I burnt out on sewing.

Burnout is something I’ve struggled with all of my adult life. The very first time I got burnt out was at the end of my classical music degree. For four solid years, and a few years before that at high school, I didn’t give myself a day off. I was obsessed with playing the viola better and better, geeking out over how to get the best sound, and thinking of new ways to play my pieces. Those close to me warned me to slow down or ‘this won’t end well’. But I ploughed on, convinced it was the only way I could get things done.

There was that pressure to succeed at my degree and entering into the classical music field. Then there was the pressure I placed on myself to be nothing less than perfect. For a while it paid off. I won the strings prize, got a scholarship, and got to play a concerto with the university orchestra. Things looked promising.

Then one day it stopped being fun. Then I couldn’t bear to look at my viola. Then I stopped playing and skipped classes. To cut a very long and painful story short, I ended up in a psychiatric hospital (in retrospect, the wrong thing to do), and it was to be over 15 years ‘til I could even look at my viola again.

Why am I even telling you all this? This is a sewing blog, not a mental health or burnout blog.

Well, ever since then, I seem to get burned out so much easier, and over the silliest things. For example, I get burnt out if I cook for myself over 5 nights in a row. Or getting burnt out over basic household chores. You probably guessed it, ADHD (unmedicated) plays a role, but I also have that crazy obsessive thing where I’ll go down numerous deep rabbit holes learning how to do something. I become an expert on the topic, then suddenly I’ll lose interest, or get burnt out and drop it immediately. This is fatal for things I’m interested in. Especially hobbies.

Earlier this year, I wanted to make a Jane Eyre style dress to wear at my local Renfaire. I bought the most gorgeous fabric for it. Watched a million YouTube videos on how to construct it. Then I spent whole three days getting the mockups to fit. By then, I was so sick of this stupid dress that I haven’t touched it since. I took up knitting instead.Then I became burnt out with that and started sewing something else. Now the Renfaire is on the horizon, and I don’t think I’m even going, never mind wearing anything I made.

This is what happens with me. I have a lot of hobbies, and I flit from thing to thing, eventually coming round full circle. It can be watercolour painting, knitting, sewing, music, drawing, and back to painting again. I love having so many interests, but I hate that it is like this.

One day I would like to be able to slow down in my hobbies - not get in so deep, and just enjoy the journey for what it is. A process.

Is this something you have struggled with? Any tips on how to prevent burnout? I’d love to hear about it.