Creator Burnout | Why It Occurs and How To Avoid It 

A brief conversation with myself: *screams* "WHat?" "MAMA MADE A VIDEO!" "mAMa MAdE a viDEo?!" "M A M A M A D E A V I D E O"

I stopped making art for three YEARS, after having a massive burnout/breakdown/horrid illness happen. I developed a terrible degenerative autoimmune disease that's destroying my joints, tendons, ligaments, their connective tissues (entheses), and is even attacking my eyes. Yes, my eyes. The depression that followed my diagnosis was just as crippling as the physical pain I'm in everyday. Finally, I discovered Copic markers, and am able to make art again, albeit rather slowly. It is no longer my full-time job, but I can make a buck or two in emergencies. 💖 Getting sick taught me many hard lessons, and I'll tell you, everything you said in this video is 100% correct. Thanks for making it. 💖

This is literally what I'm working through with my therapist lmao. The thing that's helping me a lot is identifying "thought traps" and attempting to re-wire my brain to work in a more productive and kind way. For example, I tend to fall into cycling thoughts of "If I dont put in X amount of work, then I'm a useless leech on society and a worthless human". It takes some time, but I've been able to step back, identify that I'm feeling this way, and work with my therapist to come up with different ways to think. (For example, I'm working on re defining what "a productive member of society" is supposed to look like). I think I went on a bit of a ramble, but I love this video and I think it will help a lot of creatives. ❤

"Oh how wrong it did go" If that ain't a mOOD-

You can’t spell Emily without ily ( *i love you* ) 💙

I drew a horse's skull with some flowers in watercolour as an inspiration of your work❤️❤️❤️

Burnout sucks. I've been burning out almost 4 times a week and doesn't have any time for myself because I have to work for a fricking school project

Your art is so aesthetic and eye pleasing, always makes me come back for more, you deserve more recognition Emily! 💓💕💓

the beginning reminds me of the cell block tango when she was like "back flips, flip flops, one right after the other"

I have a creator's burnout recently... I'm transforming my appartment and suddenly the energy is gone... thank you for your videos ♡

Ahh, you're so strong. I quit my job and got a simpler, part time job after I had my baby girl. Don't plan on going back to my old one until she is at school. Just don't think I could do it and look after her. I burn out too easily. Am definitely gunna take your advice though and hopefully will keep myself uplifted. Your art pieces are beautiful as well, btw. Love your work. How do you manage to get so much art done around da babes? My daughter is constantly trying to grab my paper, brush, etc... If I try to do anything around her 😂

”If you love it you gotta put tour *blood, sweat and tears* into it.” My bts loving ass: *nervous wheezing*

Emily: “Find an activity that doesn’t require much energy or an electronic device” Me: “Like drawing? Wait... oh.”

Literally perfect timing Emily, I've been feeling on the brink of a burnout for the last few days and im trying not to let it go fullblown 😵

Mama Artful coming to us with wisdom we need in this world. You have no idea how much I needed to listen to this today. 🖤

Emily coming in clutch at the right moments because, I’m DRY

I agree that artists are under paid... here’s my list (in no particular order) of OTHER under paid jobs Teachers, Police officers, EMS, Firefighters, Doctors, Nurses, Day care workers ETC If you’re suffering from burnout Kati Morton (licensed therapist on RU-vid) has a series of videos filled with advice on how to heal from burnout and not let it get you again... her channel name is Kati Morton

I almost started crying when I imagined you going through these stages, it made me so sad because you are such an amazing artist with an amazing personality ❤ take care of yourself and don't forget that your community loves you

When Emily uploads, you best know that I ain't got nothing else to do.

holy crap, I realize im in stage 3 I litterally draw everyday and stay up until 2-3 am in the morning drawing and drawing. thank you for making this video, this will help me alot in getting out of my hard times and overworking. thank you again uwu

This just hit me right on the nap I took to keep on working on my illustrations for my master's degree project. I try to sleep 8 hours but there are some days in which I only sleep for 3 hours. I really like to watch how you paint, is super relaxing and you always make great art.

Yaaaay Another exciting and relatable video! I haven't even finished it yet and I already love the pieces 😍 I love listening to your videos, you're one if my favorite RU-vidrs!💕💗💖💜💕💗

You are genuinely one of my top three RU-vid channels, and one of the best artists I've seen ❤️❤️❤️❤️

As someone with chronic fatigue, this video made me cry. Your advice on removing energy drains from your life is incredibly relevant when suffering from chronic fatigue, and ut reminded me of how I sometimes just want too much.

