Transcript
Amber Ac (0:09)
Hello and welcome to Women Designers. You should know the podcast that uncovers the groundbreaking stories of women in design history while also tackling the challenges designers face today. I'm your host Amber Ac, and for today's Design Dialogues topic, we're covering something that every design professional encounters at some point, creative burnout. And to help me further unpack what burnout looks like, how to spot the early signs, and the steps we can take to recover and protect our creativity, I am thrilled to welcome Badal Patel, who also goes by BE founder of Super Spicy, to help me break it all down. Before we dive in, I want to remind you all that your reviews mean so much to me. So if you enjoy the conversation, don't forget to drop a five star rating and share your thoughts. Okay, let's get into it. Before I get to my recorded session with be, let's chat a little bit about Creative burnout. If you've ever felt the weight of a project SAP your energy or struggle to reignite your passion, you're not alone. In fact, burnout is a common experience. And did you know that women are more likely to face this challenge? Studies reveal that they are disproportionately affected by the pressures of perfectionism and balancing multiple roles and sometimes even workplace bias. Creative burnout is a silent but persistent issue within the design world. Anyone can experience it. But research shows that women, particularly in creative fields, are more susceptible to burnout due to societal and professional pressures. According to a 2020 study by Adobe, 67% of creative professionals reported experiencing burnout, with women more likely to report feeling overwhelmed by their work environments. Can you believe that? That is mind blowing to me. So what does burnout really look like? For many women in design, it starts as an overwhelming sense of exhaustion or a feeling of being disconnected from the creative process. In fact, I reached out to my Women Designers broadcast channel on Instagram and asked the community to share their experiences and the responses were, of course, raw and very relatable. It was things like insomnia, anxiety, creative dullness, exhaustion, even feeling so overwhelmed that avoidance becomes the norm. For some, burnout shows up as permanent tiredness, like they're caught in a loop of being busy without feeling fulfilled. And others described a rush that never seems to end, lack of interest in creative outlets, and an overwhelming sense to just try to get through. And also, here's the thing. Burnout doesn't just lead to exhaustion. It stifles creativity, disrupts career progression, and leads to a cycle of self doubt. In creative industries where inspiration and innovation are Key. Honestly, burnout can feel like the loss of identity. And even some of the biggest names in design are, of course, no strangers to these challenges. In fact, a story that comes to mind is that of famed graphic designer Paula Scherr. She openly discussed her struggles with burnout. And I'm so glad that she's done this because it helps very many of us on the other end of their careers and just starting out really understand the challenges that many people face with this. So she once spoke openly about her struggle with burnout, describing periods where her passion felt dulled and the projects that used to inspire her started feeling like an endless grind. I've been there. It sucks. She even admitted that she hit a breaking point where design became less about joy and more about meeting external demands. Her journey back involved redefining her creative boundaries and allowing herself the freedom to experiment and make mistakes. Something that's easier said than done in high pressure environments. Another designer who faced burnout is Carolyn Davidson, who's the creator of the Nike Swoosh. Carolyn designed one of the most recognizable logos in history, and it was while she was a student. And the intense demands of freelance work soon took a toll. And as her fame grew, so did the pressure. She experienced burnout so much that she stepped back from design for a while, realizing that sustaining such a high intensity work life was taking a personal toll. Carolyn's experience underscores a reality many of us face. That success doesn't immunize us against burnout. Sometimes it heightens it. Ugh, that is so scary to think about. So why are women, particularly in creative fields, more susceptible to burnout? One reason is what's called the quote unquote double burden, which is placed on women who juggle both work responsibilities and home life. In fact, studies show. I know I keep saying this, but studies actually show that women, on average, are still more likely to manage household tasks or caregiving duties in addition to their professional workload. The added pressure can lead to chronic stress and exhaustion, especially when paired with high expectations at work. I feel like I'm covering this topic for my own knowledge and peace of mind because I'm hit with this all the time. Another factor of why women experience this so much is pressure for perfection. Research has shown that women in creative fields often feel a greater need to prove themselves, especially in industries where male voices dominate. Let me say that again. Women are feeling more creative burnout because we live in these male dominated industries. This can lead to what's called imposter syndrome, where women doubt their accomplishments despite Evidence of success and the need to consistently prove one's worth and to earn a place can become mentally exhausting, feeding directly into the burnout cycle. Even more troubling, creative fields sometimes foster a culture of endless availability, being always on, which can lead to chronic stress, anxiety and eventually a total shutdown. So hearing these stories can be reassuring, but I think finding practical solutions is just as important. So going back to the community, over on the broadcast channel, they shared some of the ways they overcome burnout. So things like taking breaks, going for walks, dancing, I loved that response. Or enjoying hobbies. Some of you even said you reset by looking at the sky, getting out in nature, training, or spending time with friends. I'm an extrovert, so I feel that to be true when I'm with friends, it fills my cup. And so you just have to know yourself and know the things that fill your cup and be aware of those things too and make a list of them. And then another thing that others found was going on road trips was inspiring. Or museums or writing poetry. Personally, I've also found that building a four hour work week, practicing saying no and getting better and better at saying no to set those boundaries, and crafting generous project timelines helped me stay balanced. So don't over commit and don't promise getting something done asap. And sometimes even raising prices, asking for a raise or reducing work volume can be a way to shift away from that scarcity mindset that fuels overworking. But I am here. I know this is all very daunting to hear, but I am here to share some good news is that burnout isn't an inevitable end, it's a signal. So look at it as a sign. It's your body, your mind, it's all telling you when you stretch too far. And it gives us the chance to recalibrate. Emma Gannon, who is a British author, she once put it that burnout is the result of doing too much for too long without enough time for joy. And so the other question I asked the community was what do you do to avoid burnout from happening again? It requires a proactive approach and this is an ongoing thing that you have to keep doing to make sure you're being careful. You're watching those things, maybe even set reminders to remember some of this stuff too. But some of your responses were planning and adding breaks in the schedule, taking time for myself, a couple of you said that. Some of you said respecting weekends and personal time, prioritizing yourself, being mindful of hours, not taking on so much work that I'm overextended. And even a couple of you said not sure yet. And that's a reality too. So with these insights in mind, let's get into my discussion with Bea, who has a wealth of experience navigating creative challenges and finding balance in her work. She even set up her studio to combat creative burnout. So she's here to share some powerful insights with us.