Beating Burnout

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.

Gabrielle Judge

Overcoming burnout is something I’ve had to learn the hard way. For me, it starts with acknowledging that burnout isn’t a personal failure; it is a sign that the systems we are part of aren’t sustainable. After experiencing severe burnout in the tech industry, I realized the importance of stepping back to reevaluate what work means in my life and how I want to structure it. Read more>>

Emily Woo Zeller

While the details may be different, I know that I am not alone in dealing with burnout. I hope that my story can help inform anyone following in my footsteps. I do like to think it’s possible to exist in a capitalist world and as a performing artist without burning out. But we really must take care, especially if you’re like me and didn’t have a lot of resources starting out, whether financially, socially, or in the baggage you carry. What I have to say probably isn’t really revelatory at this point, but it is another story to corroborate how important taking care is in this culture of ours. Read more>>

As a guitarist, I have learned that developing musical skills and ambitions outside of just performance (composition, music technology improvising, teaching, film scoring, music production, designing software plugins, creating visuals, etc.) has been really helpful to avoid burnout. I can effectively take a little breather from time to time and focus on skillbuilding that I am interested in. It can be difficult to balance this, but when I then come back to the thing I was getting tired of, I feel refreshed and can again wholeheartedly tackle it again – at least for a while. I also make sure to balance my personal and work life. Read more>>

Ruijie Yang

As a freelance illustrator, failing to separate work from leisure clearly can easily lead to fatigue and frustration, making it challenging to begin or sustain creative projects. However, achieving this balance requires a deeper understanding of our emotional needs.
Burnout often stems from a lack of clarity about these needs. Drawing from my own experience, there were times when I was intensely focused on completing illustration projects, driven solely by the goal of finishing them quickly to receive the associated rewards. Yet, I failed to recognize that my mental state was nearing collapse. Without taking the time to step away and engage in hobbies or activities to recharge, I developed a resistance to creative work after such intense periods. Read more>>

Kenny Lam

Burnout is something many people experience, I’m regularly learning to recognize the early signs of a burnout in myself. For me, setting and following boundaries is key. I make a conscious effort to manage my time effectively, balancing work and personal life is important. Regular exercises, breaks, and mindfulness practices such as journaling and/or meditation helps me recharge my spoons. There was a time when I felt overwhelmed by multiple tasks. I prioritized which task to do first while making sure to take short breaks to stay focus, Focus Keeper is an app that my Life Coach encouraged me to use. I’ve come to understand how important it is taking proactive steps and recognizing my limits not only makes me more productive but also keeps me passionate about what I do. Read more>>

Mehreen Diwan

I avoid burnout by the implementation of the following tactics:
1. Breaking down my workload into smaller and more manageable chunks. I usually make a weekly agenda at the beginning of my week to visualize my objectives, as well as how long each task will take.
2. I create a lot of downtime for myself between travelling and events. A lot of it revolves around self care and spending time with my loved ones, since I find these things to be grounding.
3. I make sure that my personal space is delcuttered at all times, with very little mess. It’s incredible how much your physical work environment can influence your thought process and productivity! Read more>>

Lilly Ankeney-fox

As a business owner, I’ve faced my fair share of burnout. The physical demands of the job, combined with the pressure to meet deadlines and deliver high-quality results, can take a toll on both body and mind. To overcome burnout, I make sure to take time for myself. It is okay to set boundaries by not answering calls past a certain time & taking weekends off. I prioritize self-care and relaxation.. book a spa day here & there. Maybe a weekend getaway, away from the ringing phone. This has helped to clear my mind and recharge my batteries. Read more>>

Jose Garzon

It’s hard to burnout when you’re working on your passions. I also prioritize time with family , friends and try to do other stuff I have a passion for. Writing music is a big one for me. I was a touring musician for 15yrs before being a chef. Music is a big part of my life. Read more>>

Teresita King

The best way to avoid burnout is to allow yourself rest days! For example, if you’ve spent the last couple days going out, networking, and spending time with friends, pulling back for a day where you do nothing but watch tv or do whatever relaxes you is the best way to avoid burnout. The day will also help you overcome burnout if you’re already burnt out. Read more>>

Jonathan Shrednick

Hello. I believe everyone has an internal “motor” that was groomed over the years by harnessing the ability to never fail. For me, Completely Pickled has no room for taking the pedal off this train. We are constantly being judged by our quality, flavor and value which leads to our credo, “we are only as good as our last batch”. Read more>>

Kasia Stiggelbout

As a Type-A entrepreneur and Silicon Valley tech veteran, burnout was a frequent visitor in my life and I know I’m not alone in that. My biggest game-changer came when I started listening to my body and honoring my natural rhythms as a woman—a practice known as cycle syncing.

For years, I operated in a way that ignored the cyclical nature of my biology, pushing myself to maintain the same level of output every single day as if I were a machine. But women’s bodies aren’t designed to operate in a flat, linear way. Our physiology follows a roughly 28-day rhythm, known as the infradian cycle, which offers distinct phases that impact our energy, focus, and creativity. This differs from men’s hormonal rhythms, which follow a 24-hour circadian cycle. Read more>>

Donglin Song

As an artist, I often find it hard to keep up with the high-paced creative grind. Burnout and confusion pop up pretty regularly. To get through burnout, I switch up my creative forms—from ceramics to installations to illustrations. Different mediums are better for different themes, and each material has its own language, which I’ve learned a lot from working with ceramics and crafts.

But the most important thing is to never forget to express yourself. Even when you’re not feeling inspired, it’s crucial to keep creating. When you’re dealing with burnout and creative blocks, changing your perspective and taking time to relax really helps (though I’m still working on getting better at that!). Read more>>

Ema Vyhlidal

To avoid burnout, I made a conscious effort to set strict boundaries in my schedule. I ensured that I clearly defined work and personal time, making it easier to disconnect and recharge. Additionally, I incorporated regular breaks throughout the year to prevent overwhelming stress. These breaks helped me maintain a healthier work-life balance and refreshed my focus when I returned. By consistently respecting these boundaries, I was able to sustain my energy and prevent burnout from taking hold. Read more>>