Burnout rarely kicks down the door with dramatic flames and sirens.

More often, it tiptoes in quietly.

It starts as a whisper. Just push through.

Before you know it, your body is shutting down, your mind is numb, and your creativity—the thing that once lit you up—goes completely dark.

And here’s the kicker: it’s especially common for creatives and freelancers. If you’re neurodivergent, the odds are even higher. Because this world wasn’t designed for how your brain works. Instead of building systems that fit us, we spend our energy squeezing into ones that don’t.

We mask.

We over-deliver.

We ignore the warning signs.

And eventually, we crash.

‍

What burnout really looks like (spoiler: it’s not just fatigue)

Burnout doesn’t only impact your work. It seeps into every corner of your life.

• Physically: fatigue, insomnia, frequent illness, gut issues
• Mentally: anxiety, numbness, depression, disconnection
• Relationally: isolation, irritability, loss of empathy
• Creatively: complete creative block, or worse—indifference

As a creative coach and design leader, I’ve seen this pattern in clients, colleagues, and myself. It doesn’t always show up with smoke and flames. Sometimes it’s just… nothing. A quiet absence of motivation, joy, and spark.

For me, it’s a cycle.

I start strong—motivated, inspired, making magic.

Then I push harder, chasing that momentum.

I skip breaks. Say yes too often. Forget to breathe.

Then… the crash.

It’s taken years (and a lot of honest conversations) to realise that burnout isn’t about weakness. It’s about being human in a world that often treats us like machines.

‍

Burnout by the numbers: Why it’s not just you

Burnout has become a shared experience for creatives, designers, and freelancers worldwide. Let’s look at the facts:

• 76% of employees experience burnout at least sometimes
• 52% report feeling burned out due to their job in the past year
• 68% of Gen Z and 61% of Millennials say they’re burned out
• In the UK, 91% of adults have experienced high stress in the past year
• 1 in 5 employees needed time off due to poor mental health
• Among healthcare professionals, nearly half of all doctors report ongoing burnout
  

This is not just a personal issue. It’s a systemic one.

As creatives, we’re often told we’re lucky to do what we love. But love doesn’t cancel out exhaustion. Especially when deadlines, client expectations, and the pressure to keep up collide.

‍

What actually helps (from someone who’s lived it)

Over the years, I’ve gathered a few tools—some from experience, some from coaching hundreds of creatives—that can help with both recovery and prevention.‍

To recover from burnout:

• Stop. Fully. You can’t heal while running on fumes.
• Get honest. With yourself and the people around you.
• Sleep. It’s not lazy. It’s healing.
• Let go of the guilt. “Should” is not your friend here.
• Ask for help. From a coach, therapist, or someone who sees the real you.

To avoid burnout:

• Set boundaries. Then stick to them (especially with yourself).
• Schedule rest. Don’t wait until it’s a crisis.
• Track your patterns. Mine include doom-scrolling and snapping at people I love.
• Prioritise joy. Make time for the things that fill you, not just the things that fund you.
• Work in a way that works for you. Neurodivergent brains often need different rhythms. Honour yours.

‍

You’re not broken. You’re burnt out.

If you’re in the thick of it right now—if work feels too heavy, and nothing brings joy—you’re not alone. You’re not failing. You’re burnt out. And you don’t have to stay there.

You don’t need a 10-step plan. You need space. You need support. And you need to know that there is a way forward that doesn’t involve setting yourself on fire to keep others warm.

If that resonates, I invite you to book a Virtual Brew with me. It’s a relaxed, low-pressure space to talk things through, no sales pitch or “fix it fast” gimmicks. Just two humans, chatting over tea about what’s going on and where to go from here.

‍