Preventing creative burnout
Burnout is not unique, it does not discriminate. Regardless of your background, career or what you’re juggling in life, it can come knocking at any door. Burnout also takes on many guises, from professional to personal and all the in between. That emotional drain is real.
And as creative entrepreneurs, responsible for nearly every area of our business, this is all the more pertinent.
I’ve been there my friend. Feeling as though you’re the only person in the world being drained of all stamina. You-are-not-alone. Freelancers and business owners, particularly those of us juggling the creativity along with alllll the admin and grunt-work of keeping the lights on, are highly susceptible to depletion.
And before we get in to it, I hold that oh-so-controversial view that all entrepreneurs are creative entrepreneurs! Think of what it’s taken for you to create a business out of nothing.
A common period of overwhelm and burnout can happen when you’re attempting to rebrand your business. Oftentimes you find yourself hitting a few creative gaps that make it seem impossible for you to get through this process. I’ve some tips on mitigating the frustration of trying to surmount these hurdles alone…
Preventing Creative Burnout
Stop 🛑 attemptong to reinvent the wheel. When you're trying to develop a new look for your brand, or develop a new offering or product, it’s okay to gain inspiration along the way.
Drop the feelings of shame around seeking out inspiration from those in similar industries and businesses.
Obviously I am not advocating plagiarism or simple bold-face ripping off your nearest competitors. But immersing yourself in what’s out there already, what you admire, what sparks curiosity in your own creative pursuits, is a less draining approach to creative processes.
Stop 🛑 attempting to constantly go it alone – collaborate. If you’re struggling to develop your brand or grow your business, then you can find help through creative experts. Stay in your lane of genius and if that isn’t in, let’s say, visual design, get someone in to work with you on drawing out your creative ideas.
Give your brain a time-out! When you frame all creativity in the prism of professional thinking only, it’s hard to retain that creative spirit and freedom and it quickly feels like a chore. Remember to walk away from the proverbial workspace every now and again and give yourself rest. The creativity won’t go away, it will be waiting for you to return; refreshed!
Handling Creative Burnout
Still feeling zapped? Then here are some tips to help handle the challenge of actually being in the burn out:
Take a step away, even a big one. Trying to force it when you already feel worn out is a fools game. Take your mind off things, watch some documentaries, play a video game, knit, veg out, meditate, take a bath… it looks different for us all but seek out ways to get your mind out of the downward spiral of striving.
Hire that expert! I know I’m repeating myself here, but there’s no shame in admitting we can’t do it all. Consulting with a designer, business expert or getting help with your admin or books can leapfrog a lot of heartache. And free up your creativity big-time! This goes across the board with work systems and processes…stop trying to be the Jack of All Trades and hire some help. It may only be an hour or 2 a week to start.
Appreciate the challenge of being creative. It’s part of the fun of creating your own brand; you get to drive every last part of the business identity and values. Sometimes a simple shift in mentality to appreciating the challenge, while delegating and resting as needed, can make a world of difference.
Let’s be real… as brand owners and freelancers, our business is just one of our babies. We may have actual babies, making demands of our time and energy. You may be part of that “sandwich generation”, wedged between the care of ailing parents, as well as young children of your own. There are a million and one pulls on our inner resources and growing a brand and business is important, but sits in amongst life too. Go easy, get help, procrastinate if you need to (sometimes the magic happens in the those moments).
Wishing you a steady path out of overwhelm.