Is Listening Fatigue a Thing?

[Wabatuckian]

I'll make a recording, listen to it, and it sucks, especially my singing.

When I come back to it a day to a few days later, it suddenly doesn't sound terrible.

Is this a thing, or is it just me? Is it a good idea to let the piece "rest" before mixing or judging?

 

[Slouching Raymond]

Happens to me too.
You are more detached when you come back to it weeks or months later.

 

[Steenamaroo]

It's absolutely a thing.
It's usually the reverse where you work and work until you're convinced everything sounds good,
then the next day it sounds awful.

We acclimatise to what we're hearing over time so the advice is usually to avoid loud mixing levels, to mix in short bursts,
maybe 15-20 mins for some, and take frequent breaks.

Making fast instinct decisions and notes where needed on first listen can be really useful too,
as long as you learn to trust them later when your ears are telling you otherwise!