How to Avoid Book Blogger Burnout

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Book blogger burnout is a very real thing.

It seems almost like a silly, made-up syndrome, because you can’t qualify it with physical symptoms, or point to a tangible experience and say, “This was when my burnout hit.”

Also, we’re talking about reading, and how could that be stressful or traumatic, right?

Unfortunately, it’s a sign of the times.

Just a few years ago, book blogging was an exciting new way to connect with others in your literary fandoms, and maybe even start establishing a name and reputation for yourself if your ultimate goal was to get paid to write book reviews.

It all sounds like fun. It should be. It’s a crying shame that too many bloggers in recent months are either going on an indefinite hiatus or shutting down their blogs entirely — because it is far from fun anymore for them.

I can certainly understand if life gets to be too much — maybe you’ve just changed jobs, moved house, gotten married, had a baby, gone on vacation, been ill. When a member of the community announces they’re taking a break, we know we’ll miss them, but we also support their need to take care of themselves.

But when somebody says they’re leaving the scene because they’ve simply been treated badly by random other bloggers, reviewers, and sometimes even authors, that just isn’t right.

So, here are some thoughts on how to avoided the dreaded burnout.

Don’t put too much on your plate. Set limits about how much you plan to read/review in a month. There is no reason to aim for the moon.

Also don’t worry about setting a new world record when it comes to your general TBR. Yes, absolutely, make a note of a book you think you’d really like to read. But don’t you dare fall into that trap of Feeling Left Out if you know a hyped new release just won’t be your thing.

Oh, and put up boundaries for requesting ARCs — and stick to them. The less reviews you have to write with an actual deadline, the better for your stress level.

Take a relaxed attitude towards criticism. Yes, some of these really nasty arguments in the comments section can be upsetting. And I’m not saying this behavior (the people who rip your head off because you posted a negative but respectful post on one of their favorite titles) is acceptable or should be tolerated. But it is VERY important for those of us on the receiving end to form a measured, mature, appropriate response. Remember, you have every right to block people from your site, not reply to their comments, and refuse to be dragged into this ridiculousness.

This goes for indie authors who are also book bloggers as well. Yes, getting a harsh review of your book is gutting. But it is freedom of speech, and if you feel everyone should have it, doesn’t that include the people who don’t share your opinion on subjective things, like reading material?

Shake up your TBR a little. If you feel a “reading slump” coming on, try switching genres, category (say, non-fiction instead of fiction), or age group (adult over YA, or MG instead of adult).

And don’t impose unrealistic deadlines for finishing selections. If, for example, Christmas is right around the corner, and you know you’re going to be busy, throw time frames out the window.

No matter how many subscribers you have, no matter how many people you think might be pacing their kitchen floor awaiting your next post, NOTHING is worth putting your own sanity or health at risk.

To heck with the idea of trying to read all the books of ever. Yup, that’s right — I promise you WILL survive if you don’t get to read every single title published in your favorite genre or by your favorite authors.

This goes back to limiting your TBR, too — there is nothing wrong with only adding to it books you really think you’ll enjoy. Forcing yourself to finish hyped titles that contain all the content/tropes/agendas you’re hoping to avoid creates nothing but frustration.

Don’t feel pressured to join every social media site in the world. In theory, your blog/website will get more traffic with greater exposure. But what about those of us that don’t take enough photos to have an Instagram account, hate the idea of appearing on camera for YouTube, and don’t understand the way Tumblr works? Remain true to what’s most effective for you.

Above all, have fun.

What do you think, fellow bookdragons? Are we putting ourselves under too much pressure? How can we support each other and keep the climate of this community a positive one?