How To Avoid Burnout as a Voice Actor

Can voice actors experience burnout? Whether you’re working your dream job – or slogging through one hellish workweek after the other, job burnout can happen to anyone.

The struggle is real.

Everyone experiences frustrations and stress. Some more than others.

You might assume that the person who enjoys their job might have a higher threshold, and may be more equipped to swat away those frustrations and savor the good stuff.

But anyone can experience job burnout. And that includes voice actors.

What is Burnout?

Burnout is defined in the APA Dictionary of Psychology as:

Physical, emotional, or mental exhaustion accompanied by decreased motivation, lowered performance, and negative attitudes toward oneself and others.

Is Job Burnout the Same?

While not an easily definable thing, excessive workload, a lopsided work/life balance and lack of control over work outcomes can all be contributing factors of burnout.

Why Voice Actors Burn Out From Time to Time

Sure, voiceover isn’t an entirely solo sport. Voice actors work with clients.

However, many elements of being a voice actor are solitary in nature. So it can be tough to recognize direct causes.

It could be too much work. Overloading your work schedule on a regular basis can be stressful (even if you love your work).
Voice actors don’t control the outcomes from many of their efforts. Maybe you’re auditioning all the time and not booking any paid work. That can be intensely discouraging.
Additionally, maybe it feels like you’re responsible for too much. Auditioning, recording paid VO work, direct marketing, invoicing, bookkeeping – and learning a new DAW (digital audio workstation). That’s a lot.

And, just like many small business owners, voice actors don’t typically have built-in support systems. For example, if you worked at a large accounting firm, you might get an informal sounding board from the office water cooler gang, or a trusted supervisor – or even a well intentioned HR team imposing ‘mandatory fun’ from time to time.

Know the Signs of Job Burnout

These are some of the big ones:

Trouble finding the energy to start work – and problems concentrating while working
An overall feeling of cynicism towards work or your profession as a whole
Not finding satisfaction in work achievements – or experiencing that job-well-done feeling after completing a big project
Short temper when dealing with clients
Needing to self medicate to get through the day
An inability to shut your ‘work brain’ down at the end of the day – or new trouble sleeping

Pay Attention to What Your Body and Mind are Telling You

Sometimes, it’s all right there – but we’re too busy to notice.

When things get rough, consider the following question:

Is this a fleeting frustrating situation? Or does this feel bigger than that?

Ask yourself: once I’ve accomplished the specific task that is frustrating me, will I be able to move on with my day in a reasonably productive and lighthearted way?
- For example: I’ve never really enjoyed direct marketing. It’s obviously necessary for my business, so I do it. But it kinda saps my drive, and I drag my feet on it. However, once I finish sending an unsolicited email blast, having that task behind me is typically enough to snap me out of any crankiness that arises because of it – and I can get on with my day.
Or is it something bigger? Like, am I getting the ick from things I typically enjoy doing?
- For example: I really enjoy recording and editing my files for auditions and paid voiceover jobs. I can lose an entire afternoon working in Adobe Audition in the span of what feels like 5 minutes. It’s usually my favorite. But lately even the best part of my workday is stressful, brings me no feeling of accomplishment – and I don’t really see the point anymore.

If it’s the latter, maybe it’s best to dig in a little further.

If You’re Feeling Burned Out, What Can You Do? 6 Suggestions

1. Don’t Ignore It

There’s a general tendency to subscribe to the whole head-down-and-power-through advice we’re given by everyone from our stoic grandfather to that social media influencer who says, “rise and grind,” all the time in their TikTok videos.

Step back!

Acknowledge that you’re feeling overwhelmed.

2. If You Can – Take a Break

Sometimes a hard reset can right the ship.

If it’s not going to blow up your life, take a trip or vacation
Or even a staycation – where you chill at home and dedicate your time to leisure, family and friends
It’s amazing how treating yourself to a week or two of R&R can reinvigorate – and even make returning to work exciting

However, I’m also fully aware that taking time off isn’t always practical or advisable.

Rent, day jobs, family obligations, a sick pet or not having enough money to go on vacation are all real-life things. We can’t always get away when burnout approaches.

If that’s the case…

3. Carve Out a Little Time For Something You Enjoy

You may be busy – but a little ‘me time’ can really go a long way.

Scheduling even a half-hour to do something you love (unrelated to voiceover) can be therapeutic and restorative.

Explore a new neighborhood, workout, play video games, read a book for pleasure, meditate, work on your motorcycle, get a pedicure, write a few pages of your novel, meet up with a friend, work in your garden, take a martial arts class, go see a band… whatever, you get the idea.
Do you. Even if it’s for a short time.

I play the drums a few times a week. That really helps me burn off excess energy, get my aggression out – and provides a solid creative outlet – completely separate from voice over work.

What about you? How do you decompress? Tell me about it in the comments!

4. Look For Ways to Optimize Your Workflow

A simple tweak to an entrenched process may open up your time considerably – and lessen stress.

For example, ten years ago I used to spend so much time on my auditions, it almost felt like there wasn’t time for anything else.

But I wasn’t working smart. I was editing each audition file right after recording it – then moving on to my next audition to repeat the process.

Combatting burnout by improving workflow

A more experienced VO colleague suggested that I batch my auditions.

Batching means that I record them all, one after the other, back to back
Then I edit them all back to back
That way, I get to spend a block of time reading and recording – then a block of time editing

What was most interesting about that new workflow was that I spent considerably less time overall auditioning – even though I was doing the same amount of work. It lightened my load, and I’ve done it ever since.

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5. Consult the VO Community

There are voiceover communities / groups you can join on Facebook, Reddit, etc. Maybe seeing what others experience as voice actors will help reinforce that you’re not alone – or give you an idea on how you can improve an element of your workflow.

6. If You’re Really Struggling, Seek Professional Help

I’m obviously not a doctor.

The closest I’ve come is reading fair balance VO copy into a microphone from my home studio for pharmaceutical commercials – as other actors in lab coats pretend to be doctors on-screen. So… definitely not a doctor.

But it would seem logical that unchecked burnout could lead to things like depression – and other gnarly stuff I’m not remotely qualified to write about.

See a doc or a therapist.

And realize that just because you have your dream job, that doesn’t mean your burnout isn’t as valid as someone else who hates their job.

Finding that sweet spot in terms of work/life balance is a work in progress for most of us, regardless of what we do for a living.

And check out these other things beginner voice actors should know about:

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Curious about how to start your voice acting career? Want to learn more about voice acting and the things beginners should know about the voice over industry? It’s more than just having a great voice. Bring your natural talent and check out this voice over training course for beginners!

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