How can you prevent creative burnout in your career?

Throughout my career, burnout symptoms I’ve experienced were not just physical or emotional discomfort and agitation-related signs (which were all very present). There’s a whole side of creative burnout that felt to me like boredom, depression and lethargy - the inability to focus, the skepticism toward the future, the struggle in finding the joy when all I could feel was heaviness.

Preventing career burnout is very important. Here are some key strategies that has worked for me: 1. Set Boundaries: Maintain a healthy work-life balance. 2. Follow Passions: Align your career with what inspires you. 3. Self-Care: Prioritize well-being with daily rituals. 4. Seek Support: Lean on mentors, colleagues, and friends. 5. Learn to Say "No": Don't overcommit; set limits. 6. Embrace Learning: Stay curious and adaptable.

Boundaries. It's not possible to avoid burnout without knowing what your boundaries are and then enforcing them. This may look like: - Installing an app blocker to prevent you from checking emails and Slack on holiday. - Working for a company that respects your work-life boundaries. - Setting clear expectations with people about what you need to get the job done (e.g. 'I'm happy to help with this however I will need x, y, z to get it done for you') - Checking notifications at set times when you're in the right headspace to deal with them (I have my notifications turned off at all times for this reason). - OHIO (Only Handle It Once) - see above. - Going with your gut and saying no to clients and projects that aren't a great fit.

Your body will always send you signals, but we usually do not pay attention - and when we do it’s too late: you cannot sleep or start having panic episodes.

A few things I've have found very helpful and try to keep up: 1. Upskilling/Learning: Read books, listen to podcasts, study up on best practices, read blogs, take a course, watch films, get out and about. These have helped me look at the bigger picture & jump-started my creativity. 2. Calendar Blocking: This has been a total game-changer for me. Planning out my day/week in advance & including time blocks for sports, downtime, socialising, learning & work-related tasks which ladder up to priority goals. Carving out time for brainstorming/flow has made all the difference. 3. Exercise: Blocking out time to do whatever kind of movement makes you happy. I'm a big fan of team sports because I can do this while socialising.

To prevent creative burnout, having personal boundaries is essential. Creative minds need 'nothing' time—a period for ideas to naturally emerge. These moments of stillness foster inspiration and protect against burnout. I think it is okay to say no to something.

Any good creative leader understands that creativity is not a linear task. Sure, sometimes you'll solve a brief in a breeze but when things just don't click instantly, it's on your court to let your lead know that you'll need more time and space to think, or maybe an extra hand (mind) to help you solve this task. Don't be afraid of raising your hand, the only other option is overwhelming yourself and that won't end well, trust me.

Managing workload is important, but I also think it may be even more important to structure your creative time to align with your overall sense of energy and inspiration. One of the most impactful things I have done is working less hours; blocking my deep-focus design time to 6 hours per day and spending the rest of my day on less intensive tasks. My inspiration and quality of work has gone through the roof! Be realistic with yourself, as creatives we have a limited amount of creative inspiration and energy each day, and we need time to recharge, see the world and refill that inspiration flow. My clients have never been happier, and I have never felt more fulfilled!

When deadlines, ideas, and schedules live in your head, it can be overwhelming. When my workload feels too busy or unfocused, I take an old-school approach to help ground me. I write out two weeks of work, one page per day, and tack it up on my wall. In an age of digital tools, there's nothing like the power of pen and paper. Seeing your workload written down can help you visualize priorities and spot gaps in your schedule. Start with hard and soft deadlines, tasks, and meetings. This helps you spread out the work, instead of thinking about everything stacked on top of each other. Every single time I do this, without fail, I find that not only is my schedule more open than I thought, but it's easier to focus on one task at a time.

Manging your work with the added task pf assigning work to others in a timely manner helps deal with the burnout very effectively. Get sorted, know what you have to do, communicate realistic timelines and be pro-active in assigning and delegating work so that you and your team as a unit can manage responsibilities and tasks.

As a content creator, one of the best thing you can do is take regular breaks! This allows you to rest that creative part of your mind and pour into other areas of your life which could lead to new inspirations, ideas, and different ways of thinking. Try and take a break at least 3-5 times in a year. Your creative endeavors will thank you!

