12 strategies for writer burnout recovery

No one is immune to burnout. It’s the “winter” season hiding in all of us, demanding rest after extended days, weeks, or months of constant work. How can we best approach it? Here are 12 ideas from our Bookstagram friends.

It’s hard to stay in the loop with the writing community if you aren’t on social media. In all honesty, I probably spend too much time and attention there. But there are several advantages to those feeds and stories that simply can’t be ignored—one being that you have the opportunity to learn from lots of diverse perspectives.

Last month I went through a huge burnout phase, so I hopped on my Instagram stories (one of the lowest effort ways to engage) and posted a question box asking for suggestions to help. For today’s article, I thought I’d share the top twelve responses, sorted into three categories: Resting, Rejuvenating, and Rewarding. Let me know which ones are most effective for you!

Resting

1. Get enough sleep. Burnout is both physical and mental. When’s the last time you evaluated your sleeping schedule? The last time you stayed up way later than you probably should have? The last time you slept through your alarm, or like me, snoozed it four times before giving up on the day altogether? Our brain needs time to sort itself out and recharge. My fellow night writers, I’m looking at you specifically—as I write this with my clock reading 3:01AM, of course.
2. Get some quiet time. This is harder for some than others, especially our friends in the parenting-young-children stage of life (a noble but exhausting, and often thankless, job) or those working multiple positions to support their families. A few moments of quiet stolen here and there may be all you can get for now, but consciously taking a step back will help more than you think. Meditate, sit outside, write in a journal, take a quiet walk. Protect your peace of mind as fiercely as you can. This will give you space to continue feeling creative.
3. Surrender control. There is more in this life that is out of our control than within it; the challenge is to focus on those small, few things we can do, then actually do them (imperfectly), and then be satisfied with the effort. Perfectionism runs rampant, hand-in-hand with those same social media platforms that keep us so connected. Just as you protect your peace of mind, protect your perspective, too.
4. Take a break from social media. What sort of “burnout recovery” list would this be without this suggestion? Bookstagram, Booktok, BookTube, BookThreads (I think some are calling it Threaders?) and the other bookish communities on social platforms are buzzing with updates and new trends every time you refresh the screen. It’s important to disconnect regularly and remind yourself that you are a creator, not just a consumer. Socials will be there when you get back; don’t be fooled by the FOMO.

Rejuvenating

5. Self Reflection: You are not alone. How many times have you caught yourself comparing your worst moments to the highlights of others? Has your internal narrative ever sounded something like: “I’m the only one who can’t do this. Others can because they’ve got that special something, but I can’t. I’m just average?” The truth is that every writer faces similar challenges, from writer’s block to imposter syndrome to multiple rejections or printing errors. These are shared challenges; don’t fall into the trap of believing you are isolated.
6. Self Reflection: Each day is a new opportunity. I’m guilty of blaming historical trends for the poor performance of a day that hasn’t even started yet. Did my daily or weekly word count plummet in the past month? Maybe. But we can’t let the trends of previous days incapacitate us from defying odds and expectations today. We have everything we need to be successful. It’s time to dismiss our fears and seize the opportunity.
7. Get your body moving. Hours spent slumped over the keyboard can start to weigh on your mind and your body. Break it up with short walks, 10 quick sit-ups on the floor or a light jog. You’ll be amazed at how refreshing it can feel to step away from a project to clear your head.
8. Go outside. Chemically speaking, human bodies need sunshine and daylight to thrive. That can be tough during the winter when it’s cold, dark, or both at any given moment. Make an effort to work near an open window if you can. Open the blinds, push back the curtains. Consider getting a “happy light” or adding more foods to your diet that are rich in vitamin D.
9. Try a different project. Sometimes all it takes to break us out of a burnout is fresh material! Find a fun writing contest to enter or a new and unusual writing prompt to add to a journal. Build a vision board for your next story idea, or even for your current WIP!
10. Talk it out with someone close to you. Nothing hits quite like a good rant session with your closest writing buddy or partner. They may be able to offer some helpful advice, but often a listening ear is all we need to work through the mess of burnout swirling around in our minds.

Rewarding

11. Read a book. Sometimes burnout can land us in the territory of “forgetting-how-the-English-language-works.” When your writing project starts to feel larger than life, take a step back and pick up a new read to remind yourself that even the best authors rely on the same 26-letter alphabet to create their stories. Better yet, find and read your favorite scenes from your favorite books of all time. Pay attention to the details that transport you into the story. If none of these work, take a trip to the bookstore and scout out the new releases for something eye-catching, just because you’ve been working hard!
12. Make or buy a small pick-me-up, like a favorite drink. We burned-out creatives often neglect to celebrate the progress we’ve made. It can get overshadowed by the great distance we still have to go. But how will we maintain the motivation to reach our goals if we don’t acknowledge the important milestones and the hours upon hours of silent effort? If favorite drinks aren’t your thing, make a new bookmark or find a new pair of comfy socks!

More than anything, I hope you takeaway from this list that burnout is a normal part of the writing process. Don’t fear losing your “spark.” You are capable of more than you realize, and seasons of rest are a necessary part of being a creator.

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Hannah L. Ackerman