When You Can’t Tell If You’re Burnt Out — or Just Tired of Them

By Tharn’s Itchy Chainmail, I Don’t Know If I’m Done or Just Fed Up

You sit down to prep — and yer brain spits dust. You open your notes — and feel your stomach churn. You run a session — and the whole thing feels like draggin’ a stubborn mule through knee-high sludge.

And the worst part? You don’t know if it’s you… or them.

Is it burnout? Or is it the players who never listen, never grow, and never give ya back what you give them?

Lad, if yer caught in that fog — where every map feels heavy and every dice roll hollow — then you’ve wandered into the deepest tunnel of ‘em all. Let’s get you a lantern.

Feelin’ Like Yer Game’s a Grind and Yer Heart Ain’t in It?

👉 Sort the signal from the noise over at the GM Wisdom hall or remember yer reason at About Mike’s Tavern. If ya need to unload before you explode, the contact scroll still works — even if yer soul don’t.

What Burnout Feels Like (Versus What Annoyance Feels Like)

Let’s break it down — because confusing the two can drag you through months of miserable prep before you ever notice.

Signs it’s BURNOUT:

• You feel exhausted before you start.

• The world feels stale even when no one’s messed it up.

• You dread prep time even for new material.

• You miss games you used to love.

• You start fantasizin’ about never runnin’ again — and it feels like relief.

Signs it’s THEM:

• You get irritated when they speak.

• You prep fine — until they derail everything again.

• You feel alert during the game, but annoyed.

• You start wishin’ you could run for other people.

• You keep thinkin’, “This would work with a better group.”

If yer noddin’ to both columns? Then aye, you might be in the thick of both — which means it’s time for a reckoning.

Step One: Name the Fire — and the Fuel

You can’t fix it if you can’t name it. Ask yerself:

• Would I be excited to run this world for someone else?

• If I took a one-month break, would I miss it?

• Do I want to create again — or do I just want quiet?

If the issue’s them, you’ve likely felt echoes of ****When You Gave Them Everything — and They Still Want More.****
If the issue’s you, it might trace back to When You’re the Only One Who Cares If It All Falls Apart.
And if you’re sittin’ at a table full of bodies but no soul? Then lad, you already read ****When the Table’s Full — But It Feels Empty.**** You know the signs.

What to Do If It’s Burnout

• Step away — without guilt. You’re allowed to rest. Yer torch don’t burn forever.

• Find a new fuel. Maybe it’s a one-shot. Maybe it’s runnin’ for a smaller group. Maybe it’s playin’ instead o’ GMing.

• Create without players. Draw maps, write towns, design monsters — for you. Not for them.

Yer joy came first. Let it come again.

What to Do If It’s Them

• Talk. Real talk. Don’t accuse. Say: “I think I’m losin’ the joy because we’re not aligned anymore.”
  Let it breathe. Some’ll shift. Some won’t.

• Trial a new table. Run a side game. With new folk. One session. See if it lights anything back up.

• Protect yer heart. Not everyone deserves what you build. And that ain’t selfish — that’s survival.

Yer Flame Deserves Air — Not Just Another Stone to Smother It

👉 If yer joy’s flickerin’ and yer patience is gone, stop by the GM Wisdom forge and reforge yerself in peace. Or send a flare through the contact scroll — I’ll toss back more than pity.
⚠️ And if anyone dares say, “You’re overreactin’, just run the game,” — I swear on Grabgar’s hammer, I’ll hand ‘em the screen and watch ‘em crumble in two rounds flat.

FAQ

Q: What if I’m both burnt out and bitter at my group?
A: Then rest first. Clarity comes after quiet. Once yer torch is lit again, then you decide if it’s worth carryin’ back into that mine.

Q: Can I end the campaign without warning?
A: You can — but don’t. Give ‘em a heads-up. You ain’t their servant, but ya ain’t a ghost either. Leave clean.

Q: What if I still love the game, just not this table?
A: Then the game’s not the problem. Time to find new chairs.