7 simple tips: Dealing with burnout as a designer
Burnout, it isn’t fun and it isn’t a place anyone wants to be in.
For me i’ve been in different types of burnouts. Before learning about burnout while going through it, I always thought burnout was from overworking. However there is more to it than just overworking yourself.
4 types of burnout
Overload - This is generally when you are overwhelmed with too much on your plate along with taking too little me time or rest time.
Under-challenged burnout - When you are feeling underappreciated and not feeling fulfilled in your job or your tasks.
Neglect burnout - This is usually when you feel lost and helpless. Maybe situations and circumstances just aren’t going right for you and you feel like you’re not competent in anything that you’re doing (imposter syndrome)
Habitual burnout - The more serious type of burnout is a mixture being physically and mentally fatigue. Your days feels less meaningful and your motivation for even small things may start to change. Sometimes this can cross over to something more serious.
So what type of burnout did I experience?
Unfortunately, I’ve experienced all of them. During reflection, it all started way back when I was a junior, working hard and putting in all my hours and effort to prove myself. Always throwing myself in the deep end to do what I can to gain all the experience as much as I can (overloading my plate).
From here I don’t think the burnout started here but this built into a big workaholic mindset where I was also working on freelance projects outside of my full time job as well.
Without taking any breaks I soon jumped into a few other jobs. To be honest I don’t mind this type of lifestyle but without taking any breaks, this isn’t sustainable.
The project flows were a lot slower than what I’m used to and I really wasn’t used to this. Along with this, i wasn’t feeling challenged, I also wasn’t getting the same level of recognition of my work as before which slowly lead to neglect and under challenged burnout.
At this time I didn’t know this was burnout, I thought I was just unfulfilled.
The peak of my burnout
I thought all of this were all temporary, because as with everything else in life. Moments come and go, I continued to work hard for recognition, tried so hard to show value in my work and nothing was puncturing through.
This eventually lead to the worst burnout i’ve every felt. I would come home and lie on my couch where I could not peel myself off the couch even if in my head I am putting all my will to get up to even get some water to drink.
This phase of burnout lasted so long and I kept trying and tackling work in all different angles to see what I need to do to feel more fulfilled. But this really quickly turned into habitual burnout.
My learnings
Your work is not a depiction of who you are and definitely not a depiction of your worth
Know your worth! if external factors, environments, people and places aren’t seeing the value you see in yourself. Then maybe it’s time to move on (no hard feelings)
Learn to take breaks especially in the times you THINK you don’t need it (trust me you do)
Break up your cycle - do something else, this is why hobbies are so important. Explore something you’ve always been curious about even if it’s for a day
Leave some free time in your day, don’t cram your calendar (especially when you’re starting to feel burnout)
Daily affirmations at the end of the day. I like doing it at the end of the day especially after a long day and you may have said some not so good things to yourself. Use this time to reframe your words to something more nurturing and positive.
Best prevention in intervention. Catch yourself before you actually burnout.
I’ve also made a video on me working through creative burnout. Make sure you check it out and let me know what you think!