How To Avoid Burnout
Laura Ricci discusses the problem of burnout for creatives. Your brain is wired to perform certain tasks, and when you perform that task too much, or spend too much time on a proposal, you literally wear out your brain.
This was something Franki taught me when we first started our business - she's a big fan of taking regular breaks, forcing your body to completely focus on a task away from the computer.
Since our business is entirely computer based, from writing, to researching to design to development, the temptation to sit in front of a screen for 8-10 hours at a time is ever present. Taking breaks is not a sign of weakness, but a discipline, which is why we stop in the middle of the day to exercise, watch a little television, play a game of chess, or eat a real meal.
Performed in a workplace, these tasks would be seen as wasteful and probably get you fired. Running your own business, when there is always more to do, can lead you to burnout.
That's why our computers are turned off for the weekend, and only rarely on after 5:00.
The brain works by creating pathways for specific projects, like your last proposal. Communication is passed between cells along these synaptic pathways by electrical charges. The gap between cells has a conducting property. Think of it as a gel that holds a charge, similar to a battery.
Synaptic pathways wear out
When the synaptic pathway is fired continuously, like your last proposal, the gel loses its charge after awhile. Communication slows and takes on static. By the time you notice a slowdown, burnout has already occurred.
The gel will re-charge, but it takes a day or several, and the pathway must be closed to most traffic.
This was something Franki taught me when we first started our business - she's a big fan of taking regular breaks, forcing your body to completely focus on a task away from the computer.
Since our business is entirely computer based, from writing, to researching to design to development, the temptation to sit in front of a screen for 8-10 hours at a time is ever present. Taking breaks is not a sign of weakness, but a discipline, which is why we stop in the middle of the day to exercise, watch a little television, play a game of chess, or eat a real meal.
Performed in a workplace, these tasks would be seen as wasteful and probably get you fired. Running your own business, when there is always more to do, can lead you to burnout.
That's why our computers are turned off for the weekend, and only rarely on after 5:00.
posted by franki durbin @ 8:00 AM PERMALINK
2 Comments:
I found an intersting article that relates on pacing yourself and productivity you might enjoy reading.
http://www.alistapart.com/articles/fourdayweek
That's a great article, James. Thanks for the link. We've discussed the concept of a four-day week here as well. The challenge is setting boundaries and truly establishing discipline in your work day. My first 18 months of working independently I was far too disciplined and rarely left the office mid-day for anything but meetings. Now I am a big proponent of "down time" and my hours at work are far more productive. While we haven't adopted a 4-day week, we are big fans of taking time away from the screens to recharge. I always seem to answer my creative challenges when I am doing something completely unrelated to work. It's not merely coincidence, it's just how the creative mind works. Now I always look for ways to recharge during the day. Now about that 3-day weekend...
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