Dealing with Hobby Burnout

[Easy E]

Anyone who has been in the hobby for any length of time has had to deal with it; Hobby Burnout.  This can be losing the mojo to paint, abandoning a project half-way through, avoiding playing, etc.   

I posted some thoughts on how I deal with it on my Wargame Design blog here:

https://bloodandspectacles.blogspot.com/2024/11/wargame-design-dealing-with-burnout.html

The highlights are:

1. Just Do It!  - The hardest part is starting.  Therefore, start. 
2. Move the goalposts - Change your due dates and goals for yourself
3. Expose yourself to inspiration - Seek out things in other genres to help kickstart you
4. Touch Grass - GO clear your mind with some fresh air

However, there is no "right way" to manage Hobby Burnout.  In addition, my incentives for dealing with it are different from yours.  Therefore, what I do probably won't work for you and vice-versa.  Sometimes, what I listed above doesn't help me either!   

Therefore, I am interested in what you do to manage your Hobby Burnout?

[Aethelflaeda was framed]

Hobby burnout?  That’s a quite a first world problem…some of us never get enough time to devote to the hobby to put us at risk of burnout.  Usually it’s just the opposite.

[Mammoth miniatures]

Hobby burnout?  That’s a quite a first world problem…some of us never get enough time to devote to the hobby to put us at risk of burnout.  Usually it’s just the opposite.

Arguably anything related to elaborately playing with expensive toys is a first world problem. 

[Belligerentparrot]

some of us never get enough time to devote to the hobby to put us at risk of burnout.  Usually it’s just the opposite.

This has mostly been my situation, for sure. My focus has narrowed to sci-fi skirmish because of it - the endless worldbuilding possibilities in your own scifi setting, plus the possibility of reconfiguring my mini collection into gangs/factions, gives me lots to think about when I don't have time/space to do anything more than think about the hobby.

Within that, a certain kind of burnout can still happen - I could convert and kitbash gangs and warbands indefinitely, but when you lose the orienting purpose it just gets a bit dull and directionless.

I guess what I'm trying to say with that last point there is that in my experience, "oooh shiny I'll get that now" isn't a cure for burnout.

[Easy E]

Hobby burnout?  That’s a quite a first world problem…some of us never get enough time to devote to the hobby to put us at risk of burnout.  Usually it’s just the opposite.

It is clearly a "problem" because people on these very forums have huge lead piles, unfinished projects galore, and shelves of rules they have never played. 

I am glad it is not a problem for you per se.

[Tactalvanic]

I wrote a really long response over the last 20 minutes and cut it down to:

If your hobby is causing you to feel burnt out - sorry but sounds to much like "work" rather than a hobby.

I have a large unpainted and fairly large painted collection, both give me comfort and help deal with burnout rather than cause it - I also have more than one hobby to flit between which helps - as and when I have time for any of them. Basically your suggested options for dealing with burnout apply to my work, not my hobbies.

Frustration with not having enough hobby time ? yes - frustration can be an issue but thankfully not burnout. That's, mostly, just for work.

I really don't see a relation between burnout and lead pile and rules books on shelves and un-played games. I have a couple not played rules sets, but they are interesting. played or not, they provide inspiration for other games that do happen.

But that's me. as with everything. difference abounds.


now - having read your post - that's more impactful as your hobby really is work related. Mine most definitely are not - there in is to me the primary driver here perhaps, and difference in how we define burnout overall.

 

[Aethelflaeda was framed]

People with huge lead mountains are not necessarily burnt out on painting. Just the opposite, they probably got so excited about a new release or project it provokes the equivalence of ADHD, and they took on something they can’t possibly get to unless they shift gears to something else. I wouldn’t call it burnout…it’s a hobby, something done for pleasure.  It’s the antidote to burnout.

For some the size of the lead mountain is the goal of the hobby.  If you have figs in your pile unpainted, Death will take pity and pass you by for another year.  Then there are those “collectors” who are collecting the “fantasy” of painting up a great, masterly painted, unbeatable army on motion picture set diorama terrain. If they actually paint something they lose the fantasy.

[ithoriel]

Tsundoku is the Japanese word for collecting reading material, piling it up for later but never getting around to it.

We need an equivalent for our lead mountains.

[anevilgiraffe]

We need an equivalent for our lead mountains.

I was always fond of Lead Poisoning... but it's mainly plastic now...

[Ragsta]

Hobby Burnout. Yes, I have had an interesting year with this. For me personally I managed to cripple myself by building a significant load of unpainted goodies over several years due to some redundancy payoffs (uhhh yay?) and some bonuses (another first world probelm). Again this is my personal journey but I found I was buying things that were 'too good to lose' rather than part of a plan, and I do like hobby plans. It suits my minor OCD.

I ended up selling off and gifting a significant chunk of what I had amassed. I really enjoyed 'paying it forward' as it made me feel better about myself, and the reduction in goodies felt like a weight had been lifted. I also changed up my hobby space and got a new display case so I could look at my painted stuff - it helped me work out the gaps in my collection that I actually wanted to fill. Side projects were either folded into my main favorites or said goodbye to.

I'm still working on myself - I haven't played a game for ages and I suspect this is due to my burnout in general. I am much more comfortable about where things are going though. Hope my post made some sense to someone!

