My hobby burnout - And why these tanks are important

[@lynnhavard3684]

I had hobby burnout for about 3 after I spray varnished some figures I had spent a lot of time and effort on and they went foggy as all hell. Looked like they had volcanic ash all over them. Took away all of my motivation to do anything miniatures related. At then time, I couldn’t find anything online to reverse it short of stripping them down and starting again and I wasn’t about to do that. Didn’t start painting again until the beginning of this year and found a solution to my “foggy” models along the way. Appreciate the video, Ste. When creators let their audiences know that life and themselves sometimes get in the way of hobbying, it lets us all know we’re not alone.

[@OnPointHQ]

This has happened to me in past. If I have been working on something that I'm not happy with, I've found that can affect my motivation. Working on something that you don't find enjoyable is noy hobbying, it's more of a chore and painting should never be like that. If you're not happy, put it to one side and paint something you know you'll enjoy 😀👍

[@JackSargePainting]

There is definitely a dopamine hit when you finish a project or build. I can get rather sidetracked by video games at times, and yes they can give you a buzz, but once I've turned it off I have nothing to show for it. The cool thing about a hobby where you make and create is that there is a physical thing at the end. Thanks for the video 🙂

[@OnPointHQ]

Definitely agree with that. Having something tangible at the end of a project is a motivation to complete it. I always enjoy the feeling of having something fully finished in front of me, makes the entire hobby worthwhile 😀👍

[@WargamingHistory]

Around 12 years ago, I really went through hobby burn out and sold quite a bit of my collection. I threw myself back into medieval reenacting,from there like you I went back to one of my early loves modelling aircraft. Then large scale models, from which I won gold much to my surprise in a EU event. I do think it is healthy to take a break and recharge your batteries, change it up and do a single miniature rather than a army, Since then I have moved countries and started a wargames business focusing on actually walking the battlfields in western France. My collection now is almost three times as big but more focused on the sixty battles and battlefields around me, still modelling aircraft every now and then as I enjoy it so much. Cheers Matt French Wargame Holidays

[@OnPointHQ]

Definitely agree with the taking a break from the hobby Matt. Early on, I tried to force myself to paint something but there was absolutely no enthusiasm. Having that break to do other things was what I needed and then focusing on something that I had enjoyed in the past just seemed to click. After the two tanks, I tried some individual figures rather than units or squads until I felt that I was able to paint Landsknechts again 😀👍

[@WARdROBEPlaysWWII]

I like the idea of focusing on specific battles. That would be good to perfect the rules, the OOBs of the battles and terrain.

[@richardhawes2205]

I think having a community around you can help a lot. It gives purpose and a measure of accountability. Thanks for sharing and I'm glad you got your 'mojo' back. Rich

[@OnPointHQ]

Cheers Rich, I've really enjoyed my painting and hobbying since getting over the burnout. Being part of the community definitely helped, people providing advice and support was helpful 😀👍

[@basicminiaturepainting]

It's been off and on for me over the last few months,a great community helps nice tanks mate

[@OnPointHQ]

Thanks Justin, I think we all go through ebbs and flows when it comes to the hobby. Even now I can still go a few days doing other things rather than painting. After the last burnout, I'm a lot more comfortable with this 😀👍

[@darrenrichardson6146]

I see you Base Your Tanks, good man! And yes, hobby burnout is real, I got hit with it bad after my mother died in the late 90's when I just left school, got rid of almost everything which I still regret to this day.

[@OnPointHQ]

Ahhh yes, basing tanks is definitely the way! This bout of burnout was definitely the worst I've ever had and I was seriously considering stepping away from the hobby as I was convinced that I'd never pick up a paintbrush again. Very grateful that I managed to get through it 👍

[@carstenlambert9348]

Thank you for this video and such a brave act actually speaking about it. Others would probably just disappear. All the best

[@OnPointHQ]

Thank you! I've had burnout in the past but that last episode was particularly bad. I'm just glad to share the experience and hopefully it will help others 😀

[@martinradcliffe4798]

I think sometimes a little- or even a long- break from the hobby (any hobby) can be a good thing. We can come back refreshed and maybe even with a slightly different perspective- possibly slightly less obsessional in my case.

