Creative Professionals Struggle with Burnout: Strategies Employed by Agencies to Maintain Motivation
As a budding creative in the ad world, Mary Buzbee knew the struggle of endless nights spent perfecting her craft. But she grew weary of the relentless stress that came with the territory – so she boldly declared, "advertising is just fucking advertising."
"If you tell yourself the truth," said Buzbee, a senior copywriter at Barkley, "you can make stunning work and inspire change, but don't expect it to reshape the world. Understanding your limitations can help combat burnout."
It turns out, creatives are not as content as they could be. TBWA's "Future of Creative Work" study showed that a whopping 63% of them yearn for employers to assist in achieving a better work-life balance, compared to 44% in the general population.
Here's the truth about that elusive work-life balance for creatives in advertising:
Balancing the Constant Hustle
1. Establish Boundaries
- Set clear work hours and protect your personal time
- Create a designated workspace at home for focus and separation
- Communicate your availability to colleagues and managers to create realistic expectations
2. Maximize Time
- Time-block your day for focused work, breaks, and meetings
- Identify your prime productivity hours and schedule demanding tasks accordingly
- Focus on one task at a time to reduce stress and up your efficiency
3. Prioritize Your Mental Health
- Seek out mental health resources such as counseling or mindfulness programs
- Take mental health days when you need to recharge
- Practice self-care with activities outside of work that promote wellness
4. Adapt to Remote Work Challenges
- Establish a routine that includes dedicated work and personal time
- Set boundaries around technology use outside of work hours
5. Leverage Technology Wisely
- Utilize productivity tools and apps to manage tasks and organization
- Control notifications to minimize distractions during personal time
6. Seek Support in the Workplace
- Encourage open communication about work-life balance needs with managers and colleagues
- Explore flexible work arrangements such as flexible hours or remote work options
By embracing these strategies, creatives in advertising can conquer their workload while maintaining a thriving personal life.
In light of the high demand for work-life balance among creatives in advertising, it's essential to establish boundaries, such as setting clear work hours and protecting personal time. To optimize productivity, creatives should time-block their day for focused work, breaks, and meetings, and identify their prime productivity hours.
Addressing mental health is crucial, too, as it often takes a toll in this fast-paced industry. By seeking mental health resources, taking mental health days, and practicing self-care, creatives can maintain their well-being.
To combat the challenges of remote work, creatives should establish a routine that includes dedicated work and personal time, set boundaries around technology use, and leverage productivity tools to manage their tasks efficiently.
Ultimately, fostering open communication with managers and colleagues can help creatives explore flexible work arrangements and find support in the workplace, leading to a more balanced and fulfilling life, both professionally and personally. This holistic approach to career development, encompassing work-life balance, mental health, and wellness, can help creatives thrive in the competitive advertising industry.
