7 Ways I Avoid Burnout as a Filmmaker

Filmmaking will eat you alive if you let it. The long days, the deadlines that creep up on you, the pressure to keep making something worth watching — it adds up fast. I've had those weeks where I'm running on fumes, staring at a timeline feeling completely blank. Somewhere along the way I started treating my mental health like part of the job, not something extra I get to if there's time left over. Here's what actually works for me.

Take the day... all the way off

I used to think a "day off" meant just not shooting — but I'd still be answering emails, still half-editing in my head. That's not a break, it's just work with the volume turned down. Real time off means the laptop stays closed. No emails, no editing, nothing. I know it feels wrong to unplug completely, like everything's going to fall apart without you, but it won't. And you come back seeing the project with completely fresh eyes, which usually ends in a better final product.

Make time for other hobbies

If your whole identity is work, you're setting yourself up to crash. Believe me, I've been there. I try to keep something in my life that's just mine (and not monetized) — painting, being outside, cooking, etc.. Something with zero deadlines attached. Weirdly, the less I think about my projects, the better my ideas get. Putting yourself outside in the public can also give you a ton of ideas for your work. This is something David Lynch used to talk about a lot. Your brain needs room to wander if you want it to come back with something good.

Read something that applies to what you're feeling

Below are a few books that have genuinely changed how I handle the creative grind:

• Keep Going by Austin Kleon — no-nonsense advice on staying creative when things feel stuck.

• You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero — good for when your confidence needs a kick. I've read this one more times than I can count. I always rely on it to get my head straight again.

• The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron — a classic. Read it with a friend if you can, it hits different when you've got someone to talk it through with.

• Catching the Big Fish by David Lynch - super quick read and helped me understand the importance of slowing down.

• Start with Yourself by Emma Grede - this one is more targeted towards women, but helped me a lot with my mindset in business.

None of these are quick fixes, but they've helped me build habits that protect my headspace long-term.

I have an Amazon folder with these books (and more) for you to check out.

Skip the scroll, watch something that fills you up instead

When I need to decompress, mindless scrolling is the last thing I reach for now — it just leaves me comparing myself to everyone else. I even catch myself thinking, "why wasn't I on that shoot?" when I was on another shoot and wouldn't have been able to be there anyway. Social media has become a weird place, and I know we need to stay on there to stay relevant, but please use it in moderation. Instead I'll put on a film or a documentary that actually inspires me. Something about watching good work reminds me why I love doing this in the first place, instead of draining me more.

Let the slow seasons work for you

Every filmmaker knows that dead stretch between gigs, just waiting on the phone to ring. It can mess with your head if you let it. I've learned to use that downtime a little differently — working on personal projects, building my own thing, meeting other creatives. It keeps me moving instead of spiraling, and honestly some of my favorite work has come out of those "slow" periods. People also think to hire you when they see you staying busy or doing cool things. So you might as well make yourself busy and the work will come to you.

Move your body, seriously

This one's non-negotiable for me. A walk, a bike ride, a lift — doesn't matter what, just move. It's the fastest way I know to shake off stress and clear my head before a big shoot or a brutal edit day. It's also so incredibly important if you're moving gear around. You don't want to be the person who's too weak to do something, and you certainly don't want to hurt yourself (happens more often than you'd think).

I get it, finding the time feels impossible when you're slammed. But I make it a serious priority, or I feel the stress come on even harder. I started FitFilmmakers for this reason. Check it out at fitfilmmakers.com.

Find your people

This industry can get lonely fast, especially when you're grinding solo on a project. I make a point to connect with other filmmakers — hosting hangouts, meeting up with people from Instagram, showing up to industry events. Having people around who get exactly what you're going through changes everything. You stop feeling like you're the only one struggling, and you start finding collaborators that make work more exciting. It's cool to hear other perspectives on your work too. Other people doing what you do shouldn't be seen as competitors, they are your community.