Daniel interviewing legendary game developer Keiichiro Toyama on stage at the China Game Developers Conference 2024 in Shanghai. (©Daniel Robson)
This summer, I celebrated 25 years working in pop-culture journalism. Well, I didn't actually celebrate, because that would have been rather arrogant. Also, I was, as usual, far too busy. Journalism is not a career that affords a lot of free time. As the Chief Editor of IGN Japan, a Japanese-language game and entertainment news site, I wear a lot of hats. No two days are the same.
Yesterday I was a reporter, today a team manager, tomorrow a video editor. I write and edit articles, conduct interviews, talk critically on camera, produce videos and podcasts, work with partner companies, and tons more.
I love it. I've never felt comfortable in my comfort zone, and I much prefer having new challenges to tackle, new worlds to explore, new fires to put out. Also, I get to spend time talking with game developers, musicians, filmmakers, actors, writers, and artists, a circle where I learn so much and feel completely at home.
A Day in the Life
But what comes hand in hand with that is loooooong work hours. Between overseas and domestic trips, covering late-night breaking news, working with colleagues across multiple time zones, and a never-ending selection of videogames, movies, and TV shows to engage with, I've never come close to a reasonable work-life balance. And I've never really minded, either. Making stuff is fun, and I'd rather be creative than relaxed.
I've always been this way. Japan has a reputation for its long working hours. But even when I was still in London, I would leave my day job as a magazine editor and go home to write more articles as a freelancer, with thousands of articles published in magazines, newspapers, and websites around the world.
For decades I have augmented long working hours with even more work because I'm interested in too many things and I prefer to keep creative. I can't really sit still and do nothing — I get antsy.
What Charges Your Batteries?
Over the past six months, I've attended game expos and other events in Los Angeles, Kyoto, Shanghai, Cologne, Chiba, Kuala Lumpur, Bali, Singapore, Seoul, Busan, and Osaka, many of which I've written about in this column.
Each expo means several long days on the show floor, learning about dozens of new games, meeting with partners and friends, attending mixer parties, grabbing a few hours' sleep, and doing it again the next day.
Friends ask how I have the stamina for it, but in all honesty, nothing charges my batteries like a game expo. Finding amazing new games, making friends around the world, eating incredible local food — I love every second of it. This deviation from the daily routine is always a thrill.
Balancing Passion and Burnout
Obviously, not everyone is built that way. I've known many friends and colleagues who have succumbed to burnout, and the risk is real. It's not always easy to identify stress, and harder still to relieve it. And when stress overtakes your system, it can destroy your self-confidence and your ability to think clearly. Stress can even manifest as physical ailments, from unseasonal colds to full-on panic attacks.
Over the past quarter century, I have of course had periods of stress, but I've always been able to refocus on work to overcome it. Not everyone is that lucky.
Part of how I have managed to avoid burnout all this time is by doing a job I love, but what happens when what you love starts to cause you stress? Personally, I've always gotten through rough or busy times by listening to music, and by taking an evening away from the computer and smartphone screen to go to a concert, see friends, or visit a local bar.
Also, as my work life has become more and more digital, I have found more tactile hobbies, such as constructing huge Lego sets with detailed instruction manuals to keep my hands busy and my mind focused.
My job involves a lot of decision-making, so following a set of instructions for a semi-creative project like this is quite soothing. And sometimes while my mind is occupied with these activities, it will wander sufficiently to solve a work problem or have a new idea.
Tackling Stress at Work
On a more professional level, I find that keeping notes and a detailed schedule helps to keep me on top of (most of) my work. With so many different hats to wear, I'll often have ideas related to one project while working on another, so I make a habit of writing everything down.
I set reminders on my phone/Mac calendar or write more detailed notes in the notepad app on my phone. That way, I can forget about the idea in the short term and come back to it later. It also means I can preserve some spontaneity in my schedule so that my days do not become too rigid and dull. These kinds of habits help me to navigate the chaos and avoid getting stressed in the first place.
Advice from The Sims
Some people manage their stress in other ways. Recently I was tickled by this Twitter post which offered burnout tips taken from The Sims videogame series, which is surprisingly sound advice:
The post reads, "Burnout is decreased by relaxing — lounging in lounge chairs, taking naps, taking bubble baths, having a nice drink, sitting around watching TV, using hot tubs, getting massages, wearing face masks, doing Spa stuff in general, playing with kids, playing games, dancing, reading, lighting incense, drinking tea, anything logically relaxing is almost guaranteed to count as relaxing."
This is intended as a set of tips for managing fictional characters in a life-simulator videogame, but you could totally apply it to real life.
Some of those activities would drive me nuts — my always-on brain would bounce around like crazy in a hot tub or spa — but you get the idea. Playing games is an especially good suggestion, as games give you achievable goals and a level of immersion that can distract you from reality for a while.
I recently came across a Twitter post with a quote from one-time Major League Baseball player and coach Mookie Wilson. I have no idea whether this quote is real — it certainly reads like parody — but it's such charming advice that I can't help but love it.
"When I'm in a slump, I comfort myself by saying if I believe in dinosaurs, then somewhere, they must be believing in me," he says. "And if they believe in me, then I can believe in me."
Battling Imposter Syndrome
People who work in creative fields are often plagued by imposter syndrome, where you feel as if your best work is never good enough. Working in the online space exposes you to all sorts of criticism, from offensive comments on YouTube videos to anonymous trolls on social media.
All of this can heavily damage your self-esteem. After a while, you develop a thick skin, but it's not easy. I'm always careful to consider how reader reactions to our coverage will affect our younger or less experienced writers, as the comments section can sometimes get nasty. Dinosaurs or no dinosaurs, believing in yourself is a big part of the puzzle.
And of course, I'm very, very far from perfect. A quarter-century of pursuing a creative career has left deep, permanent bags under my eyes. I often bite off far more than I can chew, and I manage to chew it anyway, but keeping so many promises means cutting back on sleep.
I try to make plenty of time for my family, but my being away a lot is a strain for them, and I rarely have time to see friends outside of work events. I have a gym membership I never have time to use, and I play a wide range of videogames but I rarely get to finish them. Year after year, I watch my annual holiday allowance disappear, as I wouldn't know what to do with time off anyway. And so on.
Believe in Dinosaurs
So where am I going with this? I guess I have two points to make. First, burnout is real, stress can be damaging. If you're considering a career in game media or any other intensive industry you should watch your own mental and physical health and take steps to avoid going off the rails. Get some sunshine, talk your problems through with someone, and learn from The Sims.
Second, don't be ashamed to be a workaholic. Some of us just can't help it. No matter how many self-help social media posts tell me to pursue a healthy work-life balance, I'll take a creative work life over "me time" any day.
Oh wait, and a third point: Believe in dinosaurs. And believe in yourself.
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Author: Daniel Robson
Daniel Robson is the chief editor of videogame news site IGN Japan. Read his series Gamer's World on JAPAN Forward, and find him on X (formerly Twitter).