[@OnPointHQ]

Definitely agree with this Martin. I think the break from the hobby has worked out really well for me, it's given me a different perspective and focus on what I've been painting since then 😀👍

[@darrinstanaway8943]

Great listening to someone else's view on burnout,yes it can be a struggle at times but agree wen you see a finished item you paint it's the achievement your comment on doing something you havnt done before or for awhile,I can be mentally draining but I like to as you said take a break sit back,but once I got back to my table the inspiration started to come back I looked at what I have achieved and felt proud looked at some of my comments from my channel postings and the positive people from the hobby and felt maybe I am good enough to do what I do ,and my partner was always encouraging me and supportive,I dont game much but really enjoy painting and creating something for someone who will enjoy and be proud to field it on the table yes I do some of my own armies and figures which I find helps pull me back from hobby block well your quick words were good to hear we in this hobby need to pull from each others experience and its great hobby full of great people always there to help share pick us up wen were in the hobby block well I'm off to my paint table to get some therapy and some sense of achievement hope i made sense and always a great watch your a very talented painter(artist) your work is top in my books Steve anyway have a lovely weekend and take care till next time mate

[@OnPointHQ]

That's awesome, thanks Darrin! I think we all take something from the hobby, but when burnout occurs I think we all have different ways of getting over this. For me, it was just doing something that I had previously enjoyed that got me through it. You're right in that seeing something finished and completed when you've struggled with motivation or enthusiasm is inspiring 😀👍

[@steveharbour845]

Great video that's important to have out there. Personally I haven't had hobby burnout 🤞 however project burnout is a real thing for me.

[@OnPointHQ]

Cheers Steve, much appreciated. Project burnout is definitely a thing I've experienced. Painting Epic ACW is a good example, I have to balance out painting these as its very easy to become burnt out with them 😀👍

[@steveharbour845]

@@OnPointHQ agreed. It's probably why I like to have at least half a dozen projects on the go. Or is that just being a wargamer?

[@jvcpaints]

The heat here is oppressive and it is only possible to paint between 5 and 7 in the morning before it's impossible. Losing one's mojo is unfortunately part of the hobby and it tends to happen when external stresses creep into the sub conscious and then just make everything shitty. At least in my case. I find it's always good to just hit the stash and pick something out randomly to get yourself going again.

[@OnPointHQ]

Living in the UK, thankfully the weather doesn't tend to affect hobbying. I agree with you about external stresses also having an impact on the hobby and in itself can lead to burnout. The random stash item has certainly helped me in the past, painting for the just the enjoyment of painting definitely helps 😀👍

[@neiloldham8914]

I had the same, bought the new Warlord Rangers, loved building and painting them. Then I built an M8 Scott today, yes they’re utterly crap, but what a cool looking vehicle. I’m already for V3 Bolt Action.

[@OnPointHQ]

I think finding a kit or miniatures that get you back to painting and hobbying is always great. Having seen your work on your US Rangers, it's clear to see you've been enjoying working on them 😀👍

[@The_Ben_M]

I’m going though this at the moment Ste, haven’t touched anything for a few weeks now and nothing is exciting me!

[@OnPointHQ]

That's definitely how I felt! Looking through the stash, other people's projects and videos.....nothing. Best advice I can give is a break is good, trying to paint or build when you feel you have to never helps. Choose something you know you'll enjoy, no matter how small or even if it's for ten minutes. Working on that Churchill was for a short while each night but seeing it finished changed everything. Hope you get the enthusiasm back soon dude 😀👍

[@basement1908]

STE = Beast Mode!

[@OnPointHQ]

It was a bit of a struggle but I got there 😁👍

[@leighhadley8040]

I was made redundant last year and so decided to take early retirement well slightly early i am in my sixty's, so got stuck into my pile of potential but found that started to loose the drive, so i took a break , just stepped back away from it, but this break did me good i realised i don't have to paint, build, game i just thought just relax and i am now back in production mode but i don't beat myself up if i don't get any hobby done for weeks. And yes my profile pic was my Job when i was a younger man, so maybe that old discipline helped..lol

[@OnPointHQ]

I've found that the burnout can happen at any time and I'm under no illusions that it'll happen to me again. Stepping back, having a break from everything before returning is something I would always recommend. The hobby will always be there, nothing bad is going to happen if you don't pick up a paintbrush for a week and it's actually pretty healthy to spend time on other hobbies, nothing to be gained by forcing it 😃👍

[@simonstokes707]

I'd be interested to know if your burn out extended to playing games and researching games too. My personal Venn diagram of wargaming is centred much more on these two aspects and less on the painting/modelling aspect so when I can no longer look at a paint brush let alone pick one up (which happens quite often), it's the gaming and the research that sustains me in the hobby.

[@OnPointHQ]

Hey Simon, it was both the painting/modelling and gaming aspects of it. Usually I'd solo play a few games of Space Weirdos or something buy I just had no motivation to do so. On the research side, I was still reading a lot of history books like normal. Quite the bizarre experience 😀

[@simonstokes707]

@@OnPointHQ Definitely an odd one to have the gaming and the painting both go on you simultaneously. So very pleased that you're now happy and back in the hobby again though.

[@hwadinskij7495]

I dont paint for like 3 months then i get hyperfocused and paint 24/7 for 1 month but then crash for 3 months again. Gf says i have autism, maybe shes right lol

[@OnPointHQ]

I think we all have different painting thresholds. Normally if I have a burnout it's usually a week or so and then I feel refreshed and back to it. This was the longest and worst hobby burnout I've ever has and I'm very very glad I'm over it 😃👍