How to cope with burnout as a musician

Music is something I've always been very excited about ever since I was a kid. Having explored the world of music at a very young age, I slowly realised the difficulties that come with pursuing music as a craft. Among them, burnout is something I've struggled with the most.

There are days when I'd return home from school and lay down on my bed as my guitar stared at me from the corner of the room, adjacent to my table. I would stare back, and there was nothing else to it other than feel a deep sense of guilt. A few months back, I realised that my passion for music hasn't changed. This innate feeling of emptiness and lack of interest, or even a feeling of distaste isn't something wrong to feel as a musician. It's just burnout.

There are many ways to cope with musician burnout. The first step to dealing with the issue is accepting that you are tired and don't feel good doing this, at the moment. The guilt slowly decreases. And the dissipation of guilt only foreshadows an uncertain period of waiting and spiralling, which are also important emotional aspects that need to be dealt with.

The waiting period is probably the most difficult time for me. I have been waiting for a sustainable drive so that I can go back to doing what I love. Taking time for myself and distracting myself with other hobbies is something that helps me during phases like these. Spending more time with loved ones, exercising, or studying has helped me build a sense of self-esteem that isn't directly related to music. I try not to completely detach myself from music though because it's common to randomly stumble upon something so captivating that it makes me want to go back. 

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Strike the right chord

I often spend time lightly studying theory or consuming relatable media when I'm having a rough patch with my instrument, so that the progression doesn't completely come to a halt. During one of my burnout phases, I realised that it's easy to do one thing at a time. Simultaneously learning theory and practising a variety of different things on my instrument sort of seems like an obstacle where I'm not able to focus as much as I would like. It's easier to learn a small concept and try to apply it accurately, and slowly.

As the waiting period nears its end, you may slowly find yourself motivated enough to go back to doing what you loved. But proceed with caution, because it's very easy to instantly jump back, all excited, and start practising rigorously since you're burning with passion now. But it's just as easy to head straight back into your next burnout this way.

It's advised to start slowly again and gracefully build up a pace according to your practising needs. Once you're good to go, make sure you try to create healthier practising habits so that you don't fall into the spiral of musician burnout too soon. Even though falling is inevitable, such is the way of life.

Fahad likes frogs and has a love-hate relationship with his guitar. Find his poetry on IG: @fvehed