The more you work the more you get better at recognizing burnout or at least recognizing what causes it for you. When you feel a noticeable depletion in your mental resources you must take an internal look and really try to understand what the root cause is. I believe one of the most important skills for our future generations will be possessing the self-awareness to identify how to harness one’s attention and energy in a sustainable and long term way. People argue that discipline will get you to your goals, however, I believe that having the self awareness to identify how new stimuluses are effecting you will also allow you to weather the storm.
As a designer, I have worked in the e-Commerce space for almost 5 years now. With that comes a level of specialization and navigating the same problem sets over and over again.
However, working on the same design problem set repeatedly can be a grueling experience, leading to feelings of monotony and boredom; especially for creatives. It's common to feel stuck and uninspired due to the lack of novelty and challenge. This can directly lead to frustration, and decreased motivation, resulting in a feeling of being stuck.
Some common reasons for feeling stuck in this scenario include (based off my personal experience):
Repetition: Doing the same task over and over again can lead to monotony and a feeling of being trapped in a rut.
Lack of creativity: When faced with familiar problems, it's easy to fall into the trap of relying on tried-and-true solutions and not considering new, creative approaches.
Limited growth opportunities: Doing the same work repeatedly can feel unfulfilling and limit opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Burnout: Constantly working on the same problem set can lead to emotional exhaustion and loss of motivation.
To manage this situation, the following steps can be taken:
Encourage creativity: Encourage the individual to approach the problems from new angles and consider new solutions. Offer opportunities for professional development and learning to at least allow them to feel like they are keeping their skills and knowledge current.
Provide variety: Mix up the tasks and responsibilities to offer new challenges and keep things fresh. Encourage the person to take on new projects or lead their own initiatives/responsibilities to break up the monotony.
Foster growth: Provide opportunities for personal and professional growth, such as training and mentorship programs. Encourage the individual to set goals and work towards them and break them up into milestones so they can feel like they are working towards something.
Foster a positive work environment: Foster a positive and supportive work environment that values creativity, innovation, and personal and professional growth. Encourage open communication and regular feedback to keep everyone engaged and motivated.
Take breaks: Encourage the individual to take breaks and pursue outside interests to refresh and recharge. Regular time off can help to prevent burnout and maintain motivation.
KISS communication (KEEP IT STUPID SPECIFIC communication): Provide and outline specific aspects of how the individual can maintain and uphold the level of flexibility and adaptability that will be successful in your culture. The word flexibility can apply to so many aspects of your day. It is a generalization and when a person is too flexible they break. Don't set them up for failure. Explain in detail the brand of flexibility you are looking for from your employees.
Schedule flexibility: The ability to adjust working hours to accommodate personal needs, such as caring for children or elderly relatives.
Work location flexibility: The ability to work from home or from other remote locations, reducing the need for a traditional 9-to-5 office schedule.
Job role flexibility: The ability to take on different tasks and responsibilities as needed, or to cross-train in multiple areas.
Organizational flexibility: The ability of an organization to adapt to changes in the marketplace or in its internal operations, such as by restructuring or changing its business model.
Ultimately, as a leader and designer we can approach these situations as a unique challenge to balance the use of our previous experience and exploration of new solutions. When faced with a familiar problem, it is tempting to rely on previous solutions and past experiences. But this can limit creativity and prevent the discovery of better solutions. (which can also be hard to navigate especially when you include the production of cortisol)
On the other hand, starting from scratch each time can be a daunting task and may lead to indecision and uncertainty. That is why it is important to strike a balance between using your past experience as a guide, while also considering new perspectives and approaches. This may require a constant evaluation of the situation and the willingness to adapt and evolve one's thinking. (which can be mentally exhausting, especially when you see the wrong decisions or patterns happening all over again.)
Design is a creative process and it's important to stay open to new ideas and possibilities. Yet, it's also crucial to trust in one's own abilities and experiences, and to have the confidence to make decisions even when the outcome may not be certain.
In conclusion, navigating the tension between relying on past experiences and exploring new solutions is a challenging aspect of design work or any work for that matter (HELLO PARENTING) that you don’t really acknowledge when it is happening. Striking a balance between the two requires constant evaluation, adaptation, and a willingness to take risks.
Would love to get feedback over how this is applied across the board to parenting as well?