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