HOW TO TREAT BURNOUT IN DESIGNERS
Once, we took a survey to find out the working condition of designers in Nigeria. The results of our survey showed that although almost two-thirds of the respondents get burnout, less than one-third are reimbursed by their companies. In this article, we would be discussing about burnout and how you can manage it.
Fortunately, burnout is now formally recognized by the WHO. It was defined by the WHO as a syndrome resulting from “chronic workplace stress” that has not been successfully managed.
If you’ve ever had burnout, chill-out, it’s completely okay for designers to experience burnout in the course of their careers.
CHARACTERISTICS OF BURNOUT
If you exhibit some of these traits, you could be suffering from burnout
- Frequent headaches or stomachaches, muscle pain, and tiredness.
- Feeling alone and detached from your friends and family.
- Feeling less productive and motivated at work.
- Feeling trapped and helpless in what you’ve always loved doing.
- Feeling the need to constantly procrastinate work.
- Feeling depressed with loads of self-doubt.
- Experiencing insomnia or change in appetite.
POSSIBLE CAUSES OF BURNOUT
Let’s discuss some possible causes of burnout. Some personality traits and thought patterns like perfectionism and pessimism can induce stress. Also, unrealistic deadlines, rude and inconsiderate teammates and leaders, as well as frequent and unpredictable work schedules can prevent you from proper rest which can induce stress.
WAYS OF TREATING BURNOUT
While researching for this article, most writers recommend leaving the job inducing burnout. But considering the rate of unemployment in Nigeria, leaving a job due to burnout is very illogical and practically impossible, especially for someone with responsibilities. Thus, I researched ways various designers have treated their burnouts and here are my findings:
- DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM
“A problem well stated is a problem half solved.” — John Dewey
The first and most important step of getting rid of a problem is to accurately diagnose the problem. If you can realise that you have burnout, it would be easier for you to recover from it.
2. CHANGE YOUR ENVIRONMENT
You should recreate your studio/office to improve creativity. Have a plant, ergonomic tables and chairs, good lightening, paintings and so on. You should also find a separate environment other than your office from time to time. Get up and walk to a cafe, or work outdoor.
3. GET MORE SLEEP AND HIT THE GYM
Getting more sleep (of about 7–9hrs) at night improves concentration, memory, creativity and reduces stress. Regardless of how little the time you have, try to make out enough for sleep. To be honest, we’ll probably have more time if we spend less time on the net.
It’s important to make out time to work out regularly. Exercising is a great way to burn off stress, improve your mood, increase your energy, relax your mind and increase your concentration. It’s advised that you practice rhythmic exercises for at least 30minutes per day. Some of these exercises include swimming, running, walking, weight training, martial arts and dancing.
4. ATTEND A CONFERENCE
Attend design conferences and events. One of the social ways to treat burnout is to find someone who has experienced what you’re going through. You would be able to talk about your problem, get comfort or advice. One of the ways to find this person is by attending conferences.
5. SCHEDULE SOME DOWNTIME
Always schedule some me-time regularly. If you can, go on a vacation. You can also ask for a temporary leave-of-absence or relax during public holidays. Schedule this time to maximize the period of treating yourself. Try to use less of your digital devices while you’re trying to rest. Using this period on social media would do more harm than good. It would reduce your concentration span as well as increase your stress. There are various fun activities to do during me-time. If you’re an introvert, you can read a book, do self-care, or explore a city alone. If you’re an extrovert, you can spend time with loved ones. Finally, learn to politely turn down requests that popup during me-time.
6. TALK TO SOMEONE
Talk to someone about how you’re feeling.
If you’re on a team, talk to your manager.
If you work for yourself, talk to people close to you.
If you can afford it, talk to a mental health professional.
Sometimes the person you talk to wouldn’t necessarily fix your problem. Having someone listen to you would instead relieve you of stress.
If after doing it all, you’re still burnout and you suspect it’s from the stress of your job. It’s time to upskill yourself, save while trying to find another job and once you find another, leave your job.
At 115Garage, we treat our designers with decency, provide a stress-free environment, nurture a positive work culture, and encourage activities that would improve your overall well-being. Click here to join us.
