5 Tried and True Ways To Overcome Musician Burnout

Let’s be real - channeling creative energy and inspiration every single day can be...exhausting. Maintaining relationships, paying the bills, and running a music business can take a lot out of a person and the inspiration they need to craft amazing music. If you’re struggling to push through burnout and are seeking an elixir to kickstart your creativity, then bottoms up, baby. We’ve put together five tried and true ways to tackle creative burnout so you can get your music-making back on track. 

Find an Unrelated Creative Outlet 

Sometimes the best way to tackle creative burnout is to simply take a step away from the main task at hand, and divert your attention to something else. If you have side hobbies, passions, or mood-boosting activities that you’ve been placing on the backburner, it’s time to pull those outlets to the forefront. Trying your hand at other creative projects can help rewire your outlook on the projects you’re stuck on, and reignite much-needed inspiration. 

Take a Walk With Your Favorite Playlist

Believe it or not, but walking is one of the best things you can do for your creativity. In fact, a 2014 Stanford study found that a person’s creative output increased by an average of 60% when walking. The study saw that sitting participants produced only half the amount of creative responses as those who were walking. Next time you’re in a creative slump, put on those headphones, turn up the volume on your favorite up-beat playlist, and take a walk around the block. 

Keep a Notebook 

That’s right - a physical, paper-filled notebook. Use your notebook to write down observations, thoughts, opinions, narratives about the people you encounter, and ideas that cross your mind. When you’re sitting in your studio feeling lethargic and stuck, flip through your notebook’s pages of past inspiration. Revisiting your notes can put you back into the headspace that you were in when you initially wrote your thoughts down, ultimately leading to a finished project. 

Sleep it Off

If you’ve been sleeping on...well, sleep, then this is for you. Dreaming helps the brain process information while we sleep, which in turn leaves more room for creative synapses. Make sure that you’re prioritizing sleep every night and getting the recommended 7+ hours based on your age range. (Source: CDC) When you wake up from a good night’s sleep, you’re setting your future self up for creative success. If you’re feeling burnt out for days on end, take a breather and sleep it off. Sleeping IS productive, and your sleepy self shouldn’t let anybody tell you otherwise. 

Make Time For Socializing 

It’s easy to retreat into isolation when you’re feeling over-encumbered by projects that need to get done. If you’re experiencing a lack of inspiration or burnout, you may end up locking yourself in the studio until a spark of creative energy strikes. Take it from us - GO OUTSIDE AND BE WITH YOUR CREW. Surrounding yourself with people that boost your energy and ignite inspiration is the key to resetting your brain block. Take a step away from your equipment and hit up the homie you haven’t seen in weeks. They’re probably missing you, and your creativity could use a friendly spark. 

If you’re stuck at home because of reasons related to the pandemic (totally valid), then try making social connections from home! BeatStars is officially on Discord, an instant messaging and communication platform. Get to know the diverse community of producers and artists on BeatStars, overcome your beat-block, and take a break in our Discord paradise.