Between Hustle Culture, Work-From-Home, and other trends and changes in the work and business culture, we’ve seen a large rise in burnout within the community and so we’ve become very interested in hosting conversations around how folks can avoid or overcome burnout.
Katie Bizanovich
I think the key to overcoming and trying to avoid burnout is to just give yourself breaks from creating. If you’re a full time creative, sure that can be hard because it is your job, but I think you HAVE to take some time from doing your normal every day work and let yourself breathe for a minute. If I am doing too much at once or doing the same kind of photos back to back, I do notice that my creativity dwindles and I can burn myself out. Read more>>
Alisa Macias
In the beginning of my career my wellbeing and basic needs took a backseat to collecting clients and overworking myself in the name of “paying my dues”. Over the years it became apparent that this approach was unsustainable, and led to my work and home life suffering. I now pay close attention to how each day is structured, by setting boundaries, with myself and other responsibilities in my life, as well as scheduling rest periods. Additionally, I started to consider my whole family’s schedules, then decide when I will be available for clients. Read more>>
Karen Ortiz Salguero
As a generational healer, I find myself more susceptible to absorbing my clients’ negative or intense energy, especially during ritual cleanses. To counter this, I prioritize self-care rituals, grounding my energy and establishing a strong connection with the universe to prevent quick burnout. Although it’s inevitable, I’ve discovered that I can bounce back by showing myself gentle love, practicing self-care, and engaging in activities that rejuvenate my spirit. Read more>>
Marisa Mathews
This can be a difficult one as someone that is self employed but my biggest tool is being sure to set aside time to enrich myself outside of tattooing. Typically, I love to read, run, crochet, spend time with my family and play with my dogs. It’s so necessary to give myself the time away to rest so I am able to have a long, happy, healthy career. Read more>>
Sereena Morrison
To avoid burnout, establishing boundaries is essential. In 2021, I experienced burnout and felt my passion for makeup dwindling. A conversation with someone in my community opened my eyes to the importance of turning off work as an entrepreneur. This advice helped me realize that boundaries are crucial for protecting your passion. By setting clear limits, like designated work hours and time for self-care, I was able to reconnect with my love for makeup. Boundaries are a form of self-respect that help sustain your passion and well-being in the long run. Read more>>
Laura Mares
The pandemic forced me to pause my photography career, which unexpectedly led me to reevaluate my priorities. I learned to navigate burnout by focusing on meaningful projects, staying true to my core values, and rediscovering my passion for photography. I also found a healthier work-life balance. It’s incredibly fulfilling to know that I’ve found my true calling. Read more>>
Amelia Knott
Something I’m exploring within myself and my work right now is how to return to the rhythm of work after burnout. The last few years have felt like a pendulum swinging between periods of generative creativity and the crash that follows. I’ve learned I can’t sustain this rhythm indefinitely. Crafting a sustainable career means being incredibly compassionate toward myself when my tank is empty. Read more>>
Angie, Eleazar Yoh, Chinne
As business owners, it is a really tiresome. The work on the clock is brutal, but it is work after “clocking out” that really gets you. I have found that compartmentalizing helps a lot. When it is time to work, put my head down and grind it all out. I set specific goals and targets, both big and small and try to hit them. This stops me from attempting too much all at the same time. At work, we work. After leaving, I afford myself some time to be alone. Away from work. In the quiet of my presence. I go on walks to clear my mind and wind down. Read more>>
Melissa Simmons
I’ve had to learn this lesson the hard, painful way, meaning I’ve gotten burned out a few times and it isn’t fun. It’s taken me a long time to realize that taking time off is not a luxury – it’s a requirement. If you want to be effective for the long term and avoid the crash & burn, you must take some breaks. Read more>>
Tylet Cox
I am always working to overcome burnout. When you own a business, you’re really never off the clock. Making time each day to do something I enjoy, and making sure I have a few fun trips planned throughout the year are a couple of things that I do to overcome burnout. Read more>>
Alessia Mandanici
In the spring of 2023, I graduated from one of the world’s finest film schools. With an MFA in my pocket, a recently completed film, and living in a city that others merely dream of, I should be poised for success, right? I was never effectively diagnosed with burnout, but for roughly two years, I had been feeling lost in a valley, churning the same dough of fears and anxieties: How will I pay my rent once school is over? What about my living expenses? And health insurance? Not to speak of a lawyer, if I want to stay in the US and file for an artist visa I cannot be certain to be granted—all while continuing to follow and pursue my dream of making films and telling my stories. Read more>>
Shamela Clark
I avoid getting burnt out by offering multiple services (Hair/Body products, Acrylic Nails, Press On Nails, Custom Phone Cases, and more). Setting boundaries as well as reevaluating my goals. Sometimes adjusting my goals and expectations can relieve pressure and make my workload more manageable. Read more>>
Lark Holiday
My goal is to be a happy author. That’s it. I’m not saying that I never tango with burnout. Sometimes things have to get done, even if they aren’t enjoyable in the moment. But if this isn’t fun, then I don’t see the point. For this reason, I also work another job. Combined with authoring, it makes for long hours. But it also gives me the freedom to make decisions that support being a happy author and allows me to write the stories of my heart. Read more>>
Kiana Moattari
This is something I have been working through quite a bit this year and the thing I’ve found that has been helping is to find moments of fun and joy in my life, even if they are small. I have read the Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron a few times and something we do in that book/course is an Artist Date. Essentially, it’s time blocked out once a week to do something for yourself – whether that’s creative or purely just silly fun. I re-instated that into my life and I have found it’s been incredibly helpful for periods of burnout. For me it can be anything as simple as getting ice cream or just browsing a bookstore. I have found that life and the industry moves fast and there’s always so much to do and can be done, it’s up to me to set time aside for myself to find the fun. Read more>>
