I will admit it, I didn't want to write this post tonight. It's been really stressful at work lately and I'm feeling so creatively drained that I don't want to even try and think. I just want to come home, decompress, and watch Netflix with my husband.
BUT...
...as the title of this post states, I have GOT to at all costs avoid burnout.
The number one way to do that is to have a day job in a different industry than your passion, and yes, unfortunately I'm breaking that very wise guideline. My day job is stressing me out and seriously sucking all my creativity.
Currently at work, I'm in the middle of a personal project for my boss and it has been extremely demanding. On top of that I have a million other projects to accomplish in my day to day workload, so my creativity is stretched to its limits. I rarely have time to even think, I just have to go, go, go.
So, in light of that, I will say that God is my rock and I will definitely pull through and I love you guys so I am most assuredly going to get this post out!
As you can probably guess, burnout is the absolute worst thing for passion projects. It often spells disaster. So the important thing is to make sure those things that cause burnout are properly removed and things that boost your passion are put into its place.
You're probably wondering why I haven't left my day job yet. Truthfully, I'm working very hard to come to a point where I can leave it and find something that will work different parts of my brain, leaving the creative parts unharmed. However, right now is the height of season at my work, so it wouldn't feel right leaving at this point. I'd leave my coworker in a super tight spot, which would not be cool. So, I'm having to find other ways to avoid this burnout that's trying so hard to creep in.
Part of my method is to continue doing what I love every day. I make sure to draw something, anything, every single day so that I'm not letting my passion slip away like I did before. You can see the majority of these drawings on my Instagram.
The same goes for you, if you feel your passion is slipping out of your fingers because the pursuit of money is getting in the way, DON'T LET IT!
Money will always come, it may not always be as much as you like, but as long as you keep working in some shape or form, it'll be there. You have to work hard for money, but you have to work much harder to keep your passion alive. And in the end, it'll be so worth it.
I'm not preaching on a soapbox either, I'm living it! I know that in my current situation, the proper thing is to continue on at my day job, but when the right moment comes, I will leave and dive head first into my passion work!
In the meantime, I'm writing, I'm iterating, and I'm building up my presence online and in the creative community so that when I do jump out, I'm not floundering, but I have a solid foundation to work from.
So, what do you do when you start feeling burnt out? Share in the comments below!
Here are a few fun links to other sources on this same topic as well as a few random fun ones for kicks and giggles.
- Good essay to help you avoid creative burnout - http://scottberkun.com/essays/33-how-to-survive-creative-burnout/
- Great insight from my favorite letterer - http://seanwes.com/podcast/102-why-it-may-be-the-wrong-time-to-pursue-your-passion/
- What I wanted to make for dinner tonight, but didn't - http://www.taylormadebytaylorbee.com/2013/02/light-pasta-bake-with-chicken-sausage.html?m=1
- What I should be doing every day after work... - http://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Best-Yoga-Poses-Office-Workers-24640282
Until next time, have a lovely night friends! :)