Often the key to having massive impact is the ability to keep going when others would have burned out. Below, you’ll find some brilliant entrepreneurs and creatives sharing how they’ve overcome or avoided burnout.
Deidra Okwena
Being of Jamaican heritage, our culture is used to working many jobs to the point of burnout. I however was forced to write a different narrative. Many chapters of my life I have experienced burnout and as a result my health was always compromised. Burnout manifested for me in ways such as panic attacks, was very sick, severely depressed or was extremely fatigued. Read more>>
Jason Thomas
There were a few times I’ve felt burned out or stretched particularly thin. Something that I had to learn to do is recognize the times where burnout is coming on. The first time I got the feeling of burnout, I didn’t recognize it was happening. I got a sense that I really needed to take some time off, but I shrugged it off as some form of laziness and kept working through it. Read more>>
Megha Kraft
My job as an agency Creative Director is incredibly demanding. Many late nights, and a lot of weeks that bleed into one another. It is a high pressure role that involves a lot of fast thinking and many people counting on me to show up 100% my best self. Truthfully the first year in my role i dove headfirst into the work. It was exciting, and I was creative the biggest and best work of my life. But at some point I realized I was losing myself. Read more>>
Megan Stiles
Burn out is inevitable in a line of work where you are a one man show. I’ve experienced it on a pretty large level and seen the impacts it’s had on myself, my business and my family. Going through that made me realize how important it was to care for myself and prevent it. When owning and operating your own small business, the hours and work are long and despite being flexible, you really never stop working. Read more>>
Vignesh Seshadri
As someone who was burnt out for a long time, I think the most important thing in dealing with burnout is looking inward, being kind to yourself and doing things just for you. Burnout usually happens when external factors beyond your control keep stressing you out. But listening to the emotions that come up within you and listening to them, and actually feeling them help you not keep grinding for the heck of it. Read more>>
Corey Peterson
It’s a thrilling balancing act. It’s all about keeping the show running smoothly behind the scenes. Absolutely loving what I do is a great start. Having an amazing team is also something huge. But self-care is super important. I’m a huge water guy – so whether it’s talking a walk along the beach or around the lakes by my house with my lady and the dog, or cruising down the river on the boat for a few hours are things that help my mental space a ton. Read more>>
Rachel Whittington
The field of birth work experiences a notably high burnout rate. However, I’ve managed to sidestep this trend by evaluating my own needs and establishing systems to address them. Understanding my requirements as a caregiver has proven to be my greatest advantage in this profession. I approach this evaluation much like I do when supporting the families I serve. Read more>>
Tina Ngo Jennie Hyunh
Jennie Hyunh: “Overcoming or avoiding burnout has been a significant part of our journey at Peacock Nails. One memorable strategy? A trip to Hawaii. But, in all seriousness, what truly has made a difference is the strong partnership we’ve built within our team. We’ve fostered a supportive environment where we genuinely look out for each other. Read more>>
Hank (Chia-Hung) Lin
I started playing drums when I was around 16, which is pretty late for an instrument. I’m pretty aware that it was a bit late to start learning an instrument, so I try to put in as much practice time as possible. Practice is a really good thing. If you want to progress, practice is necessary. But once you overdo it, it is no longer a good thing. As I mentioned before, I practice as much as possible, and then, of course, I burn myself out. Read more>>
Rockie Fraticelli
I have witnessed other dancers burnout for many reasons, but what always brings me out of a funk is returning to the passion, love and beautiful community I have with dance. The industry and the politics will always be present, but when I can take a few steps back and simplify to my purpose and my “why” I am reminded of the things that made me fall in love with dance. Read more>>
Jenna Cantwell
Running a resume writing and career coaching business as a solo entrepreneur is exciting and challenging. Throw in being a mom of two active young kids and managing ADHD, and the complexity multiplies. Burnout has been a recurring obstacle for me but I want to share what I’ve learned along the way. Read more>>
Alfonso Petersen O’Farrill
Avoiding burnout in animation, as in any field, is challenging, especially when your passion becomes your profession. The pandemic added to this difficulty with its work pressures and uncertainties. Now, as things return to normal, it’s crucial to strike a healthy balance between work and personal life. Read more>>
Carmen Gagnon
Personally when I experience the feeling of getting burnout, I see that as a sign that I need to take better care of myself and put me first. Some of my favorite methods of coping with burnout is taking a self-care day, discounting from my phone and doing something reduces my stress levels. Read more>>
Javosski Rembert
Burnouts are a part of the growth process, only once you have burned out is when you learn how to avoid the next burnout or how to overcome during a burnout. There are lessons to be learned during a burnout, but to continue burning out is when you haven’t learned from the previous burnouts. When I feel overwhelmed and burnt out from business, I usually take a knee, in other words (take a break), reset and start again later. Read more>>
Maria Harney
In life, when I feel like I’m hitting a wall with too much work or too many challenges, I lean into a mindset that helps me stay balanced and clear-headed. See, I’ve always been super curious about everything around me. It’s what keeps me going, especially when things get tough. Read more>>
Lulu Liao
In my line of work, where empathy flows boundlessly and compassion is the cornerstone, burnout can lurk like a shadow, threatening to extinguish the very flame that drives my work. Like many who dedicate their life to service and helping people in their journey of healing, navigating burnout is not just a professional challenge, but also a deeply personal journey of self-discovery and resilience. Read more>>
Yifei Hou
Drawing has always been a passionate thing for me, for me passion has always been the thing that takes over most of the time, burnout is rare, but it does exist. If I do feel burned out, usually I’ll just stop what I’m doing at hand unless the deadline comes, either way I’ll rely on resting to get my energy back or trying to draw my own work that has nothing relate with what school or work is about. Read more>>
Shannon Truax
There is a difference between feeling like your soul is on fire and feeling like your soul has been turned to charcoal. When your soul is on fire you feel alive and happy to spread your light on others. When you feel your soul has been turned to charcoal you feel overwhelmed, on edge, and emotionally drained. This is what the modern world is calling burnout. Read more>>
Rachel Rotramel
I woke up on the side of the road nearing a field entrance. My body jolts, heart skips, and my eyes are wide awake, as I desperately slam on the brakes- but it is too late. As I fly through the air and my car comes into a crash-landing, I wait for it to be over. My vehicle comes to its final stop and I thank God that I’m alive. Read more>>
