Burnout in Geek Spaces: When Passion Becomes Pressure
Burnout isn’t just something that happens in high-stakes corporate jobs or relentless academic environments—it happens in geek spaces too. In fact, it thrives in places where people are deeply passionate, committed, and constantly creating. Whether you’re a geek therapist, a content creator, a convention organizer, or a community leader, the very things that make geek culture so vibrant—enthusiasm, immersion, and connection—can also be the things that push us toward burnout.
As a geek therapist, I see this firsthand. Many of us enter this field because we love what we do. We use tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) to help clients process emotions, bring video game narratives into therapy to explore identity, and create spaces where people feel safe expressing themselves. But that passion can come at a cost if we don’t set boundaries.
The Burnout Loop in Geek Spaces
Burnout in geek spaces can feel insidious. It doesn’t hit all at once—it builds over time, fueled by the belief that our worth is tied to our productivity.
- “I should be doing more.” Whether it’s running another game, writing another module, creating more content, or organizing more events, we tell ourselves that we have to keep going.
- “I don’t deserve rest.” If we’re not creating, are we even contributing? Geek culture, like many creative spaces, often rewards the ‘hustle’—the relentless cycle of producing, engaging, and performing.
- “I can’t show weakness.” Many of us are used to being the ones who provide support. The storyteller. The GM. The therapist. The advocate. But when do we allow ourselves to be vulnerable?
Breaking the Cycle: Rest as Resistance
The hardest lesson I’ve learned is that I don’t have to earn rest. I don’t have to justify my exhaustion before I give myself permission to slow down. Detaching my worth from my productivity has been one of the most radical acts of self-care I’ve embraced.
But it doesn’t come easily. I’ve had to remind myself:
- Vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s honesty. Some days, I have it all together. Other days, I don’t. Instead of pretending otherwise, I’ve learned that real strength is found in giving myself grace, asking for help, and showing up as I am—not just as I think I should be.
- Saying no is self-preservation. The geek community thrives on collaboration and engagement, but that doesn’t mean we have to say yes to everything. Healthy boundaries help sustain our ability to show up in meaningful ways.
- We need spaces where rest is normalized. Geek spaces should be places of joy and connection, not pressure and exhaustion. Whether it’s incorporating breaks into gaming sessions, advocating for mental health at conventions, or simply reminding each other that taking a step back is okay, we can shift the culture together.
A Call to Fellow Geek Therapists
For those of us working in therapeutic spaces, the pressure can be even greater. We hold space for others while often neglecting ourselves. But we can’t pour from an empty cup. We have to model what we teach—self-compassion, balance, and the courage to rest.
If you’re feeling burned out, you’re not failing. You’re human. And sometimes, the bravest thing we can do is take a step back, breathe, and remember that we are more than what we produce.
Let’s redefine what it means to thrive in geek spaces—not as endless creators, but as whole, rested, and supported individuals.
