In this video I outline my struggles with workaholism which is often rewarded in society even though it leads to very real negative consequences. We're also celebrating our three years! Visit us at outgang.studio.
As an ADHD multi-disciplinary perfectionist I'm all too familiar with this. My projects are ambitious, across a variety of fields, and hard to let go of. Best of luck on all your journeys!
You have completely spoken for me.I am also an ADHD, we are often influenced by social norms. I really feel sympathy and more motivation to believe in myself when meeting people like us .
I can really relate too. I suffered for a lot of time in the beginning of my journey in 3D field. I started with a very complex and ambitious project and I found myself being stuck at some point because I didn't know how to continue it all by myself. So I had to pause it for a long time and get back in learning other essential stuff before to continue it for good, but I got also depressed becouse I thought that I wasn't going anywhere that slow. 😅 After 2 years then, small step by small step I was finally able to continue it and now I almost finished it.
same here.....and bit older than you lot it is never ending the older you get you find ways that work for you, sometimes even breaking it down to more tasks will make you feel less overwhelmed..
Happens with everyone in any industry that is even remotely creative, you start stacking up things to do along the way and a simple project gets a lot more complicated than what it started from. This either results in a much more improved result or no result at all. More often than not its somewhere in between where you just think to yourself its time to wrap this up and move on. Looking forward to your future videos!
There is something off with character artist. I was fortunate enough to do concept art, 3d art, game programming, game design and tool programming. Honestly 3D Character art is by far the hardest to do. It is like a sport with a shitty salary outside the US. I recommend just doing programming and earn the quadruple amount with less effort.
I didn't take it seriously, until I started finding solution to my works' problems in my sleep... and then staying awake in fear of forgetting that solution. LMAO Edit: To make it clear, NO, that's not a good thing. It f*cks up your life. Anyway, take it easy Laura. Good to have you back.
I got you. It's hard to stop overthinking even in bed for fears of forgetting things. More and more I'm finding that writing down my ideas helps me let go of them when it's time to sleep.
Hi Laura, Thank you for taking the time to share this! You are definitely not alone in battling workaholism and perfectionism. I recently realized that I had an addiction to self-improvement and it was pushing me to prioritize working and studying over everything else in my life. There was always this sense that if I could "just do that one thing better, or finish that one impressive project" that I had imagined, then I could finally take a break and life would somehow come together and get better. I now realize that I was struggling with self-worth and that no amount of skills or attempts to impress others with projects was the way to go about fixing how I felt. I'm still trying to figure out how to navigate and heal from that. However, I've started by re-prioritizing how I spend my time and re-framing how I approach my work. Before I start any project, I try to take a pause and ask myself why I am doing that thing and what elements of the project actually serve me and what I want out of life. Am I doing it to gain acceptance, or am I doing it because it's something I genuinely receive joy from? If that project doesn't move me towards my life goals, then maybe it's not a good fit for me. Additionally, I try to make projects an opportunity to connect with others. I still enjoy working on my own sometimes, but I no longer want 'work/study' to be an excuse to disconnect from everything else. I just started a weekly modelling night with one of my co-workers and it was great. We both struggle with procrastinating and over-inflating the scope of projects, so it was so helpful to be able to support each other and keep those proclivities in check. I wish we had decided to do that sooner.
I want to know why I can't register for your website? I filled out the email. Name. Password. But when I click submit, the page is refreshed, there is no indication that I registered successfully, I have registered many times, but no success, why, I am very sad
@@Outgang Really, I felt like this video has more quality than others, but please don't trying to fix it... They are all good. Also quick note, I can not Join to Outgang, it's same blank join info after I submit.
@@iovei2408 Send me an email at help@outgang.studio and I'll create your account for you. I'll investigate what's happening with the login form next week. Most users can register fine but some don't for a reason I don't know yet.
It's been a while o: Work never ends, that is true. I've been working to give closure to all my studies (including what I studied in Outgang) and start making stuff, but no more ambitious projects. I'm focused to finish my last compromises and start small, work small and stay small. We can make infinite work, but we are still human, we have to take it easier. Do more with less, it is challenging but health and rest have never been more important.
