On Burnout

 

Burnout can be a challenge for us creative types–especially for those of us (realistically, this is probably the majority of us) who are trying to juggle full-time jobs with part-time creative pursuits. Throw a spouse and a kid or two into the pot, and you’ve got the recipe for a not-so-delicious Burnout Stew.

I’ve been quiet on here, and burnout is the reason. For most of this year, I juggled freelance editing and writing work in addition to my full-time job and family responsibilities, including a very active toddler. It was one of those “be careful what you ask for” scenarios: Not too long after I thought about getting back to freelance work, a steady stream of gigs dropped into my lap. (Or, as Richard Bach’s Illusions would say, I manifested them.)

I’m very grateful for the work, but I ended up severely burnt out. It turns out working all day then spending time with the kiddo, putting her to bed, eating dinner, and then getting back to work until I dropped exhausted into bed can really wear a person out over time. And so I needed a break.

Dealing With Burnout

“The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.”
— Sydney Harris, American journalist

I’m no expert, but here are some tips derived from my recent experience.

• Just do it. Yes, there are eight million things you should be doing. But you’re not going to be very good at them until you resolve your burnout. You’ll just end up with no usable work and no rest. That’s a lose-lose situation. (For example, I’ve been trying to write this blog post for weeks.) Sometimes, as I discovered after a recent staycation, the secret to productivity is not being productive for a while.
• Sleep. Remember that strange state in which you once were rested? In which you didn’t wake up groaning and feeling just as exhausted as when you’d lain* down, way too few hours ago? That state of refreshment may be a distant memory, but you can get it back again. This should be priority number one. (See the next tip.)
• Keep ignoring the piles of clean laundry. Obviously, you might have to wash clothes so you don’t go to work naked (last I checked, that was still illegal), but putting them away? Still inessential. The mountain of clean laundry waited this long while you were dealing with your job, your family, your creative pursuits. It can wait a little longer while you take some time to recover. (And by laundry, I mean anything around your house that is not required in order to keep the health inspectors away.)
• Remember what you used to love. It can be hard, after you’ve had your nose to the grindstone day after day, to think back to what hobbies used to make you happy when you weren’t working 18 hours a day. But once upon a time, you enjoyed reading, or knitting, or taking photographs. (You know, those activities that are unrelated to whatever caused your burnout.) You probably still love to do those things. That unfinished book, knitting project, or expensive digital camera (in my case) have been there, waiting patiently for you to have time to pay attention to them again. Do that.
• Do some things that are utterly useless. Chances are, a lot of the activities that feed your soul are still pretty productive. So make sure to give yourself time and opportunities to be utterly unproductive. Watch a lot of TV (especially trashy shows that you’re embarrassed to enjoy), play some Candy Crush, stare at the ceiling. In other words, do whatever makes you feel like you’re on vacation without leaving your house.
• Treat Yo Self. Speaking of vacation, take one. Or get a massage, leave work early for a pedicure, or take yourself out to lunch. If money is tight (and when is it not when you’re a creative professional?), find some free or inexpensive luxuries. Take a long walk on your lunch break in the gorgeous weather, buy yourself a frivolous magazine or decadent coffee drink, call your best friend you’ve been neglecting for a long catch-up chat.

It is a lesson that my husband has been trying to teach me for years: Only by resting can we regain the energy we need to do the great work we’re capable of, even if that means letting the dishes pile up in the sink one more day and playing a video game all night.

For my part, I’m posting infrequently on here, turning down freelance gigs for a while, and letting my own writing projects sit untouched. Instead, I’m spending more time with my family, reading the first Game of Thrones book, and catching up on The Mindy Project.

Do I feel a little guilty? Yes, but I am also starting to feel the soft whispers in my ear of a desire to get back to work. When those whispers turn to shouts, I will know it’s time to come out of my hiatus. And also to build in more rest time in-between projects.

What do you do to combat burnout? Have any tips to share?

Photo by Matthijs Rouw and licensed through Creative Commons

*Yes, this is correct. See Grammar Girl’s explanation.