Ironic that this video comes out the day I felt like I experienced burnout for the first time in my program… You bring up such a valuable point that I respect both you and Miguel for. This whole time I’ve been just hustling my ass off to literally do the most: attend webinars, network, create content, etc. It’s fun and rewarding, but man is it draining. I think I’m gonna use the next couple of days just to decompress and chill. Like you said, we celebrate the people who do the most which is partially the reason why I do what I do. But you gotta take a step back and celebrate when you’re not doing the most. That in itself is an achievement and I’m glad you highlighted that so well in this video. Hope you enjoy your week off, you deserve it. Looking forward to how it went whenever you post another video 😊
For me a lot of the burnout isn't even about how much work I'm doing or how much I'm working, it's emotional burnout due to an unhealthy work culture (among other things going on in my personal life). When I'm on a team with a good team culture and clear and reasonable expectations I can be really motivated, but if I'm on a team that constantly puts pressure on me and expectations of me aren't really consistent or reasonable, that can really sap my motivation. I have ADHD and experience anxiety symptoms.
I went through exactly what you’re going through when I got into UX, but I never did the reflection you did here until the beginning of this year (5 years into my career) so I’m really happy for you because awareness is the first step
Thank you so much for sharing this Julia. This really made my day. Recently transitioned into Product design, and it's been a very rough journey so far - comparing my growth and skills to others, basing my self-worth on my work and the company I work for. It's been insane. Thanks a lot for this really. It's super comforting
I have been feeling the burnout for a month now. I became addicted to LinkedIn constantly looking for opportunities, scrolling down my feed, networking, etc. Even when I'm watching TV with my partner, I would sometimes look at LinkedIn. I can definitely resonate with looking at how recent graduates are able to find an opportunity so fast and feeling disappointed in myself from comparison. Thank you for being so transparent and honest about your experience. :)
I started my first job as a junior UX /UI designer 3 months ago, I am the only designer in the company which makes it super difficult. I started feeling burnout creeping in a few weeks ago :( I am taking more breaks, and I am trying to relax but I do feel 'bad ' for not working as much as I should. Thank you for sharing your experience. :)
While at work, I've experienced struggling to focus, I am the type of designer before who produces a lot, but now I'm just almost paralysed, producing small outputs is a real struggle. When I'm not at work, my time mostly goes to me dealing with feeling extremely anxious about the work that I need to do. I also feel anxious over feeling anxious.. Feel pressured to try to go out and think about something else other than work. It's a cycle. I got covid last week, and every single day while I was sick I have gotten pings from slack from my coworkers about tasks that needed to be done. Sometimes I feel like my current client has no respect for my free time, breaktime or day ofs.
Yup, I see that in my work environment. Management praises people who can do everything and master everything all at once. But how can one stand out as an individual contributor and designer when you're expected to be everything? One person can't be perfect in all things haha there's always one strong skillset you have and I don't think everyone realizes that. It eventually leads you to feel compared to your peers, to the point where it drains the joy out of you. I'm grateful that I decided to take a step back :)
Ughhh you don't know how much I needed this video. I've recently finished a UX Bootcamp and I'm looking for my first job and the last day, after all the adrenaline I felt this flat feeling that you mention and I can't seem to recompose from that. It's like I want to do all this things but my body and mind are just tired.
I hope this video could give you the equivalent feeling of a hug. I totally get it, and I think that it definitely helps to slow down and remember that it will all work out.
Hey Julia, I just want to thank you for sharing this video, it resonates with me :) I even have 3 years of UX experience but I have always had high-functioning anxiety especially as also an English as a second language speaker. I always wonder why my UX passion for helping people eventually killed a lot of my energy and demotivated me. Even you competed with other candidates and received an offer from a company, but eventually, the competitions continue in the office and among my UX friends, it could be compared with everything - Company reputation, salary, have you followed the trends? have you had more influence than others? I always remember I was so afraid of people judging the product I worked for as "bad" UX. Then I went back to think before I am a UX designer - What was my life like? I was a motion designer. Have I got this kind of burnout culture and anxiety feel? No... I had a long chat with my friends and thought about my passion -it's not which product is the coolest, it's we want to help more people in the right way. It encouraged me to think about my next job that I shouldn't consider about the company reputation and the title, otherwise, I won't be happy again. I still have many things I like to do outside my world, I believe I get inspiration from the real world more than focusing on the digital world. Focusing on the friends that don't compare with you, help the friends, family and colleagues when they have a hard time that will make me feel much better. Sorry for the long comment, just wanna thank you for your video and it made me feel I am not alone.
I have never clicked a video and subscribe so fast. Thank you for sharing this because I was feeling really drained about LinkedIn since I'm not a UX designer yet but transitioning from a totally different career path. I love graphic design, drawing, and the front/back end of websites but I am actually trying to transition my career towards UX because of the characteristics you said many UX designers have: high-functioning anxiety, what's vacation, and being overall driven to do everything. In hindsight, I was always burning myself out but now I get to choose a better career path I enjoy that I want to burn myself out in...?🤔 Still trying to unlearn these habits, like you said. So thank you for the reminder.
I know exactly what you mean by not knowing how to use downtime, it feels like we are so productive in UX that we don’t know how to turn it off. I also feel like UX is trying to make us so productive that we are overwhelmed and not productive?
So so important. I really hope the industry changes more. Even with Product Design, employers want you to be able to do everything and that's stressful.
Julia, THANK YOU for uploading this video today. This hit me so hard, because this wave of burnout washed over me this morning as I'm also trying to juggle more than I can handle, haha! Definitely topics that aren't talked about enough, and I really appreciate you sharing your voice on this.
Hi Cindy, thank you for sharing that, and for validating my feelings. I def know what you mean as I’m always a “yes woman” and always put way too much on my plate.
