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Creatives have a mid-life crisis every five years

Creatives have a mid-life crisis every five years

Design It's Nice That
Creative burnout is common, and industry advice suggests normalizing 'just a job' phases while avoiding the pressure to force constant passion.
What: Katie Cadwell of Lucky Dip suggests that creatives often hit a cycle of burnout every five years, and recommends stepping back, freelancing, or finding fulfillment outside the workplace when creative passion wanes.
Why it matters: The industry is increasingly acknowledging that romanticizing creative work as a perpetual passion project contributes to systemic burnout.
Original article

Feeling disconnected from creative work is a common response to burnout, industry pressures, and increasing management responsibilities. It doesn't necessarily mean you've chosen the wrong career. Instead of forcing passion, it's okay to treat work as just a job for a while, focus on finding fulfillment outside of work, and, when ready, reignite creativity through personal projects free from client constraints or by freelancing to reconnect with hands-on design. Most importantly, recognize that these periods are temporary, prioritize rest when needed, and don't feel guilty about taking a break before deciding what comes next.

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