NORTH DAKOTA (KXNET) -- Massive growth has been happening in the creative sector, but burnout rates are also growing.
The Chartered Institute of Marketing conducted a study that found that 56% of people in marketing fear the risk of burnout in their careers. In content creators, the percentage is even higher -- with 73% experiencing burnout occasionally.
"Creative burnout is becoming more prevalent as more people are working in the creative sector more than ever before," said Head of Operations for Fatjoe, Emily Bradley. "One of the main reasons for this burnout is that, as creative individuals, there's a difficulty in 'switching off.' There's a strong overlap between personal and professional creativity that can make it harder to maintain a good work-life balance. Unlike other professions, the creative field is highly volatile, requiring individuals to consistently produce new, original content, often in response to rapidly changing trends. The need to stay on top of shifting consumer preferences, algorithms, and digital platforms can create a never-ending cycle of pressure. If you couple this with increased screen time, working from home, and the fact that some people have creative side hustles, you conclude that burnout is inevitable unless something changes."
To help identify and tackle burnout before it happens, Bradley shares the main signs of burnout and how to address it.
"There are a lot of lingering resentments that can build up over time when you're working as a creative. Paired with the pressure of having to continuously innovate and perform, it's a lot," Bradley added. "The most important thing is to catch it early, which is why we've also looked at ways of identifying burnout."
Here are five ways that you can avoid burnout:
Set boundaries. Make sure you have a set start and end time for work, including breaks.
Prioritize self-care. Take time for yourself with hobbies, exercise, or other things to help you relax.
Take time offline. Don't spend all your time on screens.
Connect with others. Foster relationships with people inside and outside your work and spend time with them.
Address stressors. Advocate for yourself and speak up if you feel demands are unfair or you are being pressured.
"Noticing and mitigating burnout shouldn't just be the responsibility of the workers. Leaders need to recognize and act on this growing threat," Bradley concluded. "Take a proactive approach to workload issues. Touch base with your team to hear their difficulties directly. Be empathetic to their challenges, rather than simply seeing them as an obstacle.