Burnout is something we all go through at some point in our careers. Unfortunately, it can happen more frequently than we might like. The majority of the time it is self-inflicted and it can be prevented. There are rare situations where this happens outside of your control.
So how can we prevent this from happening?
Stop trying to do everything by yourself!
I realize the complexity of this as a sole-proprietor but, even though you are on your own, you can outsource some tasks. You are supposed to be out there building relations and working on-set shooting. So consider your process, make a list of every step you take from beginning to end of working with a client on a project in that genre. Once you have this overview of your process, you can start making decisions on what tasks actually need to be executed by you and have your assistant or a Virtual Assistant take care of the rest.
This goes for on-set as well. I was once a photographer, food stylist, makeup stylist, hairstylist, wardrobe stylist, assistant to myself, etc. A one-man show and while there are benefits to doing it all by yourself at the beginning, like learning about the job and how to communicate effectively. You have to realize you can’t do it by yourself and you are doing more damage by attempting this. The sooner you bring on a team the better! Sure, this will increase the budget of every job but, you are now relieved to focus on doing YOUR best work. All the other positions exist for a reason, your makeup artist is the professional, let them do the work. You are still a director and need to collaborate with your team but, you should have every other role filled by someone other than you.
Stop taking every job that comes your way!
Just don’t do this. If you feel you need to do every job regardless of style and genre then you need to get more focused. It is also very likely that you aren’t charging enough for your time. I see photographers constantly bragging about how busy they are, how they don’t have time to do anything, as if it is some sort of badge of honor. There is nothing honorable about doing a half-assed job and having no personal life. It isn’t sustainable, and the only way a photographer gets booked like that is when they are cheap. A REALLY REALLY busy month for me would be about 10 shoots. Regularly I may have 3-5 projects to work on that month. Ya, I can’t go on social media every day posting about some exciting thing going on but, I actually have a life outside of work and most importantly, time to refresh and rest physically and mentally.
Have a life outside of work
This should be obvious, do other things that make you happy. Spend time with those you love and find other passions and hobbies. Running a business can consume your life and even if you love it all, you need other aspects in life to strive creatively. Creative ideas come from new experiences, so go have some and take care of yourself. Workout, meditate, read a book, watch Netflix, have some good food and adventure. You work hard, enjoy yourself!
Design the life you want
I will always put focus on building a process. If you have a good process then everything flows. Just like your daily routines. When you put them in place and you stick to them, everything becomes more natural. So break your existing routine of the new aged “Hustle” mentality. Build a routine that promotes a balance of work, play, and rest. You have the control to design the life you want to live.
Disconnect, go analog
We are always connected, and I don’t know about you, but I miss the simplicity of my childhood. Rather than texting your friends, you’d just look for the pile of bikes on the front lawn of one of your friend’s houses. Social media has opened many doors but, it has also closed people off, and often they are still buried in their phones when they are in a room full of people. It’s important to observe the world and the people around you. Let go of the tunnel vision. We aren’t saving lives with our careers, you don’t need to respond in minutes, you don’t need to know if your follower count just changed. Give yourself some space and time for reflection.
If you feel burnout is coming, you need to act quickly. I have burned myself out many times before and the last time I did, it took about 6 months for me to fully recover from it. 6 months of compromised work because I wouldn’t take time off for myself regularly. That is a huge loss in work, money, and most importantly, TIME. Not to mention all the relationships that were affected by this. So take care of yourself and know your worth.
