Burnt out or just extra crispy?
A Mentalist’s Guide to Not Setting Fire to Your Soul
Greetings, traveller of the mind. You’re the wielder of whispers and a conjurer of coincidences but you just hit refresh on Instagram for the fourth time in two minutes because your brain feels like melted cheese.
If your aura smells like burnt toast and motivation has ghosted you, it doesn’t mean you’re lazy. You might just be burnt out and that, my friend is where our story begins.
What is burnout and does it smell like ashes in your brain?
Burnout is what happens when your internal candle burns at both ends, gets thrown into a bonfire, soaked in Red Bull and told to do 50 press ups…
With a smile.
You’re not just tired, you’re ‘I’ve stared at the same sentence for 25 minutes’ tired. Like, why does editing this post make me want to scream into a cushion, tired.
Burnout is the gradual erosion of your energy, clarity and sense of meaning. As mentalists, creators and performers who live on mystery and meaning, this one’s a soul thief.
The hidden signs of burnout that most mentalists ignore
Burnout doesn’t always arrive with dramatic violins and a fainting spell. Sometimes, it shows up disguised as a rough week.
Here’s what to look for if your brain’s beginning to smoulder:
1. Mental fog and magic fatigue
You used to daydream about tricks while doing the dishes.
Now, even a packet trick feels like a Mills and Boon novel.
If ideas are no longer sparkling, your creative well might be dry.
2. Everything feels like a chore
Writing scripts? Nah. Practising your billet switches? Nah. Performing? Why bother? The things that once thrilled you feels like dragging a sack of potatoes up a mountain.
3. Imposter syndrome in overdrive
You doubt your ability, your worth, your audiences enjoyment.
Even your sock choices feel wrong. This spiral often follows long periods of overwork without rest or recognition.
4. Withdrawal and resentment
You cancel social engagements, ghost messages, avoid your blog and secretly want to curse anyone who says: What’s up with you! You begin resenting what you once loved. It’s a red flag waving from your psychic balcony.
5. Physical weirdness
I’m no doctor but if you’re constantly exhausted, aching or sleeping for 12 hours and waking up feeling like you’ve were trampled on by an gang of angry penguins, your body might actually be tapping out.
Why mentalists are uniquely vulnerable
Because we think for a living and invent mysteries. We write scripts, perform solo, stare into people’s souls and post stuff on social media for
3-4 likes… It can be soul destroying!
Mentalism is a one person circus
The ringleader, the elephant and the juggler are all played by you.
We also play with perception but when burnout creeps in, our own perception starts to warp:
We mistake tiredness for lack of talent.
We confuse needing a break with being uncommitted.
We push through until we crash, silently and invisibly.
Let’s change that.
What to do when you’re burnt out
No, Pushing through is not the answer.
If you’re reading thinking, this is all too familiar, don’t panic.
You’re not broken. You’re just crispy and crisps can be revived with care or at least turned into delicious metaphors.
1. Admit it, out loud.
Say it with me: I’m burned out. There. You said it, you acknowledged the demon. Now you can do something about it.
2. Cancel something
Seriously. Just one thing. A meeting or self imposed deadline.
You don’t need to disappear forever, just make space.
3. Unplug the input hose
Stop consuming, take a break from YouTube tutorials, books, podcasts, social scrolling and endless comparisons.
Give your brain a sensory sabbatical, let silence in.
The next idea will rise from it like a phoenix rising from the ashes.
4. Do something useless and fun
Rearrange your sock drawer, watch an octopus documentary, count how many ESP cards you have. Joyless productivity is how you got here and delight it’s your antidote too.
5. Speak to a human
Yes, a real one, text a friend and say: Hey, I think I’m running on fumes.
Connection recharges. You don’t need to turn your burnout into a big deal, just be honest with yourself and those around you.
6. Revisit why you started
Read your old books. Watch a video of your favourite performer.
Remind yourself that you’re not just a content factory, you’re a weaver of wonder. Burnout makes you forget that but it’s still in there.
7. Create a burnout buffer
Going forward, design systems that protect your spark:
Set ‘off limits’ days with no performance or creation allowed, schedule fun first breaks before any big projects. Keep a ‘Why I do this’ journal for dark days and ask yourself: Is this pressure real, or am I inventing it because I’m too scared to rest?
Fragmented Thoughts
You’re Not Lazy, burnout isn’t failure, it’s not weakness and it’s not a sign you should quit. It’s just a smoke signal from your creativity and intuition. Your inner sock oracle’s whispering: Hey, we need a breather!
So listen, take a step back and end the fire. Then return, weirder and wiser than ever before.
Call to Action:
Have you ever experienced burnout?
Tell me how you knew and what helped you recover.
Leave a comment, or send me your story for a Mind Unmasked feature.
Stay Weird
ЯYΛП MΣПƬIƧ
International Man of Mischief