Tips for Treating Burnout

Burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by chronic and unmanaged stress. Symptoms include fatigue, detachment, cynicism, and reduced efficiency. Burnout is something that I am all too familiar with, from my days as a student to now. Here, I will share how I deal with and prevent artistic and professional burnout.

1. Trial and Error

1. If you are a student or a new professional, this is the best time to learn how you like to work. Use short-term and long-term projects to gauge what part of the process you often feel “stuck” on. Take time to figure out how to arrange your professional and personal schedule. If you deal with any failure, see it as a chance to grow rather than feeling guilty. 

2. Build a New Routine

1. If you find yourself feeling burnt out, consider whether the root cause is your workflow. Maybe you need to try out new techniques or tools? Maybe you need to re-work your hours? Maybe you need to work more breaks into your schedule? It’s never too late to change your routine.

3. Take Breaks!

1. I used to avoid taking breaks unless it was to eat, sleep, or shower. Working digitally did no good for my eyes or brain. The pomodoro method is effective- you work in 25-minute, distraction-free intervals called "pomodoros," followed by 5-minute breaks. After four consecutive sessions, a longer 15- to 30-minute break is taken to prevent burnout. Recently, I have been taking my breaks after completing specific parts of my tasks, predetermined before my work session. For instance, while writing this blog post, I take mini breaks between subjects to avoid sounding repetitive and to spark new ideas.

4. Go Back to the Basics

1. Whenever I feel burnt out, I open my sketchbook and go back to my drawing textbooks. There’s something therapeutic about revisiting old lessons from a new lens. Oftentimes, you will find a new perspective and appreciation for the path you’ve been on.

5. Find Your Inspiration

1. What led you to your desired path? For me, it was all forms of visual storytelling- from children’s books, graphic novels, to animation. If I feel burnt out, I look at work from my favorite illustrators (to name a few: Victo Ngai, Deb JJ Lee, and Hayao Miyazaki). It’s also a good excuse to binge-watch Studio Ghibli, Laika Studios, and classic Disney films. Let nostalgia inspire you.

6. Remember to Appreciate Yourself!

1. Always give yourself credit for any growth or lesson learned, even if it’s small. As someone who has always struggled with confidence, I never let myself feel a sense of accomplishment. I used to diminish my own achievements because I felt they weren’t big enough. If I completed a project and received a good grade, I always assumed someone else, somewhere, would have done a better job than I did. This mindset led to constant burnout during art school. After I graduated, I realized how much I had grown and started to gain confidence as I slowly transitioned to a blossoming career.