By day, I’m an occupational therapist. I help people find balance and meaning in their lives, especially when work feels overwhelming. By night, I’m a DJ and music producer. I’ve seen countless peers—and myself—go through hell, struggling to stay relevant and succumbing to the stress of an always-on world.
Let’s be real. Being a modern DJ means you’re not just rocking the decks; you’re also a content creator, a marketer, and a full-time online personality. A killer social media presence is essential for getting gigs and building your brand, but it comes with a major catch: the pressure 1 to be “on” 24/7. This isn’t just a minor hassle; it’s a silent battle that can drain your mental health and kill your creative fire.
This article dives into the real-world problems DJs face in the digital world and shares smart ways to take back control without disappearing entirely. After all, true success isn’t just about going viral; it’s about staying happy and healthy for the long haul. 2
The Digital Burnout
The Algorithmic Grip
Ever wonder why you can’t stop scrolling? It’s not you; it’s the design. Social media platforms are engineered to be addictive. Every like, comment, or share gives your brain a quick hit of dopamine—that feel-good chemical that makes you want more. For DJs, this feedback loop is amplified a hundred times over. A post with a low number of likes doesn’t just feel like a bad post; it can feel like a direct rejection of your art , leading to a mental crash that some have compared to heroin withdrawal. 3
The irony? Music is scientifically proven to help with things like anxiety and depression. Yet, people in the music industry are up to three times more likely to suffer from depression than the average person. The very thing that brings you joy—your music—is now tied to a system that causes stress and burnout. It’s a vicious cycle.
| Trigger | Action | Result |
| You post new content (a mix, a gig photo, a track). | You anxiously wait and check for likes, comments, and shares. | Your brain gets a dopamine hit, reinforcing the habit of constantly checking your phone. |
| A notification pops up. | You immediately stop what you’re doing to check it. | You get a new rush of dopamine, and the cycle continues, making it hard to focus on anything else. |
| Your post gets low engagement. | You feel a “mental crash” or feelings of inadequacy. | Your brain craves another hit to feel good, pushing you to chase more engagement and deepening the addiction. |
Why It’s a Killer for Creativity
Social media is a “highlight reel,” showing only the best moments. This constant stream of perfection can make you feel inadequate and feed imposter syndrome—that nagging feeling that you’re a “phony” who doesn’t deserve your success. This isn’t just about comparing yourself to the biggest DJs in the world; the real anxiety comes from comparing your journey to other DJs “on your level, or just a step ahead of you”. The pressure to live up to these unrealistic standards can lead to procrastination and burnout.
The struggle is compounded by the financial side of the music industry. As one artist put it, the unpredictable nature of the career means seeing a peer get a viral hit feels like a direct threat to your own livelihood. This creates a fear of missing out (FOMO), which can directly lead to increased anxiety and stress.
Real Talk from the DJ Community
It’s clear that this isn’t just a handful of people feeling this way. Online forums are filled with DJs sharing the same struggles.
One veteran DJ with 22 years in the game admitted he had to stop because the constant pressure of being “on” was draining him emotionally and socially. He just couldn’t maintain an active social life with the demands of his career. 4
Another DJ expressed frustration with the ethical dilemma of using platforms he finds “swampy” and full of “AI slop”. He described promoting his work on social media like “advertising on a vehicle for one of those hunting safaris for rich people to hunt endangered species”. He felt trapped in a “cat-and-mouse game” with the algorithm, which has drastically reduced a post’s organic reach over the years. 5
The community is also split on how to deal with the pressure. Some say to separate personal and professional accounts to protect your private life. Others feel that the constant need to create “silly” viral content cheapens their art. It’s a complex problem, and everyone is trying to find their own way through it. 6
The Path to Rejuvenation
The Digital Detox
The solution isn’t to quit social media entirely but to take back control. The first step is the digital detox—a temporary break from screens and constant notifications. This isn’t just a trend; it’s a scientifically-backed way to reduce anxiety, depression, and FOMO.
For artists, the ultimate goal is to get back into that “flow state” —that almost magical feeling where time melts away and ideas just pour out of you. That’s nearly impossible when your brain is constantly distracted by pings and notifications. Dutch DJ Dannic agrees, saying his most creative moments came when he was most relaxed, often “in the hotel room, or when taking the shower”. Taking time away allows you to fill that space with things that fuel your fire, whether it’s going for a walk or just talking to friends.
Building a Sustainable Digital Strategy
A detox is just the start. The real goal is building a healthier, more intentional relationship with your digital life. Here’s how you can make it happen:
- Set Clear Boundaries: Use your phone’s built-in screen time tools, activate “Do Not Disturb” during creative hours, and make tech-free zones in your home. These boundaries aren’t barriers to success; they’re support systems for your focus and mental health.
- Curate a Healthy Feed: Be ruthless about what you consume. Unfollow or mute accounts that consistently make you feel anxious or inadequate. Fill your feed with content that inspires and motivates you, so your online space gives you energy, not drains it.
- Shift from Vanity Metrics to Actual Value: Stop fixating on things like likes, views, and follower counts, which don’t always reflect true growth. Instead, focus on meaningful interactions, like a fan sending a message about how your music impacted them. This redefines success from a numbers game to genuine human connection. 7
- Embrace Strategic Posting: The pressure to post constantly leads to burnout. Instead of feeding the algorithm daily, you can use third-party services to schedule your posts in advance. This breaks the addictive loop of checking for notifications and allows you to focus on creating higher-quality content. Remember, the goal is to build a community, not just promote yourself. 8
Redefining Success on Your Own Terms
The “price of being ‘on’ 24/7” is a real one, but it doesn’t have to control you. By understanding the psychological traps, embracing intentional breaks, and focusing on quality over quantity, you can build a career that’s not only successful but also resilient, authentic, and creatively fulfilling. The ultimate goal is to make social media a tool that serves you, not a master that controls you.
- https://thedj-diaries.com/social-media-tips-for-djs/ ↩︎
- https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/jul/05/cant-pause-internet-social-media-creators-burnout ↩︎
- https://stereomonosunday.com/2021/01/26/musicians-social-media-addiction-and-mental-health/ ↩︎
- https://www.reddit.com/r/DJs/comments/1cbj6ca/mental_health/ ↩︎
- https://www.reddit.com/r/DJs/comments/1m3tw31/when_social_medias_just_too_swampy_to_promote_on/ ↩︎
- https://www.reddit.com/r/DJs/comments/1b21me3/social_media_presence/ ↩︎
- https://blog.symphonic.com/2025/06/26/how-to-protect-your-mental-health-on-social-media-as-an-artist-2/ ↩︎
- https://www.reddit.com/r/digitalminimalism/comments/rvm30f/need_social_media_for_my_career_but_it_is_ruining/ ↩︎
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