It seems like something we talk about more and more these days: the feeling of getting to the end of your tether; the feeling of not getting a moment of pause. The feeling of burnout. For a lot of people, this is a growing and ever-present reality, as our jobs become more complicated, and it feels like we’re constantly being fed new information by our highly digitised world, it’s never been more important to recognise the signs of burnout and learn how to cope with it when it arises.

Creative burnout can be particularly difficult to deal with, as it stems from emptying ourselves or pushing ourselves creatively, due to a high outside demand. It can leave us feeling like we have no ideas left.

I learnt this lesson all too well while running a creative business with my partner. Both Mob, we often have important design jobs that require a lot of care and thinking so as to represent culture and information (not to mention our creative practice) in a thoughtful and clear light.

This kind of work alongside actually executing jobs can often lead to a creative burnout. In this place, it can be really difficult to remind yourself that your experiencing a normal symptom of work.

How I cope with creative burnout

So, what are some of the methods to deal with creative burnout when it arises?

One of the first steps I like to take is to be mindful. Acknowledge that the feelings and the fatigue you’re experiencing is totally normal. Remind yourself that it will pass no matter what, but that there are things you can do to help this ease even quicker. This can be an extremely important step if you have to continue working, or the end is not yet in sight. An ability to calmly work through these feelings can be essential.

Another thing I like to practise is allowing myself to talk to friends, family or community, to “vent” about some of the more difficult elements you’re dealing with. People will often understand how you feel and offer support in any way they can. If you don’t feel this level of support, it can be really important to do some reading, because many people do understand the pressures of burnout, and you aren’t wrong in feeling frustrated, it’s one of the main symptoms of burnout.

Another important step is to find things that give your mind rest, and to not judge yourself for needing them. To me, this is exercise, which I know sounds odd when you’re overly busy, however I have found that exercise is my main way of decompressing, and that even if I don’t want to get up and do it after a long string of days thinking and working, it usually makes me feel better. However, this isn’t the case for everyone, and it’s essential you find your moment of pause, the thing that makes you feel the most relaxed, and then try to practice this in the moments you can. It could be anything, but as long as it reinforces you, and allows you to feel like you’ve switched off from your work mode, then it will always be helpful in the long run.

As Mob, we have a lot of obligations – more than a lot of people know. So please, always remind yourself that you aren’t alone in your creative burnout, and that there is always a way to see the light at the end of the tunnel. In some cases, it can be a sign that you’re doing some difficult and important work.

Extra resources: Helpful contacts for First Nations Peoples from BeyondBlue.