Hi outgang! I’m sorry for the struggle you are going through! Although I quite literally have the opposite problem I can definitely relate to the constant struggle to go against my own patterns of thinking. It makes me feel like I am my own enemy, that I can’t beat up or kill, but have to work to change by changing myself. What has helped me a lot is Cognitive Processing Therapy, mainly their challenging beliefs worksheets and identifying my stuck points. It has helped me take a more balanced view on my beliefs of how my self worth is attached to my productivity, relationships, trust, and sense of control. Although it is challenging any pattern can be changed! Rooting for you!
WOW! Thanks for doing this video! Feeling so identified, this video come in a moment where Im obsesed in doing a "perfect project" and Lost myself in such small details that I cant never accomplish and also feel frustrated because Ive got "thousand of ideas for other projects that I would like to jump on" thanks Laura, your videos, your content, all your free sharing is so valuable. Pls give also time to yourself and enjoy life, the process of creating etc. I know Iknow as workaholics we always tell the same to us and ended up doing the same, lost in the loop of "I can do it better". But... lets comeback to this video when that hapen. THANK YOU FOR ALL that you do. Amazing person
Dang I'm like you, overestimate, too many projects, wanting to understand everything, trying to do everything myself, burning out by just laying in bed thinking, doing a zillion projects at once... But more lazy and procastenating lol. The only way I survive is to have people ask me what I'm doing, setting clear goals and them keeping me accountable. Otherwise I go from building a 3D model to building a whole new universe I wont even spend time in
Like many others, I can relate to this struggle and appreciate the candor. Your content is top notch - I've recommended Outgang to fellow character artists who've also found it highly beneficial. Best of luck in the journey ahead!
I can relate so much with this video, perfectionism has always hinder my ability to completing my projects. I am leaning to accept the process and understand I can be great at something I just leaned how to do.
damn. im at the opposite side here. too many ambitions and very little effort. procrastinations, distractions and sloth. its weird to put it out like this but seeing you lamenting your workaholism kinda makes me wish i could be the same. to produce things instead of wasting time. so ironically you did manage to create something else with this video.
I have the same problem, i created some fantasy original characters, then started making back stories for each one, then i found my self writing about their worlds, weapons, powers… i started watching game creation tutorial with unreal engine because the story was made like a game hhh😅😅 But i catch my self now, and it is becoming easier for me to stop my self, glade to see that we artist have the same struggles, it means i am not the only one
I relate to this hard, being in university I def set a super high expectation for my projects where I just end up procrastinating them because I know the goal I set is really high. Goodluck. your work is always awesome
still waiting for the multi cam setup for sculpting in Blender, you made a long time ago. you promised you will share it but u never did unfortunately. love you and your content anyways sweetheart:) don´t stress yourself for nothing really:) stay safe❤🙂
it's like trying to make the best version of yourself as an intelligenced creature and letting go of your more instinctial or animal like or biologic sides to become a human's most improved version by putting work on the brain, the the power of thinking and creating. there's no end in becoming better and better but i guess since we are still no machines, we need to keep a balance between our bodies and minds. because otherwise we have to sacrifice some things.
as far as code goes you NEED a mentor for weekly code reviews and planning architecture of every next thing. thats the only way to be productive and precise and have someone to hold every line of code accountable
Duck, I saw a version of myself in you, Figuring out this loop (in your conscience) is the main and best step to solve it, you are really smart and talented i just found you and your channel yesterday Hope you best💙
Also, the registration form just doesn't work for me on your website, it resets and never succeed or present a valid request at the end, it just resets and empty all the form's data
Hey Laura thank you for all of the effort you put into your craft and sharing your knowledge with us. You are appreciated and valued, take the time you need to rest and recharge
as a workaholic, i can only tell you that you're definitely right to take your time, enjoy your life, go out and have fun, you'll always find time to work on something at 2 am anyway so why try that hard? i'm glad you made the right decision and i'm sure most of us viewers will be there when you'll upload even if it's in 5 years :D
Find this very relateable. But your content is precious, just your way of thinking, explaning and teaching is the biggest value if you want to pursue content creation. Regarding other projects, it's a hell for creative mind... you just need team with you who will pursue ideas, you can't do it alone.
Hi Laura, I think it's a trap that's really easy to fall into. I'm glad you realized this and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you! Health should always come first. Of course, I also have problems with it, there is a very fine line between personal development and workaholism, we have to be very careful.
Wish you the best. I know how hard it is, to break out of the chain loop. The first step is to understand and realize that you are sitting in a prison that you have created for yourself.
Always appreciate an earnest conversation about mental health and stress. You can't logic your way out of anxiety but it's important to reflect on it to gain a deeper understanding. Just excited to see whatever comes next!
Is it just me or the signup for the website is not working? 😥 when registering and entering the info, the page refreshes and nothing happens and no email is received for confirmation...
No it works but some users have issues for a reason I have not figured out yet. Look for an email on the registration page and write to me, I'll create an account for you.
This is so relatable that it's painful. 1,5 months ago I decided to build a leaf generator for a closed venation pattern. Thought that it would be quick and easy and I've really stuck. And again I get this awful feeling that I already did so much, so I don't want to give up. But the solution is still too far, so I no longer believe that it is possible to get it without over-sacrificing my working time. I wish you to be at peace with yourself. I believe you will get all the planned results no matter how ambitious they are. Your talent and ability to work a lot are undoubted. You are amazing.
I am the same way, but I get overwhelmed with all the new things, and I give up doing anything at all. (I was actually watching your Marvelous Designer tutorial, but I didn't finish) But I've been doing better, I just finished a model that could use more work but I said enough.
LOL. This is just how it is. Unless you can clone yourself, or hire minions, you need to prioritise what you take on. Having said that, you have to keep learning and growing, or you won't keep up in CGI, which moves at warp speed normally. Glad to see you are still doing well, if a bit frazzled!
A few years back when my first son was born I had this realization, Work is infinite. Since then I enjoy the time I spend working but I do not kill myself anymore, it is just an spiral that only leads to self destruction.
The world needs more ocd genius's...keep doing what you do ! Just keep your health routines going... I worked with Autistic kids for three years and saw 1st hand the benifit of insane levels of focus, and "everyone" we've ever studied has been autistic-as-fuck, so your in good company (DaVinchi, Einstein...). Be like Me, "I have great social skills; I choose not to use them" (lol) because I don't want to live in a beer commercial ! ~luv it
Hi! awesome videos, i came here from a video that you explain about polygrouping and the usage of a brush called PEN SHARP. It´s available in your website, it´s really useful. Thanks a lot for your attention
Hello everyone: you know? I don't even remember what it feels like to have a day off, I have never been to a pub or gone to dance at a nightclub: day and night, while I sleep, I only think about how I can improve and be able to work in some 3D studio. The story is long but in 2026 I will reach 30 years doing something that has to do with art or science, studying self-taught (creative writing, illustration, playing the violin, learning languages and right now, 3D sculpting). Oh my God, it has been a very long, very long journey and I'm very tired!
It's alright. I'm allways disappointed in myself too and i often take way too heavy tasks that end up burning me out. I love too many different things and i wish i would be good at every of them, this is not realistic, while progressing and climbing you still fall from a higher point on the mountain, the problem is the human psyche gets hurt, and falling from higher and higher points of ambition scars the soul permanently, and end up thinking only failures pave your way.
Maybe this is just me, but not posting a video for a few months is not something I would consider falling of the face of the Earth. I know your always up to something amazing, and I don't mind waiting for it. Or smaller update videos are cool too! Whatever you want to post I'm here for it.
holy smokes i can relate as an obsessive perfectionist its my curse and blessing, you're really talented and teaching suits you well outgang, take breaks and live life to its ok, its thanksgiving and im working up the courage to go to the family dinner hahah but we must live life! work isn't life.
I've gone through this similar pattern all my life, and it has absolutely torn my personal life apart. How I still have an significant other