Signs of Creator Burnout and How To Recover
As creators, we tend to wear most -if not all- of the hats in our business, from the content creation process to the business accounting. All the extra work eventually can catch up to us and leave us feeling tired, uninspired, and overwhelmed. Don’t feel bad if you feel this way, know that it happens to all of us, but most importantly, that this is something you can overcome. One of the key things to do is to spot burnout before it is too much and take steps to recover for our mental sake.
Burnouts come in different shapes and no two burnouts are the same. Some of the main signs that you are burned out as a content creator are:
Not wanting to post or check your social media
A negative or overly critical attitude
Feeling drained and exhausted
Trouble sleeping
Headaches and other physical illnesses
Sense of failure -even though you’re doing great!-
Constant anxiety
Irritability
Feeling numb or apathetic about life
Change in appetite
Neglecting self-care
If you are burned out, give yourself some grace. It’s ok that you feel this way. Take a deep breath and start working on your recovery. Here are some things that will help you get back on the right track:
Get enough sleep. I know, I know, you’re already stressing about not being able to sleep. One of the things that I’ve found helpful is to create a routine. Every time I go to bed at 10:30pm -set phone to not disturb- and set an alarm for 6:30am, our bodies get used to routines. If you’re having trouble sleeping, don’t fight it, that’s just going to make it worse. Take some time and try again 10-20 minutes later.
Drink plenty of water and eat a balanced diet. Hydration and nutrition is important, we all know this by now.
Take a break. Even though it feels like you will lose everything you’re working towards, take a break. Reality is that social media platforms will still be there and your followers will understand. A break will help you come back stronger and with better content. If not posting gives you too much anxiety, schedule your posts for a week and take a break knowing that you’re still putting content out there.
Move. It might feel hard to get up and get to the gym or even go for a walk, but your body needs that movement. If the thought of a workout routine is too overwhelming at the moment, that’s ok, start small. Take your dog for a quick walk, dance to your favorite song, walk around the house. The more you do it, the better you’ll feel, and the more you’ll want to move. I’ve always been an active person, but when I was completely burned out I didn’t want to move at all. I made myself go on walks with my dog -I was dreading it-. At first, I could only do about 5-10 minutes, but I eventually worked myself up to walking 45-60 minutes a day.
Try meditation. Meditation is a life changer, it helps in every aspect of your life. It helps with feeling better emotionally, calming stress, and overall mental wellbeing. There are plenty of apps out there that make it easy for everyone to meditate. My personal favorite: Calm.
Try journaling. Writing down how you feel and what’s on your mind is a powerful tool to process it all. It also gives you perspective on what is to come.
Do something you enjoy. Think about the times you were younger and you had certain things you enjoyed and made you happy. Take out some time and do those things: listen to music, dance your heart out, talk with friends for hours on the phone, make friendship bracelets. Do something that is unrelated to your content creation that will make your heart happy.
These are all great ideas to get you started, but remember that recovery is not necessarily a linear path. You can start feeling better and then all of a sudden feel not so great again, and that’s ok. Also, if it is too much, look for professional help. There are great therapists that can help you overcome burnout.
If you’re currently going through this, know that I’m rooting for you!
