It’s good to be busy, especially in the entertainment world.  You know you have to get out there and stay out there to book gigs and make things happen.  You have to be well-known and recognized for this thing to work, and the way you work your brand is everything.

But, how much is too much?  How can you effectively manage your schedule to stay just busy enough to make it while avoiding burn out?  Here are some signs that could signal it’s time to scale back some, according to Forbes.

Exhaustion

Of course, one of the biggest signs that you are doing too much is total exhaustion. If you are at the point in which you cannot remember where you need to be and when, you’re forgetting what you need to do to prepare, or, worse case scenario, you show up to the wrong gig on the wrong day, it’s probably time for some self-reflection.  You don’t want to spread yourself so thin that you are no longer effective.  It’s better to scale back before you get to that point than to earn a bad reputation.

Frustration

If you become so frustrated you’re ready to throw in the towel entirely and you can’t feasibly muster up any more energy to continue on the path, take a breather for a bit.  You don’t have to give up altogether just yet.  Rest up until you’re feeling motivated to give it a go again.  Sometimes, a day or two of downtime is all you need to re-energize.

Interpersonal problems

When you’re overly tired and are running on fumes, it’s common to develop problems in relationships both at and outside of work.  If everyone is starting to irritate you for no apparent reason and you’re constantly in a bad mood and inciting arguments, you can no longer be effective.  It’s that simple.  So, take some time to yourself and try to figure out a more meaningful way to handle the demands of your chosen career path.  Working in entertainment can be mentally, physically, and emotionally draining, especially if you don’t take some time for self-care.  It’s all about maintaining balance.

Remember, this is your career and you have to put yourself first.  Make sure you’re checking in with yourself every so often and being honest about where you’re at.  There’s no shame in hitting pause to fill your tank before getting back into the game.