Dr. Ashley Tolleson
To avoid and overcome burnout, I had to rethink my approach to my career and my well-being. I can still hear my graduate school professors reminding us, “You can’t be in this field for the money.” At the time, I agreed wholeheartedly, feeling proud of my selfless commitment to becoming a therapist. However, it wasn’t until much later that I realized self-sacrifice wasn’t the path to a sustainable or fulfilling career. By the time I finished my Ph.D. program, despite the accolades and accomplishments I had earned, I found myself deeply burned out. Read more>>
Dr. Cece Brooks
As a medical professional, it is my job to truly listen, hear, and feel for my patients every single day. I genuinely care about their thoughts, feelings, symptoms, and experiences and I work to validate them at every appointment. I, therefore, carry their sadness, pain, happiness, and joy with me. At the beginning of my career, I often felt overwhelmed by those emotions because the patient population I treat tends to suffer from chronic symptoms. I would leave my office feeling empty and depleted only to go home to my two young children who also needed me. I quickly found myself having compassion fatigue – I was so emotionally drained from my patients that I had nothing left to give at home. It was hard to even hold a simple conversation let alone be actively and happily present with my kids. Read more>>
Rebekah Ondejko
Burnout can be a real challenge for hairstylists due to the physical demands and the need to maintain a high level of personal interaction. After years of trying to please everyone around me I realized that I needed to create a work environment that worked for me and my needs. I limit the number of clients I take in a day to avoid coming home late at night sore and exhausted from over extending myself, I work 3 full days a week and 2 half days which allows me to be there for my clients while leaving a few hours in the week to take care of myself and personal needs. Avoiding burnout is about prioritizing yourself and your needs first, if I’m not my best self then I am not providing my best services and I wont let that happen. Read more>>
Morgan Bender
It is still early in my wedding season, so check in with me after my 8 weddings this fall! But, overall these past 10+ years of being a creative in the wedding industry has had plenty of ups and downs. The most important thing to me as a wedding photographer is to never get comfortable. I’m constantly trying to evolve and never stop learning. In addition to always learning and evolving I have really tried to stray away from creating images for my benefit, and instead choosing to get lost in the emotions of the day and documenting most authentically the couple’s love story. It is very easy to want to create and curate a beautiful and eye-catching Instagram feed, but what is more important is displaying to potential couples that you can really anticipate the moments and emotions well.
Roger Ribeiro
Burnout is something that is very common in the lives of artists, unfortunately. I believe that it occurs due to receiving too many “no’s” and broken expectations, if that is even possible in our field, especially because it is very challenging because we cannot control situations and we depend on many people to be able to do our work.
I try to fill this part with people and things that fill me with happiness, such as spending time with my family, traveling, playing with my son, going to the movies, theater, playing video games and practicing my jiu jitsu. Maybe the secret is to take life more lightly. Read more>>
Jessica Gibson Grace Purvis
We’ve developed a new model in our clinic aimed at preventing therapist burnout and addressing high turnover rates and decreased client satisfaction observed at other facilities. Our approach prioritizes consistent care, therapist longevity, and overall satisfaction by ensuring therapists have ample time each day for documentation, collaboration with colleagues, and resource gathering for parents. This model has not only improved therapist well-being but also enhanced client outcomes and continuity of care. Read more>>
Brittney B
Burnout is a big problem for business owners. We usually start a business because we love what we do. As the business grows, we pour more and more time into it. But too much of a good thing can cause burnout. After a few years in business I realized I needed some hobbies other than work because I was getting burned out. I set a work schedule (quitting by 4pm every day) and started doing something fun in the evenings to get my mind on something else. So if you’re feeling burned out, go find something fun to do for a short time every week. Whether it’s doing puzzles, reading, or going to an exercise class. Do something different. Read more>>
Wisdom Edioma
To avoid burnout, I make sure I’m surrounded by people who genuinely care about me and push me to stay on track with my goals. My close friends, who are some of the best people in my life, help keep me grounded and focused. They remind me of what I’m working toward and hold me accountable when I start slipping. Read more>>
Tharren (chef T) Printup
Culinary Burnout is a silent killer within the Industry that has caused great chefs to deteriorate inside and out. Provisions and cautionary aids have improved tremendously over the years, but we must stay proactive to guarantee longevity within our Passion of Interest. Recognizing the signs of Burnout is essential. These may include feeling exhausted or run down, lacking motivation, unfulfilled or dissatisfied with your work, or experiencing physical symptoms such as headaches or even stomach problems. Chefs may feel detached, emotionally numb and experience decreased satisfaction due to decline in quality of work. Read more>>
Meg Turner
Burnout is so real! It doesn’t matter what field you’re in or how much you might love your job and what you’re doing – everyone feels burnout at some point. The worst part about it too is that people experience it differently and it can be caused by so many different reasons that it can be difficult to navigate how to overcome it. Read more>>
Justin Wong
I’m a very strong believer in the importance of maintaining balance in my life to stay as mentally and emotionally healthy as possible. Overcoming burnout involves a very intentional and ongoing effort to maintain my well-being, which includes regular self-check-ins and prioritizing self-care. Regularly assessing my emotional and physical well-being helps me stay attuned to my stress levels and potential signs of burnout. Reflecting on how I am currently and have been feeling lately helps me identify imbalances or dissatisfactions in my life in order to make necessary adjustments. Read more>>
