Keeping up with media can lead to fandom burnout, especially if you’re in multiple fandoms. Add in the chaos that comes from daily life, and you discover that there are not enough hours in the day to keep up with everything.
There isn’t one way to be apart of fandom. All it takes is to be a fan of something. Everyone enjoys fandom differently. Some people hyper-fixate on one fandom for years, others juggle multiple fandoms at once. Some people enjoy talking, others enjoy creating, and there are those who don’t engage outside of consuming media. It’s a matter of how you want to enjoy your time within a fandom to avoid fandom burnout.
Keeping the Important Ones Close
Fandom interest ebbs and flows like the ocean waves. It would be unrealistic to ask anyone to constantly release good content. In between the lulls of releases, it’s expected that the fandom will collect other fandoms in the meantime.
However, focusing on the ones at the forefront of your heart is something that can be important for a lot of people. For example, I’m a huge fan of SMT and Soulsborne games, so I follow a lot of people who focus on those topics to ensure that I stay in the loop while I immerse myself in other fandoms.
The thrill of a new fandom can take up a lot of time and energy as you’re navigating through older content to get up to date. However, I personally would like to know when new updates pop up within the fandoms I consider important to me.
FOMO? No, IOTMO
Do you have a fear of missing out? You shouldn’t. Yes, fandoms are fun and give us a chance to connect with people. However, they shouldn’t be at the center of our attention. It’s okay to let them fall to the wayside and focus on reality. You can always pick up right where you left off. No one should feel guilty about this. It’s okay to miss out. Sometimes we need a break to avoid fandom burnout, and that’s normal.
Sometimes, it’s better to enjoy things much later than everyone else. That way, you can gather your own thoughts without other people’s experience affecting yours.
Make Social Media Work For You
Alternate accounts are very common online. Some people create accounts each time they fall into a new fandom. Others, like myself Frankenstein their accounts to reflect all of their fandoms at once. Is it good for the algorithm? No, but this is my fandom experience, and I’m here to have fun in my corner of the internet.
The safest option is to follow the official pages of the fandoms you’re a part of. It’s the easiest way to get news about new releases relating to the fandom you’re in. However, you’re still at the mercy of the algorithm. Sometimes, updates get lost in the shuffle, and you miss out on new releases. It’s happened to me various times. I follow a lot of K-pop labels, and last week I found out several groups I like have released multiple albums in the past three years. Now, I have an onslaught of new music to catch up on. The lesson here is to make sure your notifications are on if it’s for a fandom you prioritize.
Despite Twitter’s current cesspool of an algorithm, it still is the space where most fandoms operate. Reddit is a close contender, but not as widely recommended. Following fans on Twitter who talk about your favorite fandoms is one way to passively stay connected. Over time, you collect a sort of Infinity Gauntlet of creators that keep you updated on fandoms without having to search yourself. One thing to keep in mind is that they are also people who may discover new fandoms and talk about their discoveries. I can’t count how many times I’ve followed a fandom artist down their rabbit hole and ended up obsessed.
TL;DR
Everyone interacts with fandoms differently, and it’s important to cater your experience for yourself. To avoid fandom burnout, step away when you need to, and know that being in a fandom isn’t a competition. You’re there to have fun. If you’re not having fun, there’s no shame in stepping away. You need to develop a healthy space for yourself because no one is going to do it for you.