Set aside daily time to quiet the mind. It is a simple way to recharge. Our minds overflow with thoughts and feelings, but when we feel burned out, new ideas can’t rise like cream to the top. Let it rest. I find inspiration from artists who create in completely different categories. I might listen to a master class, walk through an art gallery or read nonsense poetry. It frees me from the concerns of the work environment and uses creativity to refresh my spirit. Seeking out joy is as important as breathing. It can be found in the simplest things — the way a shadow lands on a tree or moonlight sparkles in the snow. Nurturing an internal compass for joy can help you stay connected to your purpose and your passion.

As a creative, you can't force ideas and innovation at the click of a finger or staring at your screen for hours on end. It's important that you take breaks, allow your mind to wander and move your body. Inspiration can come in the craziest ways. Make time for fun, relaxation and resetting. There is no right way to rest or take a break, do what feels best for your body and mind.

Even if we take breaks, make creative use of them - like doing something really cool and meaningful, to enrich our lives and make us truly unique individuals. Instead of doing something routine or even getting more sleep, experience more in life. For example, I've been working with a TV station as a travel show guest host, sponsored by a motorcycle company as a guest traveler for my round-Taiwan trip, and traveled to places that are less known like North Korea when it is still open to Chinese. All done in my annual leaves and gap time. Surprisingly, breaks and rests are often great opportunities to transform us as we will be much more receptive. Get yourself well-charged with fresh energy.

I learned this the hard way. I worked as many hours as I could to try and get everything done, but it came to a point when no only the the work suffered but my health did too. After that, I realised that regular breaks actually made me more productive. I knew that at 3pm my creativity would stop, so I stopped doing creative work and start admin work instead. At lunch I go for a walk, it helps to clear the mind and sometimes inspires new thinking. I also find as well as resting, exercise is essential. It rests the mind, but keeps the body healthy.

I just got a major dose of inspiration by mentoring a bunch of college students. Man, did that make me feel wanted, needed, respected, etc. Go find a way to help younger people. They will love you so much, it’ll be a huge boost!

When I'm feeling creatively stuck, I choose one thing to focus on and explore it inside and out. For example, I once spent a whole month exploring the color red. I photographed it, searched for it everywhere I looked, learned its history, how it's used in pigments and paint, its symbolism, and its many shades. Exercises like this force me to appreciate the infinite beauty and wonder that a single idea, object, or concept can hold. We can get stuck in a one-dimensional approach to our work, which causes us to overlook the many opportunities for inspiration that surround us. Instead of trying to find inspiration in more things, take a closer look at the world right in front of you.

Creativity is fragile. It needs to be fed, but not too much, for consuming an excessive amount of information may destroy its delicate balance. It needs space to grow, but should not be forced.

When feeling burnt out, I try and take time to remind myself of all of the reasons I’m doing the work I do. For example, I can be reminded of my deep passion for storytelling and idea-sharing by watching a favorite movie, visiting an art gallery, or coming back to a favorite TED talk or inspirational speech. That renewed inspiration reminds me that at the end of the day, what I’m doing is important and I’m lucky to have the opportunities I do to make an impact.

For me, preventing creative burnout involves staying proactive and open-minded. I continuously seek inspiration beyond my usual interests, exploring diverse perspectives through books, movies, and experiences can reignite my passion. Don't hesitate to delve into new domains until you find that spark! Great things motivate me to be great.

Work isn't everything! I think there are too many people spouting how they put success down to only having an hour's sleep, that you can't succeed unless you put in 150% etc. The machismo of business over everything is poisonous. People may be successful in their businesses, but what about their family, friends, and own mental health? I'd rather be healthy and have a loving family and friends who I know will be there for me, over being lonely but have a load of money in the bank.

Journal about your life outside of work. Write about your hobbies, adventures, and personal experiences. Use your journal as a reminder to maintain a balanced and fulfilling life.

It's 2am. I'm the last to leave the office. My first big photo shoot as creative director is in 2 days. I'm in the back of a taxi. Crying my eyes out. This is burnout. How did I get here? I should have asked for help faster. I tried to do it all myself. I didn't trust the people around me. I wanted to be a hero. Granted, the company culture in the ad agency could have been better, & I was out of my depth. The project got done. It always does. But it almost cost me my relationship & it wasn't a good time for my health. Since that day, I have stopped trying to be a hero. I still have ambitions & I like to do great work. But now I can put it down. Spending time with my family is way more important & fun.

Airlines said it best: "Help yourself before helping those around you." While we're not talking about oxygen masks, it's extremely relevant in life; you cannot show up to work at your best without prioritizing your own well-being. As leaders and people managers within our organizations, it's our responsibility to lead by example. Be unapologetically open about blocking your calendar to take a break, go for a walk, or get some time outside.

In my personal experience, I have come to realize that the prevailing emphasis on work in Brazilian culture no longer aligns with my own values and priorities. This realization, of course, is based on my privileged context. As a result, I have begun to explore alternative work formats, such as freelance contracts, and have implemented more thoughtful and strategic rates for my dedicated work hours. Additionally, I have delved deeper into spirituality, finding solace and a sense of belonging in this realm. I encourage others to consider reassessing their own relationship with work and to explore avenues that bring them comfort and fulfillment.

I have a mantra (set of questions) that I use to measure if I am doing what I am passionate about and that my purpose is being fulfilled. - Am I working when I want? - Am I working with clients that I want to work with? - Am I working from where I want? These are a great guide for me and remembering why I do what I do.

One thing I try to remember is that most people don't enjoy every part of their job. Sometimes being a creative you forget that it is a job and you can still find time to be creative outside of work. Putting your energy into a passion project can help supplement when you are able to flex your creativity at work.

Whenever you're creatively stuck, imagine opening a fortune cookie with a message reminding you why you got into this field in the first place. Your purpose is your fuel. Keep these tiny reminders handy for when the going gets tough.

Over time, you can hone your career in the areas you like most. I pivoted into copywriting more than a decade after starting off in behavioural marketing. Now I do only the work I love. Remember to check in with yourself and keep track of the tasks you really enjoy so you can spin that off into a specialist role in the future.

For social media marketers, burnout is a common issue due to constant exposure to social media. ? We work with it day in and day out for our jobs, and often find ourselves consuming social media even outside of work, leading to increased screen time. While many people take social media breaks to improve creativity, unfortunately, that's not a luxury we can afford. The key is to be mindful of how we consume social media, rather than completely reducing our consumption. ?? Remember that you have control over what you see in your feed, so consider being intentional about who you follow. By carefully curating your content, you can ensure that your social feeds are valuable, educational, and uplifting. ??

Talk about it. Trusted colleagues and peers can offer relevant insights and light-bulb moments. There can't be many people in any walk of life who haven't had some kind of burnout or brain fog, so learn from them and accept its likely just part of the process. LinkedIn courses, AI queries, peer group discussions, articles, watching competitors - even a shout out on social media - could be the shot in the arm or boost you need.

I think what most people call creative burnout, is something else entirely. It’s a reaction to being over scheduled, over extended and forgetting a key element of the creative process: thinking time. We are biased to action In today’s business world, we always need to be seen to be doing something, anything. That means you have less time to sit and think. When I ran an advertising agency I would tell junior colleagues, in complete seriousness, if I don’t see you with you feet up on your desk staring out of the window, playing ping pong, or going to a movie we will have a problem. Doing things like that is where creative magic happens. If you’ve over scheduled yourself you have no time for such things ergo, creative burnout. But is it?

Something that this article may be missing (and I know this is going to sound counterintuitive but it) is knowing what your goals are. I find that when you have clear goals for yourself, you are better able to evaluate whether the risk of taking on another project, or agreeing to bend your boundaries "this one time", are worth the reward. Having clearly defined goals for yourself allows you a measurement system on what work you should be taking.

What a cra@py AI generated question! Although I can imagine many egotistical creatives will love the potential for victim attention! Burnout is burnout so just follow any generic preventative advice. On the specific topic, I’d rather be burnt out being creative than frying burgers and dealing with demanding customers at McDonalds. It’s a privilege to be in a creative career and almost all of us in our sector choose our career path. We don’t normally just fall into it. So my advice is if you’ve never, or stopped loving what you do in your creative profession, maybe try another career? You’ll probably come back happier and feeling less burnout after. Need to go and rest now as feeling serious ‘LinkedIn Q&A burnout’.