Have you ever felt writing has become more of a chore than a passion it once was?
One minute, you had all these ideas and were tapping away at the keyboard with excitement, and the next, you stared blankly at a screen. You are exhausted.
Welcome to burnout.
Burnout is a feeling many writers know all too well.
But the good news is it does not need to be permanent in your life.
Let’s talk about how you can go from burnout to balance and rediscover and reclaim the love you once had for your writing.
What exactly is writer’s burnout?
Well, burnout is having a prolonged feeling of mental and emotional exhaustion that would leave you drained.
Whenever you want to write something, you feel like you are pulling teeth just to get a few lines on the page.
And when you are a freelancer. It’s even worse. You are always juggling clients, projects, emails, building your brand, networking, etc.
The fun and excitement you have had at the start leave you exhausted.
Are You Burned Out?
How do you find out whether you are burned out?
Burnout does not happen overnight. It slowly sneaks up on you. It’s not like one day you are fine and the next you’re done. The subtle signs build up over time:
Are you mentally wiped out? Writing feels like the last thing on your mind.
Too much procrastinating? You start putting off projects
Your inner critic is loud? Your perfectionism is on an overdrive. Nothing you write is not good
Creative block? You are out of fresh ideas, and suddenly, writing feels like a chore.
Sound familiar? Don’t worry—you’re not alone, and you can bounce back from this.
How to Reclaim Your Passion
1. Set a “No Writing” Day
Leave one day a week where you don’t write at all. This intentional rest day will allow your brain to recover and give you something to look forward to. Knowing that you will have a break can help prevent any burnout and keep you refreshed for the days you are going to write.
2. Explore other forms of creativity.
Try other forms of creativity like painting, photography, or cooking can rejuvenate your imagination. Often, ideas for writing will come when you are not actively trying to write.
3. Take a Break. Seriously.
This may look obvious, but the first thing you need to do is stop.
Take a deep breath. Take a walk, read for fun, or try something not into writing. This break will give your brain the space to reset.
You will be surprised to know how quickly new ideas pop up when you stop forcing them.
4. Don’t write when you are tired.
You likely have days when you feel worn out. Or maybe you are tired today. Perhaps you had a bad night, and your child woke you up.
When you are low on energy, try shorter, more focused writing sessions. After a small session of 25 minutes of writing, take a 5-minute break. It helps keep your mind fresh, and before you know it, you are back in the flow.
5. Write something fun.
Take a break from your regular writing and write something fun. Don’t give yourself a word count goal. Just write what needs not be shared with others.
6. Celebrate your small wins.
Burnout happens when we are trying too hard on ourselves. Don’t wait for the bigger milestones to feel good about your progress. Did you write your first draft? Celebrate. Did you hit your daily word count? Celebrate that too.
Remember, small wins help keep you motivated and remind you that progress, no matter how small, matters.
Finally.
Writer’s burnout can be tough, but it’s not the end of your creative journey. By recognizing the signs and taking steps to recover, you can reignite your passion for writing.
Permit yourself to rest, write for fun, and celebrate every win—big or small. With time and self-compassion, you’ll find your way back to the joy of writing.
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