How to Tackle Burnout!
Invest, Invest, Invest!
Welcome back Indie Game Enthusiasts! Today, on Indie Game Update, we will continue our discussion from the previous week on what it takes to create an indie game!
This advice is vital so make sure you take it to heart.
* Invest In Yourself *
Investing in yourself is the key to burnout. As a creator, it isn’t hard to become so engrossed in your work that you forget to rest and take care of yourself. There could be deadlines looming over your head, or maybe you are an overachiever/perfectionist that has to get everything right. Whatever the case may be, it isn’t wise working yourself into the ground especially when you have other responsibilities such as school or work. It can make you sick, or push you into resenting your beloved passion project.
Earlier this summer, I came across a post on Reddit and the community talked about what it takes to be successful. Here is a list of advice I took away that you can use in order to achieve success and rest from your burnout.
NOTE: Make sure when you do any of these suggestions they are solely for your peace and benefit. Do not try to make consistent content as promotional materials for your social media— as tempting as it may be. I’ve fallen into that abyss, but the truth is you can’t truly rest if you are constantly working 24/7. If you do want to post, only post what you are doing for your burnout occasionally, or you can wait until you’ve fully recovered to start posting what you’ve done on your hiatus.
8.1 Learn a New Skill
-Learning a new skill can be a great way to invest in yourself you are able to enhance your knowledge at your own pace. (I’ve been learning the basics of scriptwriting and am writing my first script called Small Town Hero.)
8.2 Learn a New Language
- If languages have always interested you, you could start learning a new language. You can take it slow and learn a few words per day. (My favorite language app is Drops)
8.3 Read a New Book or Watch a New TV Series
- What better way to relax than reading an interesting book or watching a show to get your mind off of your project. You can watch anything that sparks your interest, but I would suggest watching funny shows to lift your spirits if you are feeling stress and tension.
8.4 Treat Yourself to Your Favorite Meal or Dessert
- After a long few days of working on your project, you deserve to treat yourself with something nice! Maybe go out to your favorite ice cream shop, get that delicious Frappuccino, buy Chipotle, Whatever you desire. (The truth is, you should really get boba tea! 😂)
8.5 Talk With Friends or Meet in Person
- Social interaction is a must! If you’re creating a game solo, you are probably staring at your screen for most of the day with hardly any interaction. Make sure to meet up with friends and relax. There is joy in community!
That is all the advice I have for now!
*Next time, on Indie Game Update, we will dive into a few more pieces of advice on how to create your first indie game. THIS WILL BE A MULTI-PART SERIES.*(Updates Tuesday!)
See you soon!
~Jessa 👾