Preventing Creative BURNOUT
Remember Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny? Jack Black and Kyle Gass chase after a mythical pick taken from the tooth of Satan that will give them the ability to write “kick ass” songs and “rock” the world into giving them fame, babes and riches beyond their wildest dreams. In the real world of design I’d love to have a Wacom Stylus of Design Destiny that could force me through my own creative obstacles, but I have not been able to find such a mystic device for Creative Block and Burnout. So when it hits, it really sucks.
For example I’ve spent hours visualizing a logo or a brand guide that will hold together all the encapsulating elements that translate the look, feel and brand promise across every visual medium requested for an account and it all turns to crap after I’ve been running ragged for four weeks popping out all sorts of work for multiple clients and psyching myself into believing I can take on one more project before the end of year.
In the end, I am wiped out, the well is dry and every time I sit down to design, I hit the black hole of insecurity and my professional design life begins to flash before my eyes.
Sound familiar?
Before this takes you into a panic attack-here are 10 tips that I’ve learned to help navigate myself and you (my fellow creative) away from BURNOUT:
1. Keep a sketchbook or audio recorder handy in your purse or pocket.
Make notes and jot down color schemes early on in project development. Don’t let the ideas or “to do lists” float around in the brain for weeks and then the day before deadline try to “vomit” it all out at once. For instance, I keep a cheap moleskin or notepad handy for each new client. Color coded mole skins are awesome.
If you have a iPhone or Blackberry there a applications that will work both with a text pad and with voice recordings to help you organize, add metatags, and back up your ideas on the fly. My fave is Evernote.
Get a project management account with Base camp or Action Method. Having 24-hour server access via mobile or laptop internet connection will make your life so much easier and it will help you keep your clients workflow straight and documented as you finish each phase of the project. I get a ton of requests from different clients and if I don’t keep a daily log up to date on my Action Method account it becomes difficult to keep on deadline.
2. Keep somewhere in your office a visual collection of pieces you have found in stores, online or have seen at conferences/special design related events.
I keep a shelf that holds all my crazy toys, cameras, packaging samples, patterns, old antique photos and tactile ribbon/cloth swatches that help me pull together contour, color, layered texture and visual stimulus for drawing from several veins of creativity.
Don’t be afraid to take a time out for a few hours or a couple days to go to a museum, favorite shop, movie theater or take a walk to a place that you’ve never been before but you find a connection to either via a client related request or just a place that awakes your senses.
3. Avoid Burnout and overworking beyond the 40 hour work week.
Traditionally if you work in an agency or corporate office you will work 40 hours a week. Even if you freelance, more than likely you will run the business the same way in order to make yourself available to your 9-5 biz clients that will call you Monday thru Friday and will need you to complete the work they request on the same work schedule.
4. SAY NO-and mean it.
This is the hardest decision to make as a freelancer. It’s usually feast or famine in the freelance world, but if you are dedicated to your business and are able to manage your time effectively, you will not have to worry about saying no to a client.
Keep a list of dependable freelancers or agencies to refer overflow work to. There is nothing wrong with declining an opportunity with the assurance to a client that you know of someone else that can assist them. You will be surprised with how often the favor gets returned to you when another freelancer/agency calls you for the same favor.
NOTE: Do this in the beginning of the project (before promising that you can complete the project in the needed required time). Be the better person by being honest- the client will respect you as well as your network of freelance friends and agencies will trust you as an ally in the advertising/design world.
5. Do not take phone calls/emails for work requests past your set hours of work. This is extremely hard.
I’ve had that call at 10:00 am on a Sunday and out of the kindness of my heart I have taken the request, and then politely told the client that I will work on this Monday, and please contact me during my weekly work hours. It’s not rude for you to set those boundaries, if you wish to expand your hours to 8-12 noon or 8-5 on a Saturday, that’s fine-but make sure your client knows when not to contact you via phone. This goes the same with vacation time. Let the clients know well in the advance (a month is good lead time) when and how long you will be unavailable.
Create a voice mail message that politely state your work hours, location and method(s) of contact. Post your work hours and create a contact e-mail form on your web site for inquiries.
Respond to e-mail the next work day morning-you can set up your work e-addy to respond to inquiries with an auto response for the set times you are available through out the week.
6. Quote promptly.
Do the preparation work for your business. Just like a business card, create a rate card and a Quote/Contract Template in Quickbooks, InDesign, Excel – whatever your choice of software. You will want to send a quote to a client in 24 hours or less. The longer you wait, equals the greater number of designers that the client has already contacted and has lost interest in working with you. Nobody likes to be ignored.
7. Same as doing the prep work on the quote template, use the same/similiar template as an invoice.
Just as fast as the client wants to know your fees you will also want to get paid. You can ask for 50% or 25% (whatever percent) of the cost up front before beginning the project. This is a safety net, so that you are insured to be paid atleast something for your services. Have this cited clearly in the contract/quote and make sure the client understands what they will owe between beginning and end of the project.
There are instances when I have allowed the client to pay at the end of the project. But the key is to keep track of hours used to complete the project and if a client has surpassed your original quote, invoice the quoted amount plus additional hours asap and get paid as often as possible. If a client has not paid that amount invoiced (within 30 days), and has begun dodging your calls/meetings check with your lawyer about collection proceedings.
8. Get an accountant.
This doesn’t mean you have to have one on your payroll. A good accountant well versed in doing taxes for small businesses that you can meet with quarterly will help keep your tax bill under control. Always keep your billing invoices and expenses organized for these meet ups. Quickbooks, excel, google docs or any other accounting software will be beneficial. Remember to hold on to those business reciepts (even magazine subscriptions can be tax deductible.)
9. Exercise daily.
Freelancing is a crazy ride sometimes, if you don’t have a schedule in place for work hours and time dedicated to exercise, your stress level and health will be affected. With health insurance already a high cost-consider the savings you will gain in the long run if you dedicate five hours a week to keep the ole’ ticker and the rest of your body in good health.
10. Take up other hobbies or interests that are outside your daily design work load.
I took up ballroom dancing just to spend more time with the hubby and get me out of my element for a couple of hours each week. Ultimately life is too short to be stressed out. Enjoy life!
Feel free to add any of your own helpful hints.