[Arbedark]

I think my burn out is due to work alone.
Since the pandemic my painting table has slowly changed from being where I enjoyed my hobby, to where I have to work 8+ hours a day doing real world stuff. I had to use this because it was private and secure ( my work is such, I can't share it with even my family). Over the months it became my office and having spent all day sat there doing work I didn't feel lime I was escaping when doing my hobby there as well.
I've now partly retired and only work three days a week but I still can't face sitting in my work place to relax! I've tried working at the dining table but spend more time going back and forth to the room with my paint table in to get things I have forgotten, further my painting quality has declined both due to lack of practice and poor light. This leads to me getting frustrated and giving up.
So I guess what all that means is my burnout is not due to boredom or lack of inspiration, but a long lasting change in circumstances somewhat out of my control.
I guess I will just have to grow the pile of shame until I can retire fully and then refurbish the old room to exorcise the work demons from it?

[Elbows]

While I agree a lot of people don't have time for hobbying...plenty of people still get that burnout.  I see it from my friends.

I think I'd add some things I do when I get burned out.

1) 'Hobby adjacent' work...such as cleaning up my hobby desk.  Sometimes if I'm not feeling like painting, I'll spend an hour or two cleaning up my hobby space, doing inventory, cleaning brushes, throwing out stuff, cleaning my paint mugs, apply thinner or ball-bearings to my new bottles of paint, sorting through miniatures, etc.  Basically make the hobby space refreshed and ready for hobbying...a cluttered/messy hobby space piled high with stuff you're ambivalent about painting is an easy way to deter yourself from painting.  If you look at your paint desk and think "Ugh..." then you're less likely to sit down and paint/work.

2) I write my own games, so I'm always 50% writing or 50% hobbying...so while I'm getting work done, it's a different form of the same hobby.  There are times I don't want to write, so I paint.  Times I don't want to paint, so I write.  When I want to do neither I work on digital art/layout/etc. for cards/tokens/etc.

3) Somewhat tied to number one, selling off/clearing out the backlog.  It can provide space (both physically and mentally).  Be honest with yourself about projects you will actually do...or what you won't, and get rid of the stuff you're not going to actually use.  In most cases if you change your mind, you can always buy something similar later.  I don't mean for you to go sell off valuable old stuff that's worth a bunch of money, but clearing out clutter is great for your mental health...even if it's not hobby related.

4) Put away stuff you're not working on, and don't let your desk pile up with a half dozen projects.  I've long advocated against building an army before painting it.  Unless you're a special kind of person, that grey mass sitting on the desk/shelf nearby can be mentally oppressive.  God forbid you end up quitting the project before you paint it all, as now you've lost more value by building everything - when it'd be worth more in the box.  Build, assemble, paint..one unit.  Have that as the only thing on your desk.  It helps you concentrate and you don't have to stare at everything else you're going to have to paint eventually.  An army project can become mentally oppressive pretty easily for a lot of people.  So stash that stuff in the closet, and work one unit at a time.

5) Don't be afraid to take a break.  Some people hobby for a business, and that's...not an option.  For everyone else...if you need to take a month or two off from the hobby? Do it. 

[Inkpaduta]

If I am honest I would have to say I have never had hobby burn out. I am always painting, researching, buying and playing.
Been doing it for 35 yrs now.

[Easy E]

2) I write my own games, so I'm always 50% writing or 50% hobbying...so while I'm getting work done, it's a different form of the same hobby.  There are times I don't want to write, so I paint.  Times I don't want to paint, so I write.  When I want to do neither I work on digital art/layout/etc. for cards/tokens/etc.
 

Yeah, I kind of buried this one under Move the Goal Posts, but I also do a lot of rotating on a 2-5 projects.  If I don't feel like working on one I will rotate to another aspect of a different project. 

[fred]

I think my burn out is due to work alone.
Since the pandemic my painting table has slowly changed from being where I enjoyed my hobby, to where I have to work 8+ hours a day doing real world stuff. I had to use this because it was private and secure ( my work is such, I can't share it with even my family). Over the months it became my office and having spent all day sat there doing work I didn't feel lime I was escaping when doing my hobby there as well.
I've now partly retired and only work three days a week but I still can't face sitting in my work place to relax! I've tried working at the dining table but spend more time going back and forth to the room with my paint table in to get things I have forgotten, further my painting quality has declined both due to lack of practice and poor light. This leads to me getting frustrated and giving up.
So I guess what all that means is my burnout is not due to boredom or lack of inspiration, but a long lasting change in circumstances somewhat out of my control.
I guess I will just have to grow the pile of shame until I can retire fully and then refurbish the old room to exorcise the work demons from it?

I very much get this can’t relax in the space the day job occurs. During Covid when I first started working from home I just started using my computer on the same desk that I used for craft stuff. After a while I found that this was a problem as I couldn’t really switch off from work, seeing ‘work’ sitting there, nor did I do much hobby stuff as the same desk was used both.

Fortunately eldest went to Uni, so was able to move to her room!

I’d suggest moving your painting stuff en masse to the dining room - so it is at least to hand to paint on the dining room table, perhaps setup up some portable painting kits. And add a small light to help - I find good light essential. If we go away for a week, and I take some hobby stuff, I’ll nearly always take a light with me, the led ones are pretty compact.