Streamer Burnout – Are you experiencing it too?
It is essential to stay on top of your mental health, especially if you’re a gamer or a streamer in this modern age.
With the gaming and streaming industries continuously on the rise, the risk of burnout and fatigue is also greater. You want to ensure that you’re taking good care of yourself to enjoy the things you love doing
The nature of gaming
Gaming is a highly interactive form of entertainment where gamers are tasked with accomplishing objectives while outplaying their enemies. The nature of gaming drives players to thrive under pressure, engage in quick decision-making, and improve their reflexes.
Contrary to popular belief, being good at games requires a well-rounded set of skills, often utilizing both physical and mental dexterity.
How does gaming fatigue manifest itself?
In the modern workplace, burnout is the term used to describe someone who has developed physical, mental, and behavioral issues from being overburdened and under-rested. We see it manifest quite frequently in the gaming industry.
Broadcasters, streamers, e-sports stars, coaches, tournament organizers, and your everyday gamer are all at risk of gaming fatigue. It usually manifests through lethargy, irritability, and lack of interest in gaming.
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Getting to the root of streamer burnout
Although numerous reasons can contribute to gaming exhaustion or burnout, they all seem connected to high emotional and physical tension and insufficient sleep.
In the gaming world, there is a lot of pressure to perform at a high level. Streamers are going for longer and more frequent streams to keep up with their colleagues. E-sports hopefuls become obsessed with the constant grind to reach higher ranks and get signed by an e-sports team.
This intense dedication to “the grind” could cause one to ignore other areas of life. Sleep is usually the first to suffer from this negligence, and without rest, fatigue will develop, resulting in numerous physical and mental symptoms. All these symptoms combine into what we call gaming fatigue.
Signs Of Gaming Fatigue
To address gaming fatigue effectively, it is important to identify its symptoms early and take measures to ensure it does not get any worse. When you experience any of these symptoms, take a quick gaming break and observe your overall well-being.
Mental and Physical Exhaustion
The most common symptom of gaming fatigue is extended mental and physical exhaustion; this might cause you to feel tired, sluggish, angry, and emotionally spent. You might also feel physically uncomfortable suffering from a headache or a general feeling of malaise. Listen to your body and take steps to fulfill its needs.
Loss of interest in the activities you previously enjoyed
Another symptom is the sudden lack of enthusiasm for activities you used to enjoy, such as getting inexplicably bored with gaming. While it’s normal to get tired of a specific game, the lack of excitement for gaming in general usually means there is something deeper to address.
For streamers, this could also mean losing the excitement you get when interacting with your viewers. Streaming would feel like a chore, and the passion would wane.
Whatever the case, the things you used to enjoy no longer feel unique, and you start to doubt if gaming is really for you.
Diminished performance
Gaming fatigue will also affect your performance negatively. Both physical and mental issues brought about by gaming fatigue can cause you to make a lot of mistakes while gaming and streaming.
This can lead to frustration and toxic behavior, which, in turn, magnifies the effects of gaming fatigue. Forcing yourself to continue playing or streaming despite the diminished performance becomes continuously more difficult, with the effects becoming more drastic as time passes.
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Addressing Gaming Fatigue & Streamer Burnout
Recovering from gaming fatigue looks easy on paper; you just need to rest and get back to full health before returning to your gaming activities. However, there are multiple factors if the goal is to get back to 100%. It is not just the quantity of breaks you take that matters but, more importantly, the quality of these breaks when it comes to getting your rest.
Here are some tips to help you recover from gaming fatigue better and faster:
Take regular days off
Regular pauses will lessen the risk of gaming fatigue when playing video games. They are, in fact, amazing for your overall health. Not filling your weekly schedule completely with gaming sessions and live streams is important. You’ll need to take a break from your stream or grinding on your main game and engage in something else. Anything else—to help minimize the burnout from gaming.
Every week, set aside time to do something unique, preferably away from your gaming setup. Your mind and body will be able to handle the pressures of gaming better if they can take time away from it.
Keep your breaks sacred
You also have to note that when you’re taking breaks, you detach yourself from the grind. That means not using your breaks to read up on the new meta or adjust your streaming setup. Activities that support your gaming or streaming career should be done outside your regular days off.
Take time away from your device
Spending time away from your device is important to further maximize your breaks. Spending too much time on your devices can strain your eyes and affect your mental health. Use your breaks as an opportunity to create a bit of distance from your gadgets.
Get yourself a good night’s sleep
In addition to your regular breaks, it is important to also regularly get a good night’s sleep. It’s impossible to overstate the value of getting enough sleep; every element of our fitness and well-being suffers when we lack sleep; our immune system is compromised, and our physical and mental capabilities suffer greatly.
Be consistent with your sleep schedule and avoid screen time an hour before you plan to sleep. Let your mind rest before dozing off to ensure that your sleep is completely restful.
Improve your gaming setup
A better gaming / streaming setup will also go a long way in keeping gaming fatigue in check. An uncomfortable gaming environment can drastically worsen the effects of gaming fatigue.
People tend to discount the impact of a comfortable ergonomic chair and a good high refresh rate monitor on long gaming and streaming sessions.
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Takeaway: Prioritize your health & know that streamer burnout is real
In the hustle and bustle of the gaming industry, remember that your mental and physical health should come first, and you should always take care of yourself.
Do not be afraid to seek the help of a professional if you think you need it. There is always a healthy way to pursue your dreams; take your time and enjoy the journey without sacrificing your health. Burnout from gaming can be a real problem, but luckily for us, there are many ways to avoid it in the modern world.
