5 ways to protect yourself from burnout

5 ways to protect yourself from burnout

In trying to keep up with the industry changes, CGI artists work harder than anyone can imagine. Litres of coffee, dozens of projects, and endless sleepless nights will inevitably bring to the moment when a person stops being effective at what he or she does. Therefore, it’s vital to recognize the warning signals and act before the burnout comes. It’s much easier to prevent the problem than deal with a huge amount of consequences. We talked to the founders of Mondlicht Studios to find out how professionals deal with the pressure.

Don’t ignore warning signs

There are some typical signs of burnout, including exhaustion, irritability, lack of focus, and many others. When you are noticing these signs, it’s too late to prevent burnout – it’s already here! So, to stave it off, you’ll need to understand what your body is trying to tell you before it’s too late. Your job here is to be in harmony with yourself, be very attentive to what your body tells you, and recognize when it’s time to get some rest before burnout happened.

"Every famous CG artist will tell you that the only way to become successful is to work harder than others do. And it’s true! However, it’s vital to know your limits, or instead of fame and money, you’ll get a trip to a hospital"

-       David Schäfer

Find the perfect time-management system

There are many methods created to help you to manage your time, and hundreds of books about them. Unfortunately, there is no ideal option which is suitable for everyone, so the only way to deal with time management is to try different systems and decide which one you prefer. To give you something to begin with we recommend to read:

●     “Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity” by David Allen

●     “Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time” by Brian Tracy

●     “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change” by Stephen R. Covey

Always look for joy

The tempting smell of fresh coffee, sunny days, funny accidents – we skip through these to save time for more important things, and forget that our life consists of these moments. To ignore them is to ignore the positive emotions that bring happiness into our lives and make the day less stressful than it was. Try to pay attention to the things which provoke a smile, live in the moment, and enjoy it. This is a great way to find harmony and avoid burnout.

"There were, and there are, times when I’m working for 18 hours a day. However, I’m always trying to compensate and spend any free minutes with my family. It’s very important not to forget about people around you. They are helping you through your journey, and without them, you don’t have a chance to overcome all the challenges,"

-       Maksym Khirnyy

Don’t forget about your life

Focusing on the career, it’s very easy to sacrifice other parts of your life without even noticing it. One day you will find yourself with recognition and money, but also with poor health and without friends and partner. Such isolation will become the cause of depression and burnout sooner than you expect. To prevent this, you should realize that your life consists not only of your work. Leave some time for your friends, family, hobby, exercising, and even lazy rest.

Plug out

Many people prefer to rest playing a new version of “Assassin’s Creed”, watching a new episode of “Stranger Things” or scrutinizing Facebook or Instagram. It’s the worst way to spend your free time – you don’t get any emotions, memories, or rest from it. Forget about all devices and the internet, explore the world around! Any new experience will provide you with emotions – fuel for your inspiration and efficiency.

"I love hiking. If I have free time, I’m always trying to escape from my computer as far as possible. Walking around and listening to nice music helps to clear my mind, get rid of negative emotions and work-related thoughts, and enjoy the moment."

-       Dmitriy Glazyrin