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Avoiding Art Burnout
Avoiding art burnout (or burnout of any kind) is crucial, especially if you’re making a living off of what you do. Falling into a full-blown burnout can disrupt more than your flow. It can affect your health and your means of income.
But first, let’s identify what burnout is and list some of the signs associated with burnout. According to an article from Eastern Washington University (EWU), “burnout develops as a result of chronic exposure to stress as a result of a long-term perceived inability to meet situational demands.”
As a professional artist, or even an art student, demands and deadlines can introduce stress factors that take its toll mentally and physically.
According to the same EWU article, some symptoms might include (but are not limited to):
Physical
- Feeling tired most of the time
- Lowered immunity
- Frequent headaches, back pain, or muscle aches
- Change in appetite or sleep habits
Emotional
- Self-doubt
- Feeling helpless and hopeless
- Detachment
- Decreased motivation
- Increasingly negative outlook
- Decreased satisfaction and sense of accomplishment
