For dancers, the risk of doing too much and pushing too hard or far is a condition known as burnout. Burnout is a state of consistent or unexplained tiredness, poor performance, negative mood state and increased incident of illness or injury. It is often seen in dancers where training, rehearsing and performing schedules do not give them sufficient time to rest and recover, meaning they are unable to develop sufficiently.
It is the nature of dancers to be highly competitive, working long hours and pushing their bodies in the studio and onstage, sometimes in addition to training outside of dance. This work is relative in that it affects dancers in different ways - for some this level of work may be manageable and for others it can cause great stress for the body and mind. The quality of training must be focused on as opposed to the quantity, and outside the studio it is beneficial to have a non-dance focus that can be enjoyed.
Overall, factors contributing to burnout are complex and often interrelated, and can include emotional and physical stress, poor nutrition, low levels of physical fitness, and inadequate rest and recovery. Busy schedules can also result in burnout, fatigue and injury, so it is important for dancers to understand how rehearsal, class and performance scheduling can affect their health and wellbeing, and how to manage this sufficiently. Also important is dancers' ability to manage high expectations and unnecessary pressure by setting appropriate and realistic goals.
Due to the complex nature of burnout, there is no one best way to identify the signs and avoid the condition. It is important to remember that each dancer and situation is subjective and unique, so awareness is the most important tool of prevention. As a result prevention is more effective than treatment, and education on burnout is also a good prevention strategy. If it is too late to prevent, rest, reduced training and a change of activity patterns are the most effective treatments.