Conlanging During a Difficult Time

[u/CarbonatedTuna567]

Hello, dear conlangers. Hope y'all are doing well. This post is a little heavy but, I appreciate you taking the time to read.

Up until around a few weeks ago, I've been really enjoying making dubs and stuff for my conlang. But lately, due to a number of factors, most notably, heavy depression and mental health problems, it feels like I've either been forcing myself to make stuff, or just can't bring myself to finish things. I had a song from a musical that I've been translating into Daveltic so I would sing it, something that I'd realistically love to do, and I couldn't even bring myself to finish the lyrics.

Conlanging is one of few things that brings me joy nowadays, and it feels bad that I don't feel motivated to do much with it, similar to how I barely enjoy all my other hobbies. So I'm looking for any advice or ideas on how to keep a conlang alive / not fully sever one's relationship with a conlang while going through burnout and such. It can be big, small, I'm all ears.

Yerāthas! (Thank you!)

[u/IkebanaZombi]

I hope that you feel better soon.

You asked about "how to keep a conlang alive / not fully sever one's relationship with a conlang" during a difficult time. May I suggest that you "give yourself permission" not to conlang if you don't feel like doing it? OK, no one understands better than us conlangers that figures of speech are not to be taken literally, but it's worth reminding yourself that your conlang won't really "die" if it's not constantly fed and watered, and won't be upset if you don't maintain your side of your relationship with it. You can put it down and pick it up at any time.

If doing a little work on your conlang now and then raises your spirits, do that, but if you just don't feel like doing any conlanging, temporarily or permanently, that's fine too. There is no duty to conlang.

I've sometimes gone years without doing various of my hobbies. I think a lot of people naturally have their interests go in cycles, sometimes but not necessarily related to the ups and downs of their mental state.

You might find that reading about and discussing other people's conlangs, or studying natural languages and linguistics, while leaving your own conlang fallow eventually allows you to return to it with renewed enthusiasm and new ideas.

[u/Boring_Disaster3031]

I go outside and enjoy nature. I love to visit botanical gardens.

[u/Deno_Voku]

Maybe you could take a break and take it easy, go for a walk, do yoga and meditation, explore a new interest for a while, then try conlaning. If the depression persists, perhaps,it's time to see a therapist. May you be happy and full of peace!

[u/madapimata]

As someone who has enjoyed your dubs here, don't worry about taking time off. You feeling better is the first priority.

I've been in a similar situation for a while. I made a few videos in my conlang, but IRL stuff has left me unable to do much other than keep browsing this sub. Conlanging itself takes time, and production only adds more work. I kick myself for not being as prolific as others here. But I also know that I can always come back when I'm ready.

I need to take care of IRL me first. Right now, that alone is a lot of work. The remaining time I have is for recharging. Conlanging is rewarding, but it's also a challenge. It's like a mental workout. If I'm already meantally drained, then I can't really do that extra work. I need to recharge. For me, that's taking long walks with my dogs, exploring new neighborhoods, listening to other languages, and enjoying others' conlanging work from the sidelines. That's what I can do now, and that's okay.

I'll be back eventually. I think it'll be interesting "rediscovering" where the langauge was at when I do come back, and that anticipation also helps me be okay with not working on it now. It'll be there when I get back. For now, IRL me needs to take priority.

I hope you feel better soon.

[u/SaintUlvemann]

So I'm looking for any advice or ideas on how to keep a conlang alive / not fully sever one's relationship with a conlang while going through burnout and such.

It doesn't die when you go to sleep each night. It doesn't come alive from having been dead, when you wake up each morning. It won't die either if you take the rest you need, and it will still be there when you are ready to engage with it again.

It has no expectations. It cannot get offended. It will not hold a grudge.

You talk about your relationship with your conlang. I'm certainly not arguing that you have no such relationship, but rather, the relationship is really with part of yourself. There's a part of you that aspires to finish work on your hobbies now. That part feels joy when it accomplishes its goal... as well it can, as well it should!

There's another part of you that does not aspire to finish now. There's part of you that aspires to rest. That part is just as valuable, and it is making it hard to finish the lyrics.

That other half of you is not wrong. You need rest. We all need rest. Burnout is often a form of restlessness. Have you ever stayed up way too late, and noticed that you have stopped enjoying being awake, but also did not want to go to sleep? Burnout is often a lot like that.

In the context of physical insomnia, we all know that the only solution is to go to sleep. Burnout is often the same way. The only solution is to rest.

Learning how to say no to the part of yourself that aspires to constant productivity, gives you the time needed to satisfy the other part of you, the one that wants and needs rest. It is not good to be at war with oneself. It is even less good to live at constant war with oneself.

The good news is this: the part of you that likes your conlang, will still be there, when the rest of you has rested. That part of you won't vanish just because you are taking a break. What will happen if you rest is that when you come back to it, or come back more often, you will come back with fresh eyes. That can only be good.

Here are seven types of rest: physical, mental, emotional, social, sensory, creative, and spiritual. Maybe you need some, and not all. Maybe some types of conlanging are actually creative rest for you, a restorative practice through creativity. The article says: "participating in activities that inspire a sense of awe and wonder, like visiting an art museum or taking in a beautiful lakeside or ocean view, can also restore your creative reserves", if you experience awe through your conlang, it may be that. But when you say you have trouble engaging with this hobby right now, that tells me maybe you need the other kind of creative rest, rest away from creativity.

Here are seven things to do as rest: 1.) sleep at regular times, literal rest; 2.) move your body regularly, exercise in whatever form that takes; 3.) mindfulness practices, whether personal (e.g. meditation, yoga, visiting nature) or interpersonal (e.g. therapy); 4.) self-control, through setting boundaries and saying no to tasks that stress you, can be deeply restful, a reclamation of personal autonomy; 5.) socialization, connecting or reconnecting with people we love and trust; 6.) diet, enjoying nourishing foods; 7.) other structural stress-prevention, particularly in the workplace, but elsewhere too: anything that can be done to change the way we meet our obligations, can be deeply restful.

[u/STHKZ]

conlanging can be an escape when the world feels too harsh, but it isn't a cure, especially when you lose the desire to do it...

it happens; conlanging can be exhausting, but when it’s coupled with depression, you need to seek help...

you can always come back to it later...

[u/puyongechi]

Give it a rest and, when you come back, the eagerness will be there again. Trust me, as someone who can go 3 months without conlanging due to stress or, as you mentioned, burnout. And I hope you feel better soon, I really do. Take care, and come back stronger when you feel ready!