Ever get that sense of dread before an event? The anxious feeling of pressure to perform. Instead of feeling excited to practice with your buddies, it feels more like a chore. That sense that you just don’t feel “good enough.” Finding yourself getting “tilted” easier in games. If any of this describes you then you’re probably suffering from competitive 40K burnout.
Competitive 40K burnout is all too common among tournament 40K players. I’ve been playing competitive 40K events for over 15 years and I’ve been there myself many times. I know what it’s like to pour over endless list concepts, feeling obligated to practice all the time, and dreading sitting down to paint. I am going to help you recognize when competitive 40K burnout is happening, where it comes from and give tips on how to recharge and come back stronger at the table.
What is Competitive 40K Burnout?
Competitive 40K burnout is when your energy shifts from feeling passionate and excited about the hobby and playing in events to one of obligation and anxiety. The passion for the hobby turns into a sense of duty and just “going through the motions.” Here are some examples of competitive 40K burnout:
- Dreading tournaments or practice sessions
- Feeling overwhelmed with hobbying and painting
- Anxiety and pressure to “win”
- Fear of failure overtakes the “fun” of competition
- Chasing the meta and feeling behind
Every player goes through this eventually. As I mentioned earlier, I’ve experienced it myself many times over the years. Recognizing you’re in a state of burnout is the first step to getting back on the right track.
How Did I Get Here?
Why are you feeling this way? What happened to trigger this burnout state? Well, it can come from many different places. Here are a few examples of some common causes for competitive 40K burnout:
- Too many events – If you’re rocking every event each month you can find yourself getting burned out very quickly
- Chasing the meta – The feeling that your army won’t measure up to what’s “winning” and the sudden spiral into changing factions to play catch-up
- Setting unrealistic goals – Putting added pressure to “win” all the time and nothing else
- Fatigue – Traveling and playing over long weekends with little rest in between
- Going through a slump – Going on a losing streak can make you question your skills and abilities
- Spending all of your free time on 40K
All of these are common causes of competitive 40K burnout. Especially the constant pressure to win. Warhammer 40K is an intensive hobby. It takes a lot of time to research, practice, hobby and paint, and play in events. This can create unnecessary amounts of pressure to perform.
How to Fix Competitive 40K Burnout
So how do you get past this slump and reignite your passion and excitement for competitive 40K? Here are some suggestions for ideas to pull yourself out of that burnout prison and get back to enjoying the hobby you love so much.
- Just take a break – I know it sounds simple, but step away from 40K for a week or longer. Don’t read articles, or dig into the newest meta trends. Sometimes you just need to rest. Take a week off and recharge
- Play for fun – Instead of having a practice night, meetup with buddies to run a narrative or thematic game. Recreate the fall of Cadia or the attack on Baal from Hive Fleet Leviathan or make up your own
- Paint a different project – Pick something new in your pile of shame to work on not for a tournament but simply to try new hobby techniques without the pressure to paint for an event constantly
- Exercise – One of the best ways to recharge yourself mentally is exercise. It doesn’t have to be high intensity. Go for a walk or a swim every day for a week. Take time to clear your head. Exercise is one of the best stress reducers.
- Partake in other hobbies – Be it reading, fishing, dining out, or cooking. Try something else while you’re taking a break
Sometimes we just need to evaluate our mental state and take a break to recharge. Remember, 40K is meant to be fun first and foremost. Take the time to recharge your batteries and try something new. Sometimes a week or two away from the game is enough to rekindle that fire and get back on track.
Preventing Competitive 40K Burnout
Recognizing burnout and recharging is one thing, but how can you prevent yourself from getting back there? How can you avoid repeating this cycle again? Here are some suggestions to prevent competitive 40K burnout:
- Set realistic goals – Instead of simply focusing on trying to “win the event” set goals for yourself that are attainable
- Schedule downtime between events – Hopping from event to event every weekend is certainly a path to burnout. Take a few days post-event to reflect and evaluate and rest
- Focus on process not results – Pick a skill to work on and master in your practice sessions; deployment, target priority, primary objective holding, screening, etc.
- Build and play lists you enjoy not just lists that are “meta” – You will get much more fulfillment playing a list you enjoy than playing something simply because you think you need to because of “meta”
- Compartmentalize 40K – Remember at the end of the day this is just a hobby. Being good or bad at 40K does not define who you are as a person.
Final Thoughts
Competitive 40K burnout is a very real thing. Chances are you either have gone through it or will go through it eventually. Understanding and recognizing its causes, how to get past it and how to prevent it long-term is the key to success. Don’t let anxiety cripple your passion for the hobby. Competitive 40K burnout can be draining, but you can come back recharged and ready to refocus your energy after taking a step back from the game, exploring other interests and changing your mindset.
If you’re new to the game or want to improve quickly, then don’t forget to grab my FREE eBook: Forging Your Path to Victory: A Beginner’s Guide to Competitive 40K. A great starting point for those looking to jump into Competitive 40K. Subscribe and get your free copy!
Want to enjoy the hobby and go even further with techniques to prevent and overcome competitive 40K burnout? Check out my coaching options. I work with my clients to help set achievable goals, focus on process over results and coach on how to balance tactical skill, hobbying and enjoyment all together.
See you on the tabletop
