How Entrepreneurs Can Identify and Overcome Creative Burnout

creative burnout header

As an entrepreneur, you most likely started your business with a lot of passion and energy. But let’s be honest, over time though, this enthusiasm can fade. 

If you’re experiencing something like this, you may be burnt out — the state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion resulting from constant stress — and you’re not alone. 

According to a poll by Flexjobs, 75% of people report feeling the effects of burnout. Burnout is typically associated with experiencing a “block,” and any industry, including those who own or start a small business, freelance business, or work in an office setting can feel this. 

To make sure it doesn’t impact your business, it’s important to identify the signs and symptoms.

How To Identify Creative Burnout

Creative burnout can sneak up on you, and sometimes the warning signs are often subtle. It can fester from a variety of problems. 

For example, you may feel unmotivated, incompetent, or frustrated while learning design terms for media art projects when you’re used to writing content. 

When you experience burnout, you may start to question the quality of your ideas or lose confidence in your intuition. Don’t get discouraged — the key is recognizing your symptoms and taking steps to address the problem. 

Signs and symptoms of creative burnout:

  • Loss of passion for your work: You no longer care about creating great work or learning new skills. 
  • Decreased output and productivity: You may find that you're not producing as much work, and it may take longer than usual to finish tasks. 
  • Decreased morale at work or home: You may begin to feel unhappy and unfulfilled with your work and home life. 
  • Trouble focusing, concentrating, or remembering things: You may find yourself more easily distracted and forgetful. 
  • Feeling bored or lack of motivation when seeing projects or tasks on your list: There is a sense of dread when you see your to-do list. Sometimes that list is just too much to see, even on your best days.
  • Increased difficulty in getting creative work done: This may feel like you've hit a creative wall or at the end of your creative resources
  • Intense feelings of frustration, resentment, and even anger when doing work: You may feel short-tempered and on-edge during work.
  • Not caring about the quality of your work or if it is completed at all: Although it’s normal to not love every product you produce (does anybody after all?), you should still typically have some drive to achieve your goals.
  • Feeling exhausted or stressed at the end of your day: Even if your work is not physically demanding, you may find yourself drained and exhausted after creative work.
  • Feeling isolated from family and coworkers: You may think no one understands your plight.

It’s possible to temporarily “shake off” these symptoms by switching up the kind of work you do. Still, if this doesn’t happen naturally and regularly, chances are you are suffering from creative burnout. There are several different approaches to managing burnout.

How To Deal With Creative Burnout

If you have recognized some of your own feelings in the symptoms listed above, consider implementing some of the steps below to overcome creative burnout:

  • Take time for yourself. Sometimes the best thing you can do to overcome creative burnout is to take some time for yourself. Get away from your work and allow yourself to take a break.
  • Identify what is draining your creativity and energy. It's possible something in your daily routine or environment is draining your energy. 
  • Take a break from your creative work. You can rejuvenate your creative juices by taking time off or working on something different.
  • Learn to say no to tasks and clients that emotionally drain you. Don’t worry, the world will keep spinning even if you say no. Set boundaries so that you have time to take care of yourself.
  • Find your circle of support. Surround yourself with supportive people who understand what you're going through.
  • Learn to prioritize your time and energy. Remember that taking care of yourself is just as important as finishing a task or project.
  • Try a new way of working. If you are stuck in a rut, try something new, like changing your environment or trying a new approach.
  • Find a completely unrelated creative outlet. For example, you could take up a new form of creative expression, such as knitting.
  • Delegate tasks to others. If you have tasks that drain your creativity and energy, find someone else to do them. You don’t have to be in superhero mode all the time.
  • Use technology and other tools to help you create. Using a logo generator, for example, you can spend more time being creative on logo and brand creation and less time on the grunt work.
  • Reward yourself for completing creative projects. Indulge yourself once you reach a goal. Go get a sweet treat or shop online for those shoes you’ve been eyeing.

Burnout can be unique to the person experiencing it, so there’s not going to be a one-size-fits-all solution. By experimenting and trying out different options, you may find the one that works best for you.

How To Prevent Creative Burnout in the Future

To avoid creative burnout in the future, it’s essential to maintain a work-life balance and make the most out of your workday through time management and task prioritization. Stay focused on the big picture. 

However, this is sometimes easier said than done, which is why it’s important to remember the following preventative measures:

  • Establish a work routine — entrepreneurs who have a set routine for working, such as establishing a “hard” clock-in and clock-out time tend to be more productive.
  • Take regular breaks to recharge — it can be as simple as getting up for a few minutes and stretching, but it makes a huge difference.
  • Remember to take care of yourself — eat properly, go outside to get some of that Vitamin D, stay hydrated, and so on.
  • Meditate — by setting time aside for meditation, you can become more creative and productive in the long run. Many successful entrepreneurs swear by daily mediation and find that it is key to their success.
  • Avoid stress triggers — sometimes, entrepreneurs work themselves into a corner because they don't realize that some tasks or projects aren't worth the stress.

Creative slumps happen from time to time, so it’s important to take the right steps to address them. By spending some time on yourself and learning how to prioritize your energy, you’ll be able to overcome creative burnout. 

In some cases, this may mean taking a vacation (or a staycation), or simply finding strategies to stay ahead of your competition and avoid overexerting yourself in the long run. Invest in the best options for you, and take comfort in knowing that burnout isn’t forever.

Natasha Ivanovic
Natasha Ivanovic

Natasha Ivanovic is a Vancouver-born creative writer that started her writing career as a freelancer while studying for her Master’s in Investigative Psychology. On the weekends, she writes short stories for her blog, TheLonelySerb, and cuddles with her bulldog, Bob.

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