Avoiding burnout in the age of overwhelm

Being a poet in the digital age can feel more about "The Grind" than anything else

Image credit: Carmen Martínez Torrón

It’s a curious thing to be a poet in the digital age. We’re constantly made to feel like we’re not successful or prolific enough, but it seems like the more time we spend trying to remedy that, the less time we spend on our actual craft.

I know I’m not the only poet who endures a toxic relationship with Instagram. Most of us have dipped our toes into Bluesky, we might still be on Facebook to keep in touch with relatives, and X is like a festival portaloo, minus the relief.

And with Instagram’s dominance, it’s as if our entire existence is subject to a “pics or it didn’t happen” mindset. In the poetry world, we’re also constantly battling against the toxic tangibility of prizes, awards, publishing deals, residencies, etc.

This inevitably leads to burnout. Trying to keep up the pace, run before you can walk, stretch yourself too thin, and other clichéd metaphors. So, I thought I’d provide some insights into how you might avoid that with some medium to long-term planning.

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Before I crack on, I want to plug Monday’s episode of Roaring 20s Radio on Soho Radio! I’ve co-presented the show alongside

Salena Godden

and Amah-Rose Abrams since late 2019. We roar about art, culture, books, poetry, and activism.

This Monday, we’re joined live in the studio by Bridget Minamore. We’ll discuss Bridget’s creative career alongside her involvement with Fossil Free Books. You can either listen online or, if you’re in/near London, you’ll find us on DAB.

Roaring 20s Radio on Soho Radio this Monday from 2-4pm BST

This post is a bit of a deep dive, and so it’ll be paywalled. If that’s a barrier to you, you can either use your bonus token to unlock it or try a 7-day free trial. I’m also toying with the idea of one post per week for £4 per month - let me know if that appeals.