CCT #7: Burn Out (Patreon)

Avoiding burnout as a full-time content creator requires a balance of work and self-care. Burnout is a nasty thing that comes slowly Ana sneakily. Here are some tips:

1. Set Boundaries:
Establish clear work hours and stick to them. Don't let work bleed into your personal time. This is much much easier said than done, especially since you make your own schedule or if you work another job. But you could start by setting time boundaries like "nothing after Xpm" for example.
Boundaries can also mean that you are cautious about what content you create or what deadline to accept for a collab. Some people (like me) need a bit of pressure to get working, but I feel like the most important part is that you do only/mostly what you also feel like doing. It's more burnout risky if you do stuff that you have little motivation for, because that usually means procrastination, more energy spent and more time wasted stressing yourself out.

2. Take Breaks: 
Schedule regular breaks throughout your day to rest and recharge. Don't forget to eat. To go outside. Even short breaks can help prevent burnout. And try to things in the breaks that you know are good for you and that keep your mind off your current task.
There are always things that fill up your energy (e.g. sports, video games, nature walks, friends, music) and things that drain it (e.g. doomscrolling, certain people). Find your own and treat yourself in your breaks :)

3. Prioritize Tasks:
Focus on high-priority tasks first and delegate or postpone less important ones. I personally struggle with this a lot, sine my brain is super random and I go where most motivation lies. Which is okay. But if you have deadlines for collabs, conventions or projects, maybe try make a list and prioritise.

4. Manage Stress: 
Practice stress-reduction techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, or exercise to keep stress levels in check and body & mind in balance. Sounds rather esoteric, but it does help ♡

6. Get Support:
Don't hesitate to ask for help or delegate tasks when needed. Surround yourself with a supportive network of friends, family, or fellow creators. This includes asking others for advice online, inviting a friend over to help with a pattern for example or to take photos, or having your family help to take a proper break.

7. Set Realistic Goals:
Avoid overcommitting yourself and set realistic goals that you can achieve without sacrificing your well-being. This seems like a small thing but it helped me immensely! In the past I've always wanted to pack my day way fuller than I could fit and felt bad or stressed in the end when I didn't manage all. Be more like "today I want to focus on doing this one or two tasks and if you finish early, this third one is a bonus" instead of "today I could/wanna manage these four tasks".

8. Celebrate Achievements:
Take time to acknowledge and celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how small. Get yourself some ice-cream, play a video game, whatever brings you joy.

9. Disconnect Regularly:
Set aside time to disconnect from work and technology to enjoy other activities and hobbies. If you spend a lot of time in front of a display (e.g. Drawing or editing all day)nor sitting, it'd be amazing to mix that with some kind of movement or physical activity. Ofc there's absolutely nothing wrong with watching a movie, playing a video game or checking social media to disconnect. But for me personally, that never gave me the same genuine satisfaction, freshness of brain and wellbeing of body than physical activity. Even if it's just a walk, believe me.

10. Seek Professional Help if Needed: 
If you're feeling overwhelmed or experiencing symptoms of burnout, don't hesitate to seek support from a therapist or counselor. There's absolutely no shame in that, it doesn't make you weak. Quite the opposite, even. It's very attractive if someone is able and willing to take care of themselves ;) More people talk to a therapist than you might think. Talking from own experience also, this can help so much.