Burnout as a Designer #1 - Not to Fix, but to Coexist With
- Aya
- May 27
- 5 min read
Many designers and creators experience burnout at some point.
In this blog, I will share my experience as a freelance designer, when I went through burnout and how I chose not to “overcome” it but instead “coexisted” with it and learned to face it.
What Causes Designers Burnout?
I have been working as a designer for about six years now and I’ve experienced burnout two or three times so far.
Thankfully, I was able to come out of each period within a few months.
Every time the feeling of “I don’t want to do anything” or “I’m completely out of ideas after constant output” came right after wrapping up a packed schedule.
The most recent experience happened about a month after my highest-earning month ever. It was a month filled with many projects, deadlines and little time to rest.
Rather than feeling completely burned out, it felt more like I had finally reached a resting point after running non-stop.
It was as if I had been sprinting so hard, only to realize afterward that both my legs were too sore to take another step.
The busier the work, the more creative output is required.
During that time, not only was I completing projects, but I was also using the momentum and motivation to create personal work. Designing things one after another in a short time. Creative design work can be mentally draining.
While working or designing, I genuinely enjoy it. Time passes quickly. But soon after the work is done, I suddenly feel exhausted, often without even realizing how tired I actually am.
This is probably something all designers, artists and creators who constantly produce work will experience at some point.
There may be people who never burn out and always have fresh ideas pouring in. But they are likely very rare.
Two Types of Burnout: Sudden and Slow Burn
In my case, burnout comes in two different ways: suddenly or gradually.
●Sudden Burnout
When it hits me suddenly, I take a complete break for several days or even a week. I go fully offline and rest. After some time, I begin to feel like working again or feel a small urge to create.
Freelancers often forget to rest, since there are no set work hours or weekends.
It is not unusual to find yourself working every single day for an entire month.
Many freelancers love what they do, which is probably why this happens.
●The Slow Burn
On the other hand, the gradual type tends to last longer.
The end of this burnout is also slow and gentle. It feels like slowly coming out of a fog.
But this slow burnout or creative slump can also be a valuable time for self-reflection.
When you’ve given everything, used every idea and feel completely empty, what remains?
It is in that completely blank state that you may feel even the tiniest spark more clearly. You can notice what moves you, and you can rediscover something with a fresh heart.
What You Can Discover in Quiet Moments With Yourself?
This experience feels like sinking slowly into a deep ocean inside yourself.
As someone who has gone diving before, I can say it’s similar to reaching a certain depth underwater where your body begins to drift down on its own.
In that moment, the deep blue below may feel both frightening and strangely comforting. You leave the noisy outside world behind, and the only sound you hear is your own breathing. You become one with the silence.
Sometimes during burnout, I try to fight and swim back up.
Other times, I allow myself to sink to the bottom.
When I start to get bored with being down there, I look up. I see the path I came from and the light above.
And then I remember.
What did I love?
What compliments made me happy?
What do I want to protect? What truly moves me?
I start gathering those scattered memories, like picking up treasures that had spilled from a box.
I ask myself which ones I want to keep close and which ones I can let go.
Taking a Step Back With Digital Detox
Whenever I feel burnout, I try to stay away from digital content like videos or images.
Instead, I focus on what is around me in the real world.
The sky, the wind, the natural sounds, and my own senses.
Images and videos on screens contain far too much information.
I let myself absorb only what my mind can handle, at my own pace. I choose what to consume with intention.
I read books. I use my imagination again and reconnect with my senses.
I also find it helpful to write down what I notice or feel. Whether on this blog or in a notebook, even single words are fine. The act of writing has meaning in itself.
How I Slowly Reconnected with My True Passion
Writing down the words that came to me helped bring clarity to the mess in my head. It gave me direction through the fog.
Those words are filtered through my own thoughts. And for me, writing by hand leaves a deeper impression than typing.
Handwriting reflects your personality. The act of putting thoughts into words helps make your internal world visible and tangible.
Spending time in quiet self-reflection is like going on a journey to meet a new version of yourself.
There is a quote by Carl Gustav Jung, the founder of analytical psychology that captures this moment perfectly:
"Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes." — Carl Jung
When we only look at others, we start dreaming. We admire, envy, and wish to be someone else.
But in doing so, we often lose sight of who we really are.
Our attention is directed outward, and we fail to notice our own reality.
Looking inward helps us see our true selves for the first time. It allows us to explore our values, dreams, and passions and brings us back to who we really are.
Facing yourself can be frightening. There are times you want to avoid it. But that is why many artists and creators pour their souls into their work. It is a way to meet themselves.
Designing is not always easy. Creating constantly is not easy.
But turning my thoughts, values, and worldview into visual form and sharing that with someone in return for value is what makes me feel that design is truly my calling.
Being a designer means constantly communicating not only with clients and users but also with yourself.
If you are feeling burnout right now, take a moment to quietly listen to your own voice.
Your next passion to create might be quietly waiting there.
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