5 reasons artists struggle with burnout – and what to do about it

Understanding creative exhaustion – and how to recover from it. Here are five ways you can identify and combat burnout.
A woman with blonde hair has collapsed onto a bed. In this context of this article, it is demonstrating an artist with burnout.

Burnout is not a failure of passion. It’s often the result of caring too much, for too long, without enough support.

In the arts, burnout can feel especially complex – a mix of emotional depletion, financial strain, creative doubt and relentless expectations. Whether you’re freelancing, producing your work, teaching alongside practice or juggling multiple gigs, many creatives know the experience of being utterly wrung out.

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David Burton is a writer from Meanjin, Brisbane. David also works as a playwright, director and author. He is the playwright of over 30 professionally produced plays. He holds a Doctorate in the Creative Industries.