Written by: Ariel Grace Snapp, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Creativity is a powerful force that drives innovation and fuels personal and professional growth. However, the relentless pursuit of creative excellence can sometimes lead to burnout — a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion.
Regardless of your focus in a creative career; whether you are an artist, designer, voice over actor, animator, or anything that involves lots of creative flow and producing outputs, it is possible – dare I say likely – that at some time in your career you will feel burnout.
Creatives have a higher likelihood to feel burnout
Burnout is not exclusive to any particular profession, but the nature of creative work often involves intense periods of focus, tight deadlines, and a constant quest for originality. The pressure to consistently produce innovative ideas can take a toll on the mental well-being of creatives. According to this 2022 study from SHRM which looked at qualitative data from Forrester, Harvard Business review and thousands of online reviews, creative talent is more likely to feel dissatisfied at work and burnt out.
I encourage you to identify the early warning signs of creative burnout symptoms before they become more pressing and could potentially affect your health.
Early warning signs of creative burnout may include
What used to excite you no longer does
You wake up with dread in the mornings
Your sleeping too much or too little – outside your normal patterns
You find yourself irritable more often than normal
You are finding it hard to take time for your self care including exercise, social activities and eating well
You find yourself feeling resentful more than normal
Recognizing the signs of burnout is crucial for taking proactive measures. Creatives experiencing burnout may feel emotionally drained, exhibit a lack of motivation, and find it challenging to meet their creative goals.
Don’t worry, if you are already seeing this list and checking off that you are burnt out, there is light at the end of the tunnel. With awareness comes the ability to create tiny habit shifts that allow you to reset your life towards feeling well, enjoying your work and rebalancing how you show up so that you can feel your best and give from a full and overflowing state of abundance.
Tips for getting started overcoming burnout
As you have probably observed as a creative person, creativity doesn’t work in a linear fashion, so often when we find ourselves overworking and trying to force an outcome, it can be counter productive to solving the creative synthesis. In other words, prioritizing this rebalancing of how you work and how you rest will be good not only for you as a person but also for how you create your most impactful work.
Establish boundaries
Set clear boundaries between work and personal life as well as how you work. Boundaries with communication can be set in language, energy and agreements that we set with others. They can also be physical space boundaries in terms of where you work and how you are most suited for work.
Avoid overcommitting to projects and learn to say no when necessary. This can be one of the hardest challenges for “type A” personalities and creatives that are recovering from the habit of “people pleasing.” Design agencies and animation studios have historically been known for pushing their creatives far beyond their capacity, and it is up to both the employers and the employees to negotiate and advocate for quality, sustainable ways of working. According to one 2023 study the burnout rate for designers was over 50%. Managers can play a critical role in setting healthy work life balance expectations at organizations.
Prioritize true self-care
Self-care has often been misinterpreted as getting your nails done or going to the spa. While those are lovely activities, the type of self-care that is needed for a creative approaching burnout or already in it is to create just enough space to hear their own inner knowing and allow room to feel well enough to listen to the tiny nudges that are inviting them to make shifts in their life. This can feel heavy and overwhelming if someone is already in the darkness or weight of feeling too tired to make the changes. Go easy on yourself and try just one thing a day that you can adjust that allows you to feel well.
Take breaks and incorporate regular physical activity into your routine. This is critical for your creative genius to come forward. We all know the age old idea that taking a shower is where ideas come from. The more you prioritize designing your day in way that is nurturing of your creative flow, the more you can give your best. It may be counter intuitive to people that feel that always being online means that they are working. But taking a walk and allowing the brain to rest is often precisely what is needed to create new synapsis associations for creative synthesis.
Advocate for your schedule with your employer. The return to office initiative has been a detriment for many minorities and creatives who need to adjust their work style to their best and most productive times. If you are a morning person, then design your flow times in those windows. Set boundaries around meetings in the morning. Standing up for what you need and learning to be your best advocate is like fuel for the soul. It helps you re-establish self trust where you were letting things get out of your power. You can stand up for yourself with thoughtful, calm language and the grace of knowing that creating the life where you can adjust your way of work is going to be beneficial for everyone.
Practice mindfulness techniques, such as meditation or deep breathing exercises, energy healing, sound healing and yoga. There are many avenues to becoming a better observer of your thoughts and habits and finding community along the way!
Diversify your creative outlets
Explore new creative pursuits to keep things fresh and prevent monotony. Learning something new and following any spark or nudge that comes up can help you to open to new ways your soul is wanting you to explore and can often create a much needed spark!
Engage in activities that bring joy and relaxation outside of your professional work. If you are having trouble creating the space to do this, just start small and doodle for a few minutes, or give a good friend a call.
Seek support
Build a support network of fellow creatives who understand the challenges. You are not alone in your experience as the stats showed above and, together, the world will adjust from the industrial age of 40-80 hour work weeks the more people openly talk about their experiences and how they shifted them.
Consider talking to a mentor, coach, therapist, or counselor to gain perspective. Depending on your needs and circumstances, these guides can help you receive additional support.
Review and adjust goals
Assess your workload and set realistic expectations for yourself and discuss it with your manager.
Break down larger projects into manageable tasks to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Set time blocks where you can get back your time.
Consider adjusting your personal life and talking about your needs with your family and friends.
Overcoming burnout as a creative requires a holistic approach that addresses both the professional and personal aspects of life. By implementing the tips provided and becoming more aware of your needs, creatives can navigate the challenging terrain of burnout and continue to thrive in their creative endeavors.
Remember, a balanced and well-nurtured creative mind is the key to sustained inspiration and innovation.
If you’d like to receive support from Ariel Grace, check out her Creative Burnout Coaching or for creatives ready to jumpstart their next iteration of their career or creative business visit her Be as Art Business Immersion.
Ariel Grace Snapp, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Ariel Grace Snapp has always been a multi-passionate creative balancing service and the expressions of her soul. She’s a coach for creatives, a tech creative director, intuitive and MacroFloral photographer and host of the Creatively Free podcast. She is particularly interested in co-creating new, collaborative ways to solve social challenges across different sectors. As founder of the Be as Art Business Academy, she offers a depth based journey of the mystical and practical tools for creatives and sensitive people that are ready to birth and scale their huge creative, mission driven projects.
