Q: I was successful in the design industry
for quite a while, but suddenly
I don’t have the same energy. My
enthusiasm has evaporated; my
passion is pffffft! How do I reconnect
with my career and myself?
Ah, burnout. Nature’s way of telling you “somethin’s
gotta give.” In medicine, the proper treatment of an
ailment must be preceded by an accurate diagnosis.
Not all burnout cases are the same, any more than all
headaches or backaches are. The source of the trouble
holds the key to its remedy, and it’s important to
know what’s causing your discomfort.
Burnout can stem from imbalances in one of
three general areas—mind, body, and spirit—or
a combination of the three. The mind, body, and
spirit all need to be in balance for an individual to
thrive and function at peak performance. And while
balance means different things to each of us at various
times, the fact is that balance is fluid: It isn’t
something that is achieved once and kept. It requires
constant checks, and give and take.
Mind
Probably the biggest source of trouble for designers
and creative professionals, balance in the mind
is hard to maintain. Every day we’re expected to
perform, have great—meaning new—ideas, solve a
myriad of problems, be able to communicate in a
multitude of media. Add to that the array of meetings,
memos, e-mails, and the other day-to-day
demands we face, and it’s a wonder we’re able to get
anything done. Burnout in the mind area generally
comes from “too much.” For example:
- Working too many hours
- Too many projects and details
- Excessive demands on time
- Worries about money, job security
- Competing priorities
- Self-imposed, unrealistic pressure to “be even
better” each day
- Too much free time, resulting in boredom
Body
As we age, the body balance requires more effort to
maintain. People in their 20s, for example, have an
uncanny ability to work hard and play hard with
no visible ill effects, while a middle-aged person
suffering from a hangover may be sick for two days.
Creativity is harder to muster when you don’t feel
well, and feeling well means having a healthy body.
Burnout that comes from disconnection with the
body typically stems from:
- Poor diet
- Not enough exercise
- Abuse of alcohol and drugs
- Too much caffeine, sugar, or other things ingested
in excess
- Lack of sleep
- A chronic infection or undiagnosed illness
- Eating foods you’re allergic to or don’t tolerate well
- Being in an unhealthy environment, such as a
“sick building” or—according to some sources—
near strong electrical fields
Spirit
The spirit is highly personal, and different people
can be affected in very different ways by spiritual
distress. Not necessarily related to religion or
dogma, the spirit deals with feelings, gut instinct,
and intuition. Your spirit can be threatened by:
- An atmosphere where integrity is not valued
- A lack of appreciation
- An environment that is not supportive
- People whose values differ markedly from yours
&
- Negativity
- Excessive competition
- Conflicting priorities
