What do you do if burnout is impacting your job satisfaction and career as an animator?

Recognize burnout as a serious issue impacting your mental health and work performance. When constant exhaustion and loss of passion occur, take action. Acknowledging burnout is the first step to addressing it directly and avoiding career setbacks.

To reduce stress and achieve more balance, I recommend some kind of journal. ?Pictures on your phone, a list, a phone "note", but something to document your journey. ?Date the journal entries to see your progress. ?Here are some ideas for getting started: What is your WHY?? What is your #1 goal? Ask yourself, "If I could do anything I wanted, what would it be?". ?More often than not, what you want is possible. ? If your stress level is high, make a list of what exactly is causing stress. ?Pinpoint specifically so you can address stress individually. Minimize. ?Don't just clean and organize, reduce what you have. ?I can't tell you why this works, just that the less you have, the happier you will become.

To feel supported, I used 3 things to help in the areas that were the most difficult: Time, Health, and Spirituality Use a calendar. I started scheduling EVERYTHING so that I could really see my days. I was exhaustive in managing my time. Join a workout program. I had the support and accountability I wanted, and many workout options available to be able to exercise before kids were up and later at night. I found a way to improve and my physical health WITH my family. I found a church to attend and signed up for a class. I needed support spiritually, so I found something that made me feel connected again. If there’s anything I learned, stop doing what others expect and do what you feel you need - it worked for me even as a single mom.

Don't face burnout alone. Talk to colleagues, friends, or a professional who understands the animation industry's pressures. Sharing your experiences can provide relief and helpful advice. Remember, your value isn't just about how much you produce.

Set clear boundaries between work and personal life to avoid burnout. As an animator, resist the urge to work late. Schedule time for rest and fun, like turning off work notifications after hours or keeping weekends free. Giving your mind a break boosts creativity and productivity.

Developing a structured daily schedule can significantly enhance productivity. I LOVE using my calendar. It’s helped free up more time in the day and reminds me of what’s important. I go to the gym every morning at 5:30 and I don’t need it on the calendar to remember. It's there to remind me of the priorities I have, set boundaries on other meetings, give myself accountability, and it shows that I value the time I need for myself.? I use Google for all my day to day scheduling, however, for my podcast and doula consults, I use Acuity which links to my Google calendar. That allows me to set up appointment types, ask questions to gain information necessary prior to the appointment, and reduce unnecessary emails, texts, etc… back and forth.

Rediscover your animation passion by going back to what sparked it. Get inspired by favorite films or try new techniques. Personal projects let you explore without client pressure, fostering creativity and growth.

Towards the end of 2021, on a particularly wonderful date night with my husband, he asked some intriguing questions: If you could go back in time - in this life - and choose any career you wanted, what would it be? If you could be born in any culture in the world, what would it be and why? What job would you want? If you could be born at any time what would it be and why? What job would you want? In every situation, I chose the same thing. I WOULD GO BACK TO BIRTH WORK Then he asked me - why don’t you do it now? So we discussed the potential risks. From that conversation, I went down the deepest rabbit hole to determine HOW we could make this possible and in 6 months I went back to being a doula, CLE & CBE. REKINDLE PASSION!

A fantastic method to rekindle your passion involves revisiting a childhood hobby and dedicating time to it. This approach triggers a dual effect. Firstly, stepping out of your comfort zone and immersing yourself in the activity grants your mind a much-needed respite. Secondly, reconnecting with the joy and curiosity of your inner child swiftly pulls you out of burnout and into the present moment. With persistence, delving deep into the process can lead to a state of flow, catalyzing a profound transformation of your current state.

I run with the kids to encourage them and to distract myself. The comments from them while riding their bikes next to me like, “Dude, Mom. Your butt jiggles when you run.” or “Mommy are you running to get your abs back?” keep me very, very motivated for myself and to be the best example to them as possible. I can run on bike paths, the road (which, when there’s no traffic, I’ll be the one running down the middle…) or trails. I allow my kids to map out routes driven by their buses to mix things up. I’m not afraid to get lost. I’m strong. I’m confident. I’m embracing being the woman that I am. It’s bound us more closely as a family and hopefully, has instilled in my children the value of staying healthy and active.

Prioritize your health: Exercise Eat well Sleep This will help you feel better. Since animators spend a lot of time at screens, it's important to move around. Taking short breaks to stretch or walk outside can really help.

Sometimes, a healthy combination of the above tactics will help stave off the worst of burnout, but these should not be reserved only for when you're starting to feel burnt out- they are helpful practices that should be integrated into your routine to help prevent burnout too. And even if you're doing them and feel that it isn't helping, sometimes detaching yourself from the outcome of a project reminding yourself that you're in a position where you're still actively using your skills can help lessen the sting of common stresses and struggles. Recognizing the ways in which your current experiences are still valuable ones may strengthen your resolve when other things outside of work can't.