As a seasoned designer, I have had my fair share of burnouts over the years. I know firsthand how exhausting and demotivating it can be to constantly push yourself to meet deadlines and exceed client expectations. Burnout is a very real problem in the creative industry and it can happen to anyone, regardless of experience level.

In this article, I will share my personal experiences with burnout and offer some advice on how to avoid it.

Firstly, it’s important to understand what burnout is and how it can manifest. Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged periods of stress. As a designer, you may experience burnout when you have to deal with tight deadlines, demanding clients, and repetitive tasks for a prolonged period. The warning signs of burnout can vary from person to person, but some of the most common ones include:

• Feeling emotionally drained and unable to cope with stress.
• Lack of motivation and interest in your work.
• Difficulty sleeping or staying focused.
• Chronic fatigue or physical exhaustion.
• Physical and emotional detachment from colleagues and clients.
• Increased irritability and short temper.
• Decreased productivity and creativity.

If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to take action and address them before they worsen.

Here are some tips on how to avoid burnout as a designer:

1. Set realistic goals and manage expectations

One of the main causes of burnout is the pressure to meet unrealistic goals and expectations. To avoid this, make sure you set achievable goals and communicate clearly with your clients and colleagues. If you are feeling overwhelmed, it’s important to speak up and ask for help. This can mean delegating tasks, pushing back on unrealistic deadlines, or re-negotiating the scope of a project.

Something I found extremely useful in the past is to buddy up with somebody at work. Have weekly or bi-weekly check-ins with them. Talk about how you feel. Ideally, this would be someone who does not work directly with you or within the same project. Since it’s very useful to have an external point of view. The buddy should listen to the situation, and give advice. Knowing that sometimes having a rant is also all the other person would like to do. Externalising your emotions may be good enough to save you from stress.

2. Take breaks and prioritize self-care

Design work can be intense and demanding, but it’s important to take regular breaks and prioritize self-care. This means taking time to rest, exercise, and engage in activities that you enjoy outside of work. Try to establish a healthy work-life balance that allows you to recharge your batteries and prevent burnout.

Time blocking is a useful technique to manage time and stress. Start your week (I usually do this on a Sunday afternoon), with time blocking your calendar for the following week. Set time aside (block calendar bookings) for the most important things you need to do. Use a specific colour for work-related items. On top of that, block the calendar for survival and must-do things outside work (i.e. Lunch, Pick up the kids, etc). Finally, time block activities just for yourself (i.e. Walk, Exercise, Meditation, Relax break, etc). Treat all of them with the same importance as actual work meetings. You owe it to yourself. Decline when people book above those blocks and communicate with your team a more suitable timeslot. This will help you not only to be more relaxed but also to manage your “active” work time better.

3. Learn to say no

As a designer, it can be tempting to take on every project that comes your way. Especially if you are running your own studio or if you are freelancing. However, taking on too much work can lead to burnout and compromise the quality of your work. Learning to say no can be difficult, but it’s an important skill to develop. Be honest with yourself about your capacity and only take on projects that you can realistically handle.

Say yes too much could also compromise the quality of your work and therefore have a detrimental effect. Learn how to prioritise and say ‘no’ to the things (calls, clients, projects, etc) which are not that important.

4. Stay organized and manage your time effectively

Make sure you stay organized and plan your workday effectively. This means prioritizing tasks, setting deadlines, and breaking down larger projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. Use tools and software to help you manage your time and stay on top of your workload.

Create routines in the way you approach a project. Also, make sure to leverage knowledge bases and design systems to speed up the work. I love using Notion to organize my career and my projects. Give it a try. I have also written tons about it.

5. Take time for creative exploration

As a designer, it’s important to keep your creative juices flowing and avoid feeling stuck in a rut. One way to do this is to take time for creative exploration. This means experimenting with new tools and techniques, working on personal projects, attending workshops and conferences, or collaborating with other creatives. By taking time to explore new ideas and approaches, you can keep your work fresh and exciting, and avoid feeling burned out from doing the same thing over and over again. I love Product Design and I find daily inspiration on the following platforms:

• Product Hunt
• Mobbin
• Dribbble
• Muzli
• Built For Mars

6. Set boundaries and disconnect from work

In today’s always-on digital world, it can be tempting to be constantly connected to work. However, this can lead to burnout and make it difficult to switch off and recharge. Setting boundaries around your work schedule and disconnecting from work when you’re not on the clock can be an effective way to prevent burnout. This means turning off email notifications after hours, setting a specific time to stop working each day, and taking breaks from technology altogether.

By setting boundaries and disconnecting from work, you can create a clear separation between your work life and personal life, which can help you avoid burnout and maintain a healthy work-life balance. This also helps your creative juice flow. I love spending my weekends in cafes, with a good book, a journal, and a sketchbook. Most of my creative ideas come from these situations. I then make sure to take some time to explore them with the aid of technology tools (see point 5).

7. Find meaning and purpose in your work

When you’re feeling burnt out, it can be helpful to remind yourself of the bigger picture and find meaning and purpose in your work. Take time to reflect on the impact your work has on the world and the people it affects. Connect with your clients and colleagues and ask for feedback on how your work is making a difference. By finding purpose and meaning in your work, you can stay motivated and engaged, even during challenging times. This can help you avoid burnout and keep your passion for design alive.

In conclusion, burnout is a very real problem in the creative industry, but it is also preventable. As a designer, it’s important to set realistic goals, prioritize self-care, learn to say no, manage your time effectively, and seek support when you need it.

By taking these steps, you can avoid burnout and continue to produce high-quality work without sacrificing your health and well-being.

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