How to deal with creative burnout
What do you do when you're running on empty?
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How to deal with creative burnout
Late last week I hit a level of burnout I’d never experienced before. I’d had a busy week of calls, meetings and writing, and then had to deal with a variety of internet issues on top. I know this probably doesn’t sound like that much, but as the kids these days say, my brain was cooked.
By the time Thursday afternoon rolled around, I was exhausted. By Friday, I could hardly open my eyes.
Burnout is real. And it hits harder than you expect.
It’s the first time since starting on Substack that it’s hit me like this. Weird, right? I had a break for Christmas only a few weeks ago!
The broader issue is that I’ve been gradually increasing my workload since August and last week it reached tipping point.
The worst thing about it was the sheer guilt I felt for missing posts on my two newsletters. The FWN jobs update was late, and I hadn’t come close to finishing what I had planned for GYN.
People are paying me for this content, so not fulfilling obligations felt unacceptable.
But after two full days of rest, I now appreciate that this is okay. And more than anything, that I really needed it.
It’s okay to take time off. The world won’t end. Every freelance writer did not suddenly stop existing.
When I checked my total number of paid subscribers after three days of not looking (the longest I’ve ever gone without checking), the number had actually gone up.
It’s fine to feel burnt out. It’s good to take a break. And your life won’t fall apart if you do.
What can you do when you feel burnout?
Stop trying to power through. That’s step one (this usually comes after three hours of staring blankly at a screen). Pushing harder when you’re burnt out will lead to frustration and poor-quality work (or you just hit the burnout even harder).
You have to take actual time off. No emails, no open documents, no Substack. Real, genuine disconnection from the work. I deleted any relevant apps from my phone and logged out of all my work emails. Everything was still there when I came back.
If the full disconnect feels too hard, just scale back. Only reply to key emails. Set yourself a small target, then stop when you feel tired. Do the absolute minimum, then take an extended break.
The break is what matters. Powering through doesn’t help.
How do you recharge?
Different people recharge in different ways.
Some of us need physical movement. A long walk through a natural space, a swim, a workout. Something that activates the body.
Others (like me) need stillness. That means a day of rotting on the sofa with a good film or a great book. A long bath. A nap. Anything that switches the brain off completely.
Creative burnout often comes from doing the same thing repeatedly. If you’ve burnt out from writing, stop writing for a few days. Draw, paint, sew or cook. Do something different. Use your hands. Your brain needs different stimulation.
While not for me during burnout, social contact can help too. Phone a friend, chat with your mates. Or alternatively you can just hibernate until it’s spring — whatever feels good.
And sleep! No alarm. Just allow yourself to recharge. You can’t think clearly, write well or work properly when you’re exhausted. Have an early night. Nap in the day. Waking up fresh will make you more productive again.
When you know you’re good to go again
I feel like this is more an intuitive feeling than something that can be easily articulated.
Your eyes won’t feel strained. Your brain is clear. Ideas will start coming through, and the thought of working or writing won’t seem like such a chore.
You don’t have to rush back at full speed, either. You can ease in. Start with something you enjoy, not things that feel like obligations. For example, create a post you really want rather than fine tuning your welcome email. Do the things you really enjoy.
I like to think of this like recovery from an injury. If you sprained your ankle, you wouldn’t run a 10K the next day. You’d rest, take time off, and come back stronger. Your brain needs the same respect as any other body part — possibly more.
Trust your gut. If everything still feels heavy and joyless, you’re not ready. If you catch yourself excited about an idea, you might be there.
Never punish yourself for feeling burnout. Never feel guilty. It’s totally normal, totally expected, and it’s important to respect that feeling when it comes!
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I appreciate the encouragement to take a break from so much productivity. it's really important.
This is exactly how I was feeling yesterday. Thanks for naming it and giving me permission to take time out. My overload is a by-product of trying to make Substack work for me and feeling overwhelmed by the tsunami of advice, guides and products that don’t seem to quite fit what I am trying to achieve. Might need to book that session :)