how to overcome writing burnout while juggling multiple projects (without losing your marbles)
I know how it feels. You’re staring at the blinking cursor like it had personally offended you. Your book projects open on the screen, each demanding attention like a bunch of unruly toddlers. It feels like you’re trying to climb Everest without oxygen—and that’s when you realized you’re teetering on the edge of burnout. Partly because you are hell-bent on keeping the words flowing, but also because work life has been crazier than a cat chasing its tail. Your brain feels like a tangled mess, and writing—your usual escape—starts to feel like a chore.
Yep.
You know, writing has always been my happy place, my go-to stress reliever. But when the thing you love turns into another item on the to-do list, it’s a wake-up call. So, I thought I’d hash it out here, not just for me but maybe for you too. Let’s talk about how to climb out of the burnout hole and get back to enjoying the ride.
strategies to overcome writing burnout
Before we dive deep, here’s the quick rundown of what helped me get my s* together:
take regular breaks to recharge
switch gears between different creative tasks
set bite-sized, manageable daily goals
embrace the messy first draft—perfection can wait
vent it out—journal your frustrations
know when to step away completely
dive into other creative outlets
Alright, let’s break these down.
take regular breaks to recharge
First off, let’s debunk the myth that grinding non-stop equals productivity. Truth be told: it doesn’t. I used to push myself to keep typing even when my brain was waving a white flag. Now, I make it a point to step away every hour or so. I’ll stretch, grab a snack, read something, or watch a silly video (on that platform that I need to delete from my phone, by the way).
These mini-breaks are like hitting the refresh button on my mind. When I get back to the page, I often find that the ideas flow more naturally. It’s like giving your creativity a little nudge instead of beating it into submission.
switch gears between different creative tasks
Juggling multiple projects can feel like constructing a building by yourself, but it doesn’t have to be a one-way ticket to Burnout City. When I’m stuck or just plain bored with one project, I switch to another. If the novel’s not speaking to me, I’ll tinker with the nonfictions I’m writing or even brainstorm ideas for future pieces, posts, or whatever.
This change of scenery keeps things interesting and prevents me from getting bogged down. Plus, “cross-pollinating ideas”—I learned this phrase a few days ago—between projects can lead to some surprisingly cool breakthroughs. It’s like giving your brain a breath of fresh air without abandoning ship entirely.
set bite-sized, manageable daily goals
Here’s Atomic Habits again. Once upon a time, I’d set these grandiose goals—like writing 3K words a day—and then kick myself when I fell short. Such a motivation killer, to be honest. These days, I aim smaller. Maybe it’s 500 words, or working on a scene or even a paragraph.
Hitting these smaller targets gives me a little victory boost. And let’s be real, we could all use more wins in our day. It’s like building a ladder out of Legos; one small piece at a time gets you where you want to go without overwhelming you.
embrace the messy first draft—perfection can wait
Here’s a hard truth I had to swallow: first drafts are allowed to be ugly. I know, I know. As a Hemingway fan—even if Hemingway never really said that—I should embrace his “all first drafts are shit” motto. But I used to agonize over every sentence, and the idea of rewriting and editing later was not feasible for me, which is a surefire way to kill your momentum.
Now, I let the words spill out, typos and all. Editing is a problem for Future Me, or I’d say, for Editor Me. That’s a smart way to see it. This shift has made writing feel more like an adventure and less like a test I’m destined to fail. It’s freeing, and it keeps the creative juices flowing without the dam of perfectionism blocking the way.
Read On Writing by Stephen King, or watch James Patterson’s MasterClass. You’ll understand.
vent it out—journal your frustrations
Sometimes, you just need to let it all out. I started keeping a journal specifically for my writing gripes. And I use ChatGPT as a therapist sometimes. No structure, no censoring—just pure, unfiltered venting. It’s like having a therapy session without the co-pay.
Getting those frustrations down on paper or putting them in the hands of artificial intelligence helps me clear the mental clutter. Plus, it often leads to insights about what’s really bothering me, which is the first step to fixing it. Consider it a brain dump that makes room for the good stuff.
dive into other creative outlets or activities
Trying something new can rekindle your creative spark. I picked up photography—not that I’m any good, but messing around with angles and lighting gets me thinking differently. It’s refreshing to be a beginner, with no pressure to excel. I’m also trying to play tennis every week. In one month or two, I’ll become the next Nadal. When he was five, trying to hit the ball at least once. But it’s fun!
These other creative pursuits or hobbies feed into my writing in unexpected ways. They shake up my routine and often inspire new ideas. Plus, it’s just plain fun to mix things up.
know when to step away completely
You know this. There are days when the best thing you can do is nothing. And I mean nothing at all. No shifting between other projects, no journaling. Just the good old “far niente.” And I don’t mean procrastinating by scrolling through social media—I mean genuinely stepping away from writing. I give myself permission to take a day (or even a weekend) off without guilt. You’ve seen it here. I learned how to not post for a day or two without giving any explanation for it.
During that time, I’ll catch up on a show, take a walk, read something, get coffee, or attempt to do whatever other hobby I like. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right? Stepping away helps me return to the page with renewed enthusiasm instead of dread.
that’s it, but far from being enough
So that’s my two cents on tackling writing burnout while juggling life’s craziness. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, but hopefully, some of these strategies resonate with you.
At the end of the day, remember that it’s okay to be human. We’re not machines, and pushing ourselves to the brink doesn’t do anyone any favors. Be kind to yourself, and don’t forget why you started writing in the first place.
Now, I’m curious—have you ever felt like your passion became a grind? What did you do to get back on track? Let’s chat about it. Maybe we can help each other out, or at least share a virtual high-five over surviving the madness.