This post is an expansion of tip #42 in our post 101 Graphic Design Tips for Business Success.

Have You Entered Burnoutville?

This is one of those, “Well, duh!” statements, but it is so true. Sometimes, we forget to give it our best when we: don’t work as hard as we could, are negative about our job or other people, don’t do enough research, miss deadlines, don’t return phone calls, are late for appointments, have excuses, etc… If you put your heart and soul into your work, the quality of your work will be reflective of your effort. So, if you’re not always giving it your best when it comes to your work, what can you do?

First of all, you need to be aware if you’ve reached burnout. If you feel like you’ve gotten to a point in your work where you are just going through the motions, or are just flat out resentful of projects, deadlines, and clients—you’ve officially entered Burnoutville (Population: You). If you’ve entered Burnoutville, for goodness sake, don’t put down roots! Here are a few things you can do to redirect your course:

Redirect Your Course To Give Your Best

• Take a break. This can be a 15-minute coffee break, or a few days vacation; whatever is appropriate.
• Ask for help. Take advantage of additional resources available to you to lighten your load.
• Reorganize your workspace. Clear out clutter and make your space a pleasant place to be.
• Identify your stress factors, and create a plan to reduce some of them. You won’t eliminate all stress, but every little bit of relief helps.
• Check your schedule: Are you overbooking yourself? If so, reevaluate and reprioritize your calendar to free up some time.
• Do something to reignite your creative spark. Take a class or visit a gallery for inspiration. Talk with other designers and see what helps them get out of productivity funks.

Once you have pulled yourself out of Burnoutville, recommit yourself to giving your best at work. Approach your work in a positive light. Deal with your clients in a way that will keep them coming back. View your coworkers as assets to your production. After all, your work is the tangible result of your creativity and dedication to design. Make sure your work shows the very best in you!