or Dealing with Creative Burnout

What do you do when it all seems like too much of a chore to prep for a game? How do you cope with the feeling that nothing you do is good enough, or that life is sapping your energy so you have nothing left over for creativity? Why does it all sometimes seem just too darned hard?

I’ll be honest for a moment, 2024 and 2025 really did a number on me. Yes, I was doing a lot of things that I had wanted to do – interviews, attending conventions, running games for international folks – but it all came at a price: Burnout.

We often forget that TTRPGs are a creative endeavour, and that creativity isn’t a resource you can just turn on and off at will. We require rest and, dare I say it, a little boredom to help fuel it. When life gets in the way of a good time, as it so often has a habit of doing, it can be tempting to power through the inertia in an effort to just have some fun. And sometimes that works. And sometimes, it doesn’t.

As a GM, we are so focussed on weaving a good story for our players that we often forget that we are also there for a good time. So, when we start to feel run down, or lacklustre, or just plain tired, we soldier on thinking that the game will give us the boost we need to keep going. But what happens when that stops being the case, and the game (or games) we are running actually start to be part of the problem, not the cure?

There is nothing wrong with taking breaks from your games. Navigated correctly, communicated appropriately, it can mean the difference between just dropping a game entirely or revitalising your creative brain. Just as players sometimes need to take a break because life is interrupting their ability to enjoy your sessions, you are also completely valid in needing to take a break too. Chatting with your players about what is going on, how long you think you’ll need to recover, and what they can do to help is a great way of keeping everything transparent, so they can help support you.

But what if it’s just not fun anymore and you want to stop it altogether?

Well, that’s completely valid too. There’s no GM Bible that decrees “Thou must finish the game to everyone’s satisfaction!” Sometimes games just end because they’ve got to the end of their benefit run. And yes, it’s sad, but that doesn’t mean it needs to be the end of your group catching up and hanging out. You can always find new ways to engage with TTRPGs, without adding to the workload that got you to burnout in the first place.

Slide deck nights (aka: PowerPoint Party)

Everyone makes a slide deck about a system or setting they’re excited about, or a BBEG they’ve been dying to include in a game, or any other aspect of the hobby you all love. Just quietly between you and I, I would love to do one of these. I think it’d be super hilarious and fun to boot. Keep it short and simple. Include all the whacky transitions you can think of, and have fund teaching your friends about things you’re into, and learning more about your folks!

Mini painting session

Just want a super chill night with little to no prep? Why not grab a mini each and just paint it. No agenda. Limited pre-session prep beyond packing your paints and brushes (and your mini, of course). Just a group of friends, bringing life to a bunch of lil guys! It’s a perfect palate cleanser if the game prep is getting you down. Just don’t drink the paint water.

Silent reading night

Snacks. Drinks. Book. Done. TTRPG books are, of course, preferred, but not necessary. You can have some suitably themed music on in the background if that’s your jam, or not as your attention requires. Everyone gets cosy, opens their books and just enjoys some parallel … ermmm… reading?

Window Adventuring Party Mansion Shopping

Now, hear me out – bring your own device, open Zillow, and start looking for the perfect place for your adventuring party or coterie of kindred to take over. Zero dollars spent, and max window shopping vibes. The more ridiculous, the better. I mean, if they didn’t want us to click on their property, why would they have included that photo? You know the one I’m talking about. The GM can also share suggestions for the ultimate BBEG lair, because everyone needs a base of operations, amirite?

Get crafty

Make friendship bracelets in your characters colours or themes and share them with your fellow party members (and the GM, of course). Make mood boards for notable NPCs. Make a deck of cards from your characters and NPCs. Whatever it is, make it low-cost, low-effort and fun.

Food and drink pairings

If there is a cookbook from your system of setting (such as the Heroes Feast D&D cookbook, or perhaps the Fallout cookbook), why not choose a recipe each and make a night of it? Alternatively, you can each make a dish and drink of your character (the GM chooses an NPC or perhaps the setting overall) and share it together. The idea of eating something you thought your character’s parent might make them when they were a child is just so (if you’ll forgive the pun) delicious!

These are just a few ideas to give your self a reprieve from game session prep while still hanging out with your group. What ideas would you like to try? Can you think of any others? I’d love to hear about what you and your party might get up to