Creative Burnout
I realized recently that it has been several months since I made an update to this blog. I wondered how I could let the activity fall so far behind, especially when I consider it to be important for staying immersed in the creative world. It soon became clear that I might be suffering from burnout, like so many others during this time of COVID and remote working.
As much as I appreciate the flexibility I get from remote work, I find that I’m less likely to take the breaks I need throughout the day. There’s no coworkers stopping by my desk to chat. There’s no discussion of weekend plans happening over a cup of coffee. Now my days are very much filled with 8 hours of exclusive desk time and focused work. I get a lot more done, but potentially at a cost.
I found an article on Dribbble about engaging in healthier habits in order to prevent that burnout. “5 healthy habits you need to manage creative burnout in 2021” outlines clear actions you can take to help. Even though it’s now 2022, I think the principles still stand.
Understand (and embrace) your internal clock. For me, this means treating my most creative hours, from 10am to 2pm, as a priority. This is the time for me to hone in and get my projects done. During the other hours of the work day, I can give myself some grace. Take breaks. Answer emails. Stop forcing myself to be creative 100% of the time.
Make time for your hobbies. Using all my creative energy at work, I find it difficult to pursue creative hobbies once the work day is over. Recently, however, I did a little painting while following along to a Bob Ross video. It was a small commitment, with no pressure to produce anything outstanding. I found this activity was just what I needed—I felt refreshed the next day at work. I hope to continue to place importance on this type of after-work activity.
Don’t stay chained to your desk. This is something I am really struggling with right now. I used to take a long walk everyday to keep my body moving and my mind fresh. Unfortunately, it’s been particularly cold and taking a walk outside hasn’t been an option. It’s easy, then, for me to skip that break altogether. I hope as the weather warms up, I’m able to take the time to focus more on physical wellness.
Say no when you need to. As someone who loves being a team-player and supporting other associates, it’s easy to fall into the “yes” trap. One of my goals for 2022 is to clearly articulate my own needs: when I can take on work and when I have too much on my plate. If I do have too much going on, I want to work on delegating those items to the rest of my team.
Take (real) breaks. No one can be creative all the time. Taking breaks is the best way to refresh the mind and come back to a project with new ideas.
“If you want to maintain your creativity, it’s important to draw boundaries around your own needs.”
With greater awareness on my own creative burnout, I’m hoping to continue into 2022 striving for better balance in all areas of my life.