Burnout is not run-of-the-mill fatigue. It’s a serious work hazard for creative professionals that can take years of recovery. Learn what burnout is and how to protect your longevity as an artist.
(Image: Kiki’s Delivery Service, Studio Ghibli 1989. A film about the artist’s struggle.)
What is burnout? If you are chronically exhausted, feel cynical about your job, have disengaged from your work, and feel less effective than before, you may be experiencing burnout. Artists should notice these signs early before they lead to a feedback loop that studies say cause people to undermine themselves, perpetuating the syndrome.
Environment for Burnout
Artists are at high risk for burnout. Long hours, taking on extra gig work, industry expectations of crunch and unpaid overtime, loss of sleep, and economic uncertainty are all common in creator environments and cause significant burnout.
Perfectionism and Burnout
Inwardly, artists are prone to perfectionism. They tend to see their work as a reflection of their full abilities, when in reality every deadline doesn’t need a full-out performance. Uncertain employment also challenges them to constantly prove themselves, and many feel disenchanted by “survival work” to make ends meet. Workplace scrutiny, consumer attitudes about creative work, and self-judgment all lead them to put 100% into every deliverable. The problem, of course, is that perfectionism is a precursor to burnout.
Burnout and Physical Illness
Could these stresses reinforce artists’ neglected physical health? Burnout itself is linked to physical disease. People with burnout are found to have more physical health problems the more severe their burnout. In a study of Finnish workers, 52% with no burnout had a physical illness, but those with mild burnout were at 64% and those with severe burnout were at 71%.
What’s startling is that burnout is associated with the same diseases aas being an artist. Burnout is linked to:
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- musculoskeletal disorders, especially in women
- cardiovascular disease, especially in men.
But digital artists’ awkward posture and repetitive strain injuries already cause musculoskeletal disorders, especially in the back, while sedentary risks from their work have similar health implications.
Burnout and Mental Health
For creatives, work demands are a double whammy of physical strain and mental toll. Burnout is associated with not only diseases of the body, but also to depression, anxiety disorders, and alcoholism. Together, industry demands and the creative process itself drive artists to push through pain. Often, artists are taught to see the goal as keeping flow at all costs, without questioning the process. The relationship between physical and mental health are reciprocal.
The good news is that you can notice burnout symptoms early and become more resilient to it.
For tips on resilience against burnout, read Stop Burnout Before It Stops You.
