The Hidden Dip: How Tours Can Take Their Toll

Not every tour finishes the way it starts. You might begin with energy, routines, and optimism - but somehow end up dragging your feet, feeling foggy, having emotional outbursts or quietly counting the hours till home. It's a shift that creeps up on everyone, whether you’re experienced in touring, or just starting out.

But what’s actually causing this shift, and why does it happen?

Let’s break it down.

The Phases of a Tour (What are the changes?)

Beginning of the Tour

At the start, most crew feel sharp and switched on. You’re learning new routines, solving new problems, and trying to get your head around the setup. There’s usually a rush of adrenaline and purpose—it’s unfamiliar, but in a good way. There’s excitement, nerves, and energy all mixed together. Socially, it’s also open—you’re still figuring out who everyone is and what the general vibe might be. All in all, you feel fine… busy….but fine.

Settled into the Tour

After a few weeks to a month (tour depending), most people fall into a rhythm. Your department’s flow is second nature, your tools are where you want them, and you’re probably finishing jobs quicker than you were at the beginning. All of this means you’re even getting more free time.

But this is also when time can start to slow down. Without as much challenge or newness, the days begin to feel repetitive. That lack of variety can lead to mental drift or even small mistakes being made, because you’re operating on autopilot.

Some people may also start to feel socially worn down. By now, you’ve figured out who you connect with and who you don’t. There might be ongoing tensions, or the first signs of emotionally charged arguments. Not because something big just happened—but because people are carrying weeks of tiredness, silence, or unspoken frustration.

The Tour’s Been Going a While...

This phase is rarely talked about, but it’s often the beginning of a deeper fatigue. You’re not necessarily struggling, but things are slower. Days blend into each other. You’re still doing the job well—but you’re not as mentally engaged as you once were.

You may start noticing social dynamics shifting too. Some people pull away, others become more intense. There’s often at least one tour drama bubbling in the background, even if it’s just passive tension.

If you’re not being challenged by the work, and there’s nothing new coming in, some people start to unconsciously create their own stimulation. That might mean stirring up social drama, fixating on minor issues, or suddenly obsessing over a job that’s usually routine. It’s not always malicious—it’s just boredom with nowhere to go.

The Homestretch: So Close, But Not Done

This final stretch is often the hardest mentally. The finish line is in sight, but it’s not here yet. That anticipation can cause a surprising level of frustration. You want to be home. You’ve started thinking about being home. But you’re not there—and your body knows it.

Some people suddenly become more irritable, emotionally reactive, or withdrawn. The smallest thing can feel like too much. It’s common to see more emotionally driven arguments or snappiness in this stretch—not necessarily because of what just happened, but because of everything that’s built up over time.

It’s also not unusual for people to get physically ill near the end. Your body might hold off sickness just long enough to get through the job—but once it senses rest is coming, the guard drops. Some crew describe this as their immune system clocking out before they do.

What Could be Causing these slumps? Can I Prevent it?

1.Vitamin D Deficiency

Spending most of your time indoors, in trucks, or in dark venues means your exposure to sunlight is minimal—especially on winter tours or when shows are back-to-back. Low vitamin D has been linked to fatigue, low mood, and poor immune function.

Possible Fix:

Most people can safely supplement with 1000–2000 IU (25–50 mcg) of vitamin D per day. Tablets come in wildly different strengths, so check the label. Alternatively, a UVB-emitting lamp can help, especially for crew who travel light. Try to also take a proper walk outside in daylight, even if it’s only 10 minutes.

2. Poor Diet & Exercise

Some crew seem to power through tours and then immediately get sick the moment they stop. That’s not coincidence—it’s your body recognising that it finally has a window to rest or break down. Your immune system may have been pushing hard to keep going.

Possible Fix:

Try to support your system before the crash happens. Eat decent food when you can, keep your caffeine intake in check, and avoid burning both ends of the candle in the final stretch. Rest where possible—even a short nap or proper lie-down can help regulate your stress and immune response.

3. Low-Level Isolation

Even when surrounded by people, tour can feel isolating. You’re away from home comforts, often stuck in repetitive routines, and you may not have space to just be yourself. The mental drain can build quietly and only become obvious when you experience sudden emotional outbursts.

Possible Fix:

Create small routines that ground you. A morning playlist, a journal, or even a game on your phone can provide that "me space." Regular contact with someone outside the tour—especially someone who gets you—can also help bring perspective.

4. No Outlet Beyond Work

If everything you do is tied to the show, the load-in, or the venue, you’re not giving your brain any alternative input. Eventually, you burn out—not from overwork, but from lack of variety.

Possible Fix:

Try to keep a low-pressure hobby on hand. Something like a small sketchpad, a reading app, or a podcast series. Even 10–20 minutes per day of non-work stimulation can help your brain reset and fight the monotony.

5. Anticipation Fatigue

As soon as you start thinking about home, the mental shift kicks in. Your mind starts moving faster than the days, and that mismatch can cause a surprising amount of stress or irritation. It’s like being stuck in traffic when you can already see your house.

Possible Fix:

Plan your return home—but don’t live in it yet. Set one or two things to look forward to (a day off, a night with friends, even just a decent bath), but avoid fixating too hard. Ground yourself in the task at hand with small, immediate goals: finish the build, pack your kit well, prep for the next show.

Holding Off the Slump

There’s no magic fix—but awareness helps. If you know the decline is common, it’s easier to recognise it when it starts creeping in. Keep your expectations realistic. You don’t need to be buzzing all tour—but you can reduce the low points by looking after yourself in small, regular ways.

Stay hydrated. Make small spaces feel like yours. Keep a sense of humour. Stay out of unnecessary drama. And if the slump hits anyway, don’t beat yourself up. Most people feel it—it’s just part of the job.

The real trick is staying useful, staying decent, and getting to the end in one piece—without losing yourself along the way.

Keep on reading…

References & Further Reading:

1. Vitamin D and Mood/Fatigue

• National Institutes of Health – Office of Dietary Supplements:
  https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/

• Harvard Health: “Vitamin D and your health: Breaking old myths”
  https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/vitamin-d-and-your-health-breaking-old-myths

2. Touring Fatigue & Immune Suppression

• Psychology Today: “Why You Get Sick After Stress” https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201610/why-you-get-sick-after-stress

• British Journal of Sports Medicine: “Stress and the immune system in athletes” (relevant to active work environments) https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/37/6/498

3. Emotional Burnout and Isolation

• Mind UK: “Loneliness and mental health” https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/loneliness/

• NHS: “Symptoms of Stress” https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/stress-symptoms-causes-treatment/

4. Cognitive Stimulation & Monotony

• American Psychological Association: “Your brain on monotony” https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/07/feature-boredom

• Psychology Today: “How boredom can impact your mental health” https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-right-mindset/202105/how-boredom-can-impact-your-mental-health

5. Anticipation Fatigue & Mental Drift

• BBC Worklife: “The stress of anticipation” https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220303-the-unexpected-stress-of-anticipation

• The Guardian: “Why the final push is often the hardest” (contextual, not touring-specific) https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/may/26/final-push-fatigue-why-the-last-bit-is-the-hardest