How to Deal with Writer’s Burnout

For a long time, burnout has been a common issue. The last few years were not easy too, mainly due to the global pandemic. Self-isolation and lack of communication can really be tough on our brains and mental health.

Many people are suffering from writer’s burnout, and you may be one of them. How do you know you have a writer’s burnout? Here are some general symptoms to look out for:

• You don’t seem to care about your script, book, or writing in general anymore.
• You constantly forget things or are unable to concentrate.
• You feel like you don’t know who you are and what you want to achieve anymore.
• Having a good relationship and being present with friends and family is challenging for you.
• You irritate and frustrate yourself more than usual.
• You experience such symptoms as physical discomfort, tense muscles, migraines, or nausea.

Don’t Ignore Writer’s Burnout

Burnout is far more challenging to deal with than ordinary exhaustion since it makes it almost impossible for people to deal with anxiety and handle everyday chores. Burnout is a condition that does not go away on its own and can have severe consequences if left untreated.

Some of which are:

• You could be fired if you miss work deadlines.
• You may experience social media meltdowns.
• You may start avoiding spending time with your friends and family.
• You may decide to stop working on some projects or maybe stop writing entirely.
• Burnout can lead to depressive episodes, mental breakdowns, and even suicide in some cases.

How You Can Prevent Burnout

Personally, I’ve always been a workaholic, but this year I decided to change that. I was fed up with feeling tired and worried about my job… but also concerned about not being able to work and make money. And when you’re worrying too much about such things, you can quickly become stressed. Allowing yourself more time to heal is essential, which can significantly impact your mental health. Following these tips will help you avoid becoming overwhelmed by stress:

1. Speak with someone you trust

When you’re a burned-out writer, it can be difficult to find someone who can understand what you’re going through. Many people assume essay writers have it easy because they believe writing isn’t that hard. What they don’t realize is that writing is just like any other job, except with lower income and no job stability!

So, it’s not worth sharing about your burnout on social media if you’re exhausted from writing. “Wannabe” writers will get in line to criticize you. People, who haven’t experienced writer’s burnout can often be insensitive because they don’t know what it’s like to have burnout. Negative energy will only make things worse for you, believe me.

The nicest thing you can do is talk to your buddies about writer’s burnout. They understand that writing can be difficult and tiresome sometimes. It’s exhausting, difficult labor that can be riddled with rejection.

2. Find out what’s bothering you

The root of the problem can be obvious, such as a pressing deadline for your project. Other times, it can be tricky to determine the cause of your burnout. Or, you can find yourself at the center of a big anxiety bubble that slowly gets bigger until it bursts. You must find out what it is that makes you so stressed. It will assist you in deciding what to do next.

3. Decide what you can do right away

One of the main problems I encountered was that I was writing notes seven days a week. I jokingly claimed it wasn’t much, but everyone needs a break. Things got better as soon as I began allowing myself to write only during my working hours.

Without rest, you won’t be able to recharge your creative energy. Don’t worry, your passion for writing hasn’t faded. It’s just buried beneath the daily burden of deadlines. Burnout is inevitable when you work too much. Make a writing schedule and take a break when you’re finished with your work.

4. Sit back and relax

Sure, use your writing time. But don’t forget to use your free time, whether it’s in the mornings or evenings. When you’re burned out, you should take a break. I can give an example from my life, and you shouldn’t follow it. I didn’t acknowledge that I procrastinated far longer than I should have. I didn’t want to quit writing, but I needed to take a break from the stress.

But the truth is that it wasn’t until I lessened my workload and took a break that I realized how exhausted I’d become. It’s easy to become numb to the feeling of being anxious and accept it. So, relax. Give yourself a break. And when you’re feeling better, get back to research writing.

5. Sleep more

We all sleep, but some of us don’t do it enough. This is something I’m guilty of. I frequently stay up late to write more sentences. I might be a little more productive that day, but the next day I’m exhausted. You may feel just like me. Burnout is unavoidable when this pattern continues for too long.

Don’t neglect your sleep schedule for this. If you don’t get enough sleep for weeks, months, or even years, it will have a negative impact on your health and productivity.

6. Make every effort to complete tasks on schedule

Many of us work remotely because of the pandemic. And when we work from home, it’s easier to mix up work with home chores. We convince ourselves all the time that working until midnight is better.

This is entirely wrong and will make you feel confused and unproductive all the time. It’s much better to come up with a schedule and stick to it. This will also help you control your stress level since you’ll have control over your workload.

7. Find a new hobby

For many writers, their passion has turned into a career. It may be tough to discover other ways to unwind as a result. Having a passion other than writing can help you relax, expand your imagination, and be a great escape.

Any pleasant activity will prevent the negative impacts of burnout. You can be creative even if you don’t write. By taking up a new interest, you’ll be forced to think outside your walls.

8. Clean house means a clear mind

Having a clean office might help you achieve a more relaxed state of mind. Tidy your house while you’re taking a break from writing. Mess and burnout go together like peanut butter and jelly. You can create a pleasant and productive environment by decluttering your living and working environments.

Closing Thoughts

Many of us write to relieve everyday stress. Yet writing can also cause stress. If this happens to you, you’re experiencing writer’s burnout. Fortunately, following the 8 simple and useful writing tips I mentioned earlier will assist you in overcoming creative burnout!