like writing three days a week, or an hour on Saturdays, than writing every day. That’s a tall order for many people, even if you have the time. Sometimes it can lead to burnout too if you’re pushing too hard for too long.
Writing should bring us joy. It’s okay if parts are stressful or if you don’t like the entire process, but overall, it should be something that brings creative fulfillment. If it stresses you out or makes you wish you weren’t doing it, try adjusting how you do things. Maybe you’re piling too many expectations on, for starters. It’s okay to write for yourself. It’s okay if you don’t want to get published, or are happy publishing as a side gig. It’s okay to want to be a big name in the writing world. The process shouldn’t bring grief, though. It can be when you’re processing hard emotions, but we should also feel joy, feel accomplished, and feel good about the things we’re creating. If none of that is true, then addressing those issues will help address burnout.
If you do enjoy writing, however, it could be your personal well is just empty. So learn how to fill it. Spend time with your loved ones. Go hiking or swimming (weather permitting.) Make something with your hands that doesn’t involve storytelling. Watch bad TV. Do whatever it is that makes your heart happy because if you do, it will fill on its own.
Writing is a form of art, and art should bring us feelings other than dread and anxiety. Art should uplift us, give us meaning beyond the daily grind, and make the world a better place. Starting out it can be anxiety-producing because you can only learn by doing. But if you’re not new to this, and if it did previously bring you fulfillment, it might be burnout. And that means it might be time to rest.