[jderiksen]

Very much relate to this comment.

I burned out twice. Both times I took a break with the intention of starting a new career.

The first time I considered getting into music professionally only to find that my colleagues were not only substantially more educated and technically capable but also that they had to focus a lot of energy on teaching and traveling. I had enough savings that when I returned to contract work I could do it very much part-time and pursue music heavily with little profit motive.

The second time I burned out I tried to get into the mental health space only to find that the training was too intense and that the pay was not going to be great unless I went back to grad school, again, which I was not interested in. Again, I returned to working part-time.

Eventually I found a role where I could work 30 hours per week with full benefits and people who I like. Plenty of vacation time for touring and attending music intensives.

At least for me, the key to preventing burnout is not working full-time which gives me time to start and end my day putting energy into satisfying my interests and passions with no profit motive.