Burnout is a state of exhaustion and a general feeling of being overwhelmed mentally, physically, and emotionally. Unfortunately it is an all too common condition suffered by people who work in the creative field, and can be an inevitability if proper work/life balance is not attained. Overall, burnout can lead to lethargy, lack of productivity, and even depression. Thus, it is imperative to counter this phenomenon. In this post, I outline five creative methods that I have consistently used both academically and professionally to combat burnout.
1. GET REORGANIZED AND RECENTERED
I find that whenever my mind is bogged down, allowing myself the chance to reorganize and recenter helps tremendously. Whether it’s tidying up my living space, sorting computer files in labeled folders, or filtering through my email inbox – doing so always helps me calm down and focus better on tasks at hand. I’d also recommend making a small and manageable checklist of whatever organizational tasks you’d like to get done for the day, so as to not get bogged down by attempting too many things at once (and so ending back on square one).
Here are some organizational/productivity apps I use and love:
- Notion – please stay tuned for a full guide from me on how I put together UX case studies using Notion!
- Forest – though not exactly an organizational app, it’s an engaging way to manage time and stay focused.
- Streaks – not only does this app hold you accountable for completing tasks, it can also help in the formation of healthy habits.
2. WATCH UX VLOGS [VIDEO LOGS] ON YOUTUBE
Finding YouTube content that you can relate to or aspire towards can be a great motivator. Personally, I love to search for and watch “A Day in the Life of a UX Designer” or “Spend a Day at Work with Me” types of videos, since they make me feel connected to other designers around the world, and can help me formulate goals to work towards. In addition, I am able to learn about resources other designers recommend through watching these videos, as well as current UX trends which I can put to use in my own work. For example, I discovered the program ProtoPie thanks to senior product designer Charli Cheung’s video. While watching a vlog may seem purely recreational, in this instance – it is professionally beneficial!
3. BROWSE BEHANCE OR DRIBBBLE
Behance and Dribbble are chock-full of amazing designs, talented artists/designers of all types, and general creativity which all prove invaluable in fighting creative burnout. There are projects from every industry, pertaining to every topic imaginable, from award-winning album cover designs to engaging mobile game interfaces. There is always something new and exciting to discover on either of these websites!
4. TAKE ON DAILY DESIGN CHALLENGES
An assortment of design prompts I completed for the Daily UI challenge.
Design challenges are a productive means to gain design experience, create something for a portfolio/social media, and exercise some creative finesse. I’ve taken on the Daily UI challenge, and having finished a few days worth of the 100 total prompts whenever I have a few moments to spare, I can verify that these challenges are engaging and have made me think outside the box more than a couple times, especially since I took on the additional challenge of using a limited color palette and aesthetic. Other challenges to try include the UX Design Challenge by UX Tools, or joining an actual design competition at Crowwwn.
5. LEARN A NEW CREATIVE SKILL
Taking a step back from design and trying out something entirely different can be the refresh we all need. It can start off as just a small hobby, a passion project, or anything else really – the sky is the limit! Perhaps in time and with enough experience, you can monetize your new skill on Gumroad or Ko-Fi. Vector illustrations, 3D graphics, and text animations are all potential crafts to explore, and they can boost a UX portfolio as an added bonus; there is a plethora of free tutorials on said topics on YouTube.
TO SUMMARIZE
As I am a frequent flyer with the creative burnout airlines, I’ve devised these tips to help myself overcome it, and I hope that they will come in handy for others who are searching for a reprieve themselves.
What do you do when you feel creatively burnt out? Please feel free to share in the comments below!
Neha Pasnoori | Blog 
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