There’s a lot of people who don’t understand creator burnout in the way it could happen to a big time youtuber or artist. I’ve seen a lot of nasty comments lately on a certain artist for being late on their product. This is why I am fearful, for myself, because I’m a mom and I always have distractions that leave me exhausted and guilty for not being timely on my art. It almost makes me want to vanish entirely from social media.

I needed to hear this. I've been in burn out mode for a full year. It's been tough. I've litterally cried most nights about this, buried my self in my part time jobs and now I'm back where i was a year ago. I started to pick myself up slowly this past week, then this popped up in my feed so thank you for posting this, while I was in the process of figuring out what I can do to relight the fire, this made me feel better that there's a way out. Thanks again! 😁😁

I absolutely loved this video- I hope you're feeling better!

You just summarized my career as a nurse & fellow mother (and part-time hobby artist). That's why I've loved you since I first watched you! Art on my beautiful soul!

I nearly cried on the bus a couple of times during this. Thank you so much for this video, gonna have to save it to rewatch when I need a helping voice to remind me to slow down. Luckily my body will no longer let me get as stressed out as before, shutting me down when the symptoms starts to show. But it's still hard not to blame yourself when it happens. Thank you, again. All the love 💚

every time I see your art I think "yes there is death sadness and pain but it's even more important to recognize beauty even in that"

This video contains so many things I've heard and been told in CBT and general therapy when it comes to recovering from a critically depressive episode. Thanks Emily. Keep up with the wonderful art and thoughts.

It wouldn't be a Emily Artful drawing without a skull😆

I'm really grateful you added that little extra tip at the end, it resonated with me a lot and I think it was the perfect timing for me to hear it. I just started doing RU-vid pretty recently and it's been something I have wanted to do for over 6 years, but then I had to get a 40hrs/week job to keep myself afloat with the bills, the appartment, the food and everything. This week was my first week at the new job and I've been honestly wondering how I could manage all those things at the same time and still manage to meet my weekly upload goal, but truth is, it's simply not possible, that I'll need to pace myself and accept that bi-weekly videos will be my reality for as long as I keep this job, but what matters is that I don't stop, that I keep on going forward and who knows, someday maybe it won't be a dream anymore. Thanks art mom for yet again lifting me up with your pep talks and beautiful art.

i am so happy that made this video, i am constantly back and forth in this state where i feel like i’m not good enough or i should just stop, which ends up causing me to lose all of my motivation. and when i do i have my motivation i have like three different ideas i want to work on but obviously i can’t do them at the same time. i get way too wrapped up in numbers as far as my art account goes. if one post doesn’t get enough likes as others do my confidence depletes heavily. thank you so much for making this video! i gotta keep my head up, stop focusing on numbers, and just do what i love💗

Thank you Emily for talking about this. So many people have this problem and don't even realize it. Self care is really important and its good that we as a culture are acknowledging it and working towards it more.

My version of your pain saying is “there’s two people in a hospital, one has a broken bone, the other has a broken spirit.”

Thank you! This video is so helpful! I've definitely burnt out because i put so much pressure on myself to keep up the consistent uploads on RU-vid while maintaining a full time job. Luckily now I've learned to cut myself some slack when it gets overwhelming, taking short breaks and not beating up myself for taking care of my mental & physical health.❤

Crap, that analogy of the men in the hospital hit HARD! (I’m not crying you’re crying...) Thank you for sharing and creating things you love! Love you, Art Mom!

Oh god i was just complaining about how i hadnt felt like writing anything in days and days and then this popped up! I just write for a hobby but still I wake up every day and feel super proud of what i have done and what im doing but every Night i get these feelings... Writing fanfic is silly, it's unoriginal and uncreative, write your own stuff, that canon charachter isnt depiced correctly, go throw it all away! But i never do, because my bestie would be so sad. She reads my stuff and follows the story and the fandom it's based on. Im glad i havent thrown it

I am gonna be honest seeing these pretty drawings with the skulls and the flowers and the clear lines make my cross stitching fingers itch and twitch. ….I want them!

This video hit home hard, you say so many important things to have in mind while not only working, but actually living.

Thank you for the reminder

Thank you so much for this reminder. Exactly what I needed to hear, and I loved watching you paint in acrylic.

Love this, I am only 20 and feel the need to work myself to death every single day, juggling a very demanding job (caring for elderly people in their own homes) and going to class 3X a week, and trying to keep up with household chores. I get guilty if I am not working. I’ve noticed I’ve started developing anxiety and headaches that will last for hours. I hope I can be kinder to myself and take some time off each day!!

FINALLY! An answer to the question I've asked so many times to so many people but got no answer. I feel like the genie in Alladin once he's freed

I am honestly totally and completely lost 4 months ago, I was in a high. I was making content, I was drawing and writing and doing the things I love. I felt at peace, I was loving everything I did and was. And the in August, everything came crashing down. I start feeling less and less motivated to do things. While trying to make art, everything just looked awful and I hated everything. I tried to give me breaks, but I just felt awful for it. I start comparing myself, felt worse and worse each day. I tried to paint, I tried to draw. I tried to be happy doing art again But I just can't I feel defeated. This had happened before, but this time it feels worse. I have no desire to make art, I feel like a failure, and I can't stop crying. My head keeps telling me to delete myself... to stop this forever. Watching Emily's videos usually help, but I don't think it will this time I am scared, and sad and so so alone. I want to go back to the months I was happy.. I don't want to be in this situation anymore. I feel I need to try harder. Make more, force myself. But I am afraid this will make it worse. I am scared what the future holds... and I don't know how to fight it

I ain’t first I definitely ain’t last But when I got this notification I sure did click fast! I love you Emily! You are so inspirational and I love your art! I hope that someday I will meet you! I love da babes by the way!💜

your advice videos always help me out! I am getting back into art and drawing at 28 turning 29 saturday and am even trying to figure out ways to go back to school for it! keep being amazing!

hi emily! i love your art so much! ♡

Emily, I don't know if you'll even see this but I just want to say that after almost a decade of going without drawing or even the motivation to draw, you've inspired me to pick up a pencil and do what I love again, even if I'm never good enough to make a living out of it. I forgot how much I loved to express myself on paper through art, whether another person ever sees it or not, and I owe a huge thanks to you for kind of being the wind beneath my wings during my beginner phase.

I’ve just gotten into your videos and I absolutely love them! They help me tune into my art work you helped me make a huge peace that I hung in my house with water colors and your voice just makes me focus for some reason😅😂

This helps a lot, because I plan on selling watercolor bookmarks at school this year, and you're official my favorite art RU-vidr XD

Both the art and the message in this video are exactly what I need atm. Thanks Emily. Big hugs to you and the Babes!!

I love this video! I've noticed, that so many creators, especially artists, pride themselves with having little to no sleep to pump out content, and I really hate this behavior, as it is not only dangerous for the creator but their audience as well.

Thank god youtube recommend this to me it’s really help with not just artist problem it’s also my depression

I felt this video to the opposite extreme that was being talked about. I wasn't doing enough to pursue my dreams. I was lazy and not driven. But I realized that I just didn't have enough in me to dedicate enough time/energy into my art & ideas when I worked so hard at my day job. I felt like I had to work hard at my past jobs because I always felt inadequate and needed to work harder to keep up. Thought all my flaws were so apparent to everyone else. That wasn't true, I was being way too tough on myself. TL;DR It can go either extreme but just because you feel that way doesn't mean you're not doing enough. It's important to put your health and well-being first.

im not in a creator burnout, im in a student burnout. i legit put all of my energy, dedication, legit took everything in me. im so tired and worn out. it only been more than a month. i just feel like im too dumb for my school (because my school have strict regulations about grade and good personality) and i have to work hard everyday because im just too dumb to stop studying and if i fail, that's the end of me. i just feel like a worn out tire on a overloaded truck and really to fucking explode

Thanks for much for making a video about this. I've been hardcore stressing out trying to either find a new job or develop my skills into a freelance job ever since I quit my retail position of 4 years back in June, and the last week and a half has been a nightmare juggle of trying to start or continue what feels like a billion projects, leading to staying up until unhealthy hours and not being able to sleep since I don't feel like I've accomplished anything, and then feeling horribly guilty when I do take time to myself to try and unwind. I'm digging out an old planner and resetting all my old alarms, I'm GOING to get myself back in order, whether my subconscious sloth monster likes it or not!

Recently found your channel and I'm in love with your content! One thing i will say is "Even when your not drawing your still improving by absorbing things around you" hit me in core i felt very odd and insecure that I wasn't improving enough when i couldn't draw enough due to college work or my part time gig and was oddly confused on how i improved to some degree without drawing daily as i used tin high school (though i would very much like to do that again lol).

Burnout is the biggest killer. I wish I could say that my burnout was caused by pushing myself too hard, but I mostly beat myself up. Success is ridiculously hard to get in an oversaturated internet world. And when I didn't make it after half a year, I beat myself up. I went into a depression and no matter how hard I've tried, it's still something I haven't gotten over. Even if I get stuck, I still hope that other people can be strong. I hope that whenever you reach a hump in your art life that you find a way around it.

I had a depression in 2015 and I drew A LOT in stationary therapy. The last four years where wonderful, but horrifying reffering to my totally vanished fun on painting or drawing. I have had drawn my entire life before and all I could think about the last four years was my depression when drawing. Finally it seems gone - yesterday I drew for four hours and I just drew what came to my mind. I found your channel and it inspires me SO SO much! Please keep up, you are amazing!! I sold all my COPICs some time ago (I had ALL 358 sketch markers in that pretty case), because it reminded me so much of my depression. I just moved and I am still looking for my polychromos. I am even thinking about buying COPICs again lol... (I mean my name is even COPIC girl haha)

I really needed this today. I've been in stage 4 of Burnout for a long time now and I am in the situation where I work a full-time job and the creative stuff is a side gig and my energy levels are so low there is very little of me left over for the art. I used to be able to create way more finished work than I do now and I think that's part of the internal monologue I've had going. I have lots of ideas and projects but don't have a lot of energy left over to do them and it's a cycle. This really did help and I will try to be more mindful of these things and that it's okay to take time for me. It will be slow but hopefully one day I will end up where I want to be.

I’ve been working 2 jobs over the summer in order to pay for school and I’ve just been running on empty and have almost no energy to create anything. Which isn’t great because I’m trying to get into the fine art program. I really needed to hear that message today :)

no one: literally no one: me: pronouncing heART as he-art

I needed this. Thanks

Emily, thank you for the tips. It's been almost 8 months since I've been able to really create anything. I lay awake at night asking myself "When will someone notice my art? When will people see that I have talent?" Or I ask myself this all day every day "Do I have what it takes?". I cry A LOT. I don't make videos and I don't stream. What should I do? I have no one to talk to about this. No one takes "Art" seriously. Wtf am I supposed to do? Sometimes, I think I should just place all of my art in a closet and wait to die and hope it will sell. Currently crying btw.

Oh man, this is EXACTLY what I needed to hear. Due to being forced to have a ton of unplugged downtime for a health issue, I felt better than I had in years despite not being able to draw a single thing. And this explains exactly why. I'd been pushing my self so hard through so many projects on top of a bunch of other stuff. I'm gonna come back to this video any time I find myself thinking I have to push myself harder.

I'm not normally a very emotional person (I mean, publicly. Hot mess at home XD) But...the whole "feeling you've no right to be depressed" part kinda got to me. My partner struggles with depression...so I feel guilty when I get down. I know it can't be helped, but sometimes I just feel terrible when I do get into a slump (I don't have clinical depression, I just have normal ups and downs.) I feel I don't have the right to show that, even though I know he'd understand. I just don't...want to make things worse for his symptoms. Thanks so much for sharing this video! It's really helpful to get a pep talk! I've been burning the candle at both ends getting ready for my first convention booth this fall. I haven't wanted to sleep 'cause there's so much to do! But...it's good to be reassured, even if it's not coming from a professional, that it's okay to take time for yourself. And that sometimes you have to let yourself feel the way you do and not suppress it.

Listening to your voice is honestly so therapeutic, ily

You're like the only artist youtuber i know that is so real to the approach of a modern day artist and i friggin love it!

7:31. It still hits just you voicing all those thoughts aloud. Thank you.

The Cast Symbolism is something I heard from my Aunt who’s like a mother to me, after she said it to me I said “But I only have a broken arm, the person next to me may never walk again..I’m lucky I’m not in his shoes...” and she said “But if I poked your arm it could eventually shatter, correct?” “Yeah?” And she said “You May never do anything that could hurt that arm ever again, just because of that one time you did hurt it.” And that stuck with me, I still think that way but I try to remind myself of that conversation.

Thanks for this video, it has been useful. I'm 45 and just starting out on RU-vid and selling my craft at markets. This came after 20+ years in the finance industry, a breakdown, and end to my career. This adjustment is so hard as I have been used to office work.

Thank you, I needed this right now. So difficult to work for both stomach and heart. Your words helped a lot.

Thanks! I’ve been taking a break from drawing because I can’t seem to get the head right but I’ve been drawing this entire video

I was just dumped and needed to hear this! Bless your soul.

EXCUSE HOW DARE YOU CALL ME OUT LIKE THIS . so i was literally put into the hospital for a month l from overworking my self and i can't stress enough to pepole just to slow down

Thank you so much for this video. I didn’t realize the road I was going down until this! Your channel is so awesome.

You're very inspirational, keep up the good work, i hope you feel better soon, we will always support you and your art!

This video helped me in completly the polar opposite way. It's to do with your quote at the end. I never draw. I always push myself and pressure myself to try and draw, but I always find another distraction, or just have nothing to go on, whether that's to do with motivation, or ideas. But I just literslly, physically cant. Its frustrating and it often stresses me out. But this video just mad me realise that maybe in never drawing BECAUSE of that pressure. Bit of "backstory?" : I know that if someone tells me to do something there will be a higher chance of me not wanting to, or not doing it at all. It's probably to do with the pressure of them asking me, even if I was going to do it anyway. It's not a anxiety thing tho, I just hate being asked or told to do things. This could relate to me never drawing, as I've said before, I pressure myself to try to do so, so maybe what I need to do is chill out, be kinder to myself and say "it's cool if I dont want to draw or have no motivation, I can live with that. I'll draw some other time." Rather than "ok. I'm gonna sit my ass down, and draw for once!" Thank you dear, and I had a terrible illness too recently, glad we both survived 😊

Thank you for being such an inspiration!!!!!💖💖💖

This video came out at such a good time for me. My Twitch viewership has all but completely died and i've been considering trying out RU-vid instead. Thank you, Emily. ❤

This is fantastic! I was doing the Indie Author thing for many years and finally hit a wall 2 years ago. I never worked so hard for so little money and in some cases so much hate in reviews I had to wonder why whoever it was bothered reading the book. Then you have Marketers selling you all these Tools that are supposed to get you off the Hamster Wheel, but actually increase the speed of how had t=you have to run to keep that wheel going while they have Teams and Trust Funds, and hire Ghost Writers so they can spend all their time marketing. I realize I am coming down off the Scampocalypse. I put my writing aside to focus on making art and its opened whole new vistas. But I am learning it all the same across the board.

Awesome video, definitely needed to hear this today! Especially the part about working a job outside of the house on top of being an artist.

I just wanted to say , you inspire me so much, both as an artist and as a parent

So early! Love you! You're the best RU-vidr!

Emily's child: What are those?! *Shuri has entered the chat*

I think we need to also talk about the other side of this as well. The part where someone who can't do this all the time feels like giving up or works themselves to death so they can one day even though fields of work like this don't promise us anything. How both sides of this spectrum end up in the same place eventually.

Hi, so this is random and you’ll never see this but I want to put it out there. So I had never drawn a lot, doodles every now and then. I wanted to draw more but never really did. I fell across your channel recently and got really motivated. I’ve started drawing a lot and I’m really glad about it so thank you.

to add a quote after 9:08 , someone who drowns is 6ft of water is just as dead as someone who drowns in 20.

When I first saw the thumbnail, I thought that the paint was a crockpot. So it looked like you were keeping flowers in a crockpot and I was really confused.

Well that explains alot... I make jewelry and i finished my school 2 years ago but i still can't do projects for others. When i do my own work it's not that hard and hopefully i can make my own rings for a shop this week and not have the same blockade as with the projects that my client's design. Thanks for the tips:) i realy love your art works:)

I have literally never needed a RU-vid video at more of a perfect time. Tears currently falling because wow. Thank you so much for what you do Emily

Watched this when I was uploaded right before I started Fine Art at university, graduated 3 months ago and now I’m back ;-; at stage 4 rn, trying to get back into art at a healthy pace

I am just happy all 3 of you feel better!!

This is great Emily, thank you...I just started my channel for art and the overwhelming feeling of starting has me going through these motions...Hearing you put it into words makes me want to continue and push on

Even on "normal" jobs there's no garantee. You can get fired suddenly. Yes, you get the firing bonus money. But what abou after that? What if you can't get a new job? There's no safety in today's age.

I just...Everytime I look at a peice of paper, even in a good mood or bad mood, I just don't have ideas. Like at all. It's just a paper in front of me. It's like someone sucked out all the creativity in me and I'm not even an adult. I'm still a kid, not even a teenager yet. Where is my creativity?

Somehow that's exactly my thought process but I don't overwork myself because I'm to lazy lmao anyways loved the video thanks💕💕

You and your art inspire me. I love and aprishiate your content. You deserve so much more then you're given❤❤