How Do You Combat Fandom Burnout?

Lately, people have been spending time in their homes, binging their favorite tv shows and movies in order to keep busy. Often, this can lead to fandom burnout. With fandom burnout, many people end up leaving a fandom before they have even finished the series because of constantly watching the show.

When you are watching a show or playing a game every day for multiple days, you can get tired and bored of the same thing, over and over. Reading fanfiction, taking a break, and playing a game or movie of a different category can help push off this burnout.

Fanfiction

My favorite thing to do when I’m watching a show is to read fanfiction about my favorite ship within that fandom. There are a lot of book-length fanfics out there with long thought out plots and the well-developed characters that you already know. The great thing about fanfiction is that many times, authors will have written a ship in alternate universes so people can still take a break from the show while interacting with favorite characters.

You can also try your hand at writing fanfiction. It’s quite relaxing to take a break from your own world and problems to think about fictional characters and how they would react in a certain situation.  Or even putting the favorite characters in the problems you are facing and write out how they would come to a solution, this helps you work through the problem in a new way.

Take A Break

Listen to music, have a dance party, take a walk, anything; really step away from the tv and do something else. Come up with a certain amount of episodes you will watch until you get up and do something else. Or if you need to just chill in bed, change it to a quick movie. If you are watching Supernatural, change it to a comedy, if you are watching The Office, put on a thriller or horror movie just to change up the pace of your viewing.

If you are constantly watching the same characters do basically the same thing for three days in a row, you are going to get bored. Another way to take a break from a fandom is to read a book. Switching from artificial light from your screen to a book can be a relaxing way to change pace and leave a fandom for a break. Also, taking the book outside on a nice day can give you a good source of vitamin D!

Play A Game

Changing to a video game from whatever you are watching can help combat fandom burnout. Also change it from what you are watching, don’t play Left 4 Dead if you are binging The Walking Dead.  While it may seem like a good idea, it will keep you in the same mindset and fandom world and you won’t be getting as much of a break from that fandom as you think you are.

There are cool, free games on your phone that are from different genres without having to pay or with small in-app purchases that aren’t necessary. For a relaxing time with occasional gameplay, I have been playing FarmVille: Tropic Escape and MyLittleParadise. Both involve a beach setting with tasks to make your experience even better. There are plenty of different types of free games on your phone to give you a break before fandom burnout sets in.

On the other hand, if you have sat on your computer and have been playing The Sims or Skyrim for twenty-four hours straight, maybe switch off the screen for a book to give your eyes a break from the blue light.

Long Mid-Season Breaks

Another problem with fandom burnout is getting bored waiting for a favorite show to come back. Especially when it’s a mid-season finale where the cliff hanger is big, but not as shocking as the season finale. A way to keep motivated to watch in between breaks is to keep up with the regularly scheduled program.

If the show comes out every week on Thursday nights at 8pm, watch a favorite episode of the series every Thursday at 8pm. Or re-start the series and watch an episode a week. This will keep you in a routine and in the fandom world without getting burnt out.

Also, as long as you are caught up on the latest episode, follow your favorite actors/actresses from whatever fandom you are in. If it’s a game, you can also follow the game’s Instagram, Twitter, or Tumblr. Following the hashtag of the fandom is also helpful in keeping up with news and release dates along with new fan theories about your favorite characters and funny memes.

Skip The Fandom Burnout

To stop fandom burnout, revisit the things that made you want to participate in the fandom in the first place. Using fanfiction to keep your interest in the fandom is a great way to take a break from what you are doing without leaving the characters behind. Walking away from the TV or book and doing something else to completely disengage from the fandom can be a breath of fresh air and let you have a moment to yourself.

Also, playing a new game or reading a book that isn’t involved with the fandom world you are currently deep diving into gives you a break before fandom burnout occurs. Apart from that, if you are trying to keep yourself interested during long season/mid-season break, keep up with the routine of watching an episode a week. We all get fandom burnout, but figuring out the best way to keep yourself wanting to finish a series or game is all trial and error.