Energies. They bleed out of margins, they fall out of alignment, and eventually the systems
crash. It is widely acknowledged that designer burnout, like any other mental block in the
creative fields, is quite common and inevitable. The unspoken challenge of burnout comes in all
shapes and sizes – physical, mental, and emotional.
A solution to any problem lies in identifying the causes or the reasons and approaching them in a
way that suits us best. A solution or a method of approach to a problem that works for one person
does not always work for another. Why? Because we are all wired differently as individuals.
The most primal step in dealing with burnout would be to acknowledge that you are going
through a dip. Denial won’t make it better, neither will it make it go away. To accept the problem
and approaching it with openness is the key.
One of the major reasons for designer burnout is heavy workloads. Designers are often
stereotyped as individuals with minimal sleep and rest, who “power through” their struggles.
Though this might not hold for every designer out there, most designers possess this typical
characteristic. While the client controls how much of work is loaded onto their designer,
managing this load is at your discretion. How much you work in a given spurt of time, how long
does one working spurt last, and how often you move away from that screen are factors that can
be managed. Any task in the creative field can be exhausting, and it is as easy to run out of ideas
as it is to come up with them. To plan and execute scheduled breaks to re-energize helps you
from burning out easily.
Sticking to an algorithm, working on that same template, working with those monochromatic
colors- feels boring to you? You are not the only one! Yet another major reason for burning out
can be traced to repetition and ambiguity in tasks. More often than not designers’ tasks get linear
or unidirectional. On the other end of this spectrum is ambiguity in a task. The client is not sure
what they want, they end up providing vague directions, you feel lost. Again, you’re not the only
one. Three golden words to remember in this context would be – Break The Monotony! Build
networks and peer groups, attend conferences, accept new challenges. With new perspectives
comes a new flow of thought. You can always diversify from your mundane styles and develop a
variety. Creating something fun outside of work can aid in breaking this monotony. Smaller
measures like these also allow you to broaden your knowledge horizon.
Food For Thought: Is ambiguity in the task a bane or a blessing for designers who are always on
the lookout for experience and knowledge?
What is your worst nightmare? Is it the words, “make the logo bigger”? We are on the same page
then!
Every designer has, at some point, faced a tough client who constantly micromanages or who’s
ethical codes and values don’t align with theirs. Communication and feedback are major aspects
of defining the problem of designer burnout. Maintaining a healthy relationship with the client
becomes very important in building a positive and comfortable workspace for yourself. Open
two-way communication with the client and establishing middle grounds during a disagreement
is essential to keep yourself from burning out. An increasing amount of emphasis is laid on
saying “no” and practicing this helps you get your priorities straight.
Other smaller things we tend to overlook in the discussion of designer burnout would be bad
habits. Bad habits here could mean “powering through”, lack of sleep, unhealthy lifestyle, and
ignoring smaller and subtler burnouts. First and the most important step towards adulting? 7-8
hours of sleep. It so happens, the first step towards being a good designer remains the same.
Scheduling away time, vacations, and ditching the tech yearly on is perhaps more important than
it is talked about. And of course, procrastination is an established devil we need to fight at all
times.
Do burnouts announce their arrival? Maybe not. Do they drop hints? Yes, they do! Most people
describe it as a creative drought or a bottom-hitting dip in interest. To avoid burnout may seem
like a quick solution, but the episodes always come back. The best way around it? We know it
from our kindergarten proverbs book- “Prevention is better than cure.”
References:
● https://www.freelancer.com/community/articles/graphic-designers-how-to-deal-with-crea
tive-burnout
● https://www.fastcompany.com/90200879/creative-burnout-is-inevitable-heres-how-to-be
at-it
● https://www.thelogocreative.co.uk/how-to-avoid-emotional-burnout-in-the-routine-of-a-g
raphic-designer/
● https://www.ucreative.com/articles/creative-burnout-sucks/
● https://www.skillshare.com/classes/Burn-Your-Burnout-Strategies-to-Fight-Stress-and-B
urnout-in-Your-Life-and-Work/611123909?via=search-layout-grid
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