Music Mental Health Diary Entry Day 5: Facing Burnout Without Losing Yourself

By Rich Steve Beck

Burnout doesn’t announce itself with fanfare. For me, it was quieter—a creeping sense of dread, a heaviness in my chest when I opened my laptop or picked up my guitar. You might know the feeling: that moment when creating music shifts from joy to obligation, when the thing you once loved starts to feel like a weight you’re carrying alone. If this resonates, let’s sit with it for a moment.

The Quiet Collapse of Passion

I used to think burnout was just being tired, but it’s deeper than that. It’s the slow erosion of what made you fall in love with music in the first place. I’ve stared at unfinished tracks on my screen, unable to muster the energy to finish them, and felt like a fraud. The melodies that once flowed effortlessly now feel forced. Have you ever sat down to create and felt nothing but resistance staring back at you?

Touring Until It Breaks You

Touring is supposed to be the dream, right? But after months on the road, you could start to crack. The late nights, the endless travel, the pressure to perform even when you’re running on fumes—it all adds up. Maybe you're remembering sitting in a hotel room, scrolling through social media, feeling more disconnected than ever. Does touring ever leave you feeling hollow instead of fulfilled?

The Pressure to Always Be “Enough”

There’s this unspoken rule in the industry that you have to always be grateful, always be hustling, always be producing. I’ve smiled through interviews while secretly wondering if I’m failing. I’ve posted updates about how “excited” I am for a new release, even when I felt indifferent about it. It’s exhausting trying to convince everyone—including yourself—that you’re okay when you’re not. Do you ever feel like you’re performing offstage just as much as on?

How Hustle Culture Steals Your Joy

We’re told that success comes from relentless grind, but what happens when the grind steals your soul? I’ve pushed myself to release music on timelines that didn’t make sense, to say yes to gigs I didn’t have the energy for, all because I thought I had to keep up. But here’s the truth: you can’t outrun burnout by working harder. Creativity isn’t a machine you can force into overdrive without consequences. Have you ever felt like the harder you push, the less you actually create?

The Subtle Signs You’re Running on Empty

Burnout sneaks up on you in small ways. For me, it was skipping practice sessions, ignoring messages from collaborators, or feeling apathetic about milestones I’d once dreamed of. I stopped finding joy in the little things—like finishing a mix or hearing someone say they connected with my lyrics. These moments don’t scream “burnout,” but they’re red flags all the same. Do you ever notice yourself pulling away from the things that used to light you up?

What Helps Me Catch My Breath

Over time, I’ve learned to listen to my body before it forces me to stop. One thing that helps is carving out space for rest—not as an afterthought, but as a priority. Whether it’s taking a day off during tour or stepping away from social media, I’ve had to remind myself that rest isn’t laziness; it’s survival. Another trick is setting boundaries, like saying no to projects that drain me or walking away from toxic relationships. Do any of these strategies feel doable—or impossible—for you?

Letting Go of the Need to Prove Yourself

What I’ve had to remind myself—and what I want to remind you—is that you don’t have to prove your worth by burning yourself out. You are not your streams, your followers, or your next release. I’ve started giving myself permission to step back, whether it’s cancelling plans to recharge or simply saying no to things that don’t align with my values. Creativity needs space to breathe, and so do you. Does the idea of letting go feel like freedom—or failure—to you?

Rediscovering Why You Started Making Music

When burnout hits, it’s easy to lose sight of why you fell in love with music in the first place. I’ve found solace in going back to basics—jamming without an audience, listening to albums that shaped me, or writing lyrics just for me, not for anyone else. These moments remind me that music isn’t about perfection or productivity; it’s about connection. Have you forgotten what made you pick up an instrument or hit record for the first time?

Building a Life That Doesn’t Revolve Around Music

One of the hardest lessons I’ve learned is that your identity doesn’t have to be tied entirely to your art. I’ve started nurturing parts of myself outside of music—spending time outdoors, exploring hobbies, or simply being present with loved ones. These moments ground me and remind me that I’m more than my next release or performance. Does the idea of building a life beyond music feel liberating—or terrifying—to you?

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Rich Steve Beck is a podcaster (PMFC Global TV), pro audio engineer/producer community leader (Produce Mix Fix and Conquer), full Music Producers Guild member, and pro mastering engineer who's worked with platinum-selling and Grammy-winning audio engineers.

He is also on a huge journey discovering about his own mental health and has felt a calling, as a large music community leader, to be an advocate for open mental health discussions across the industry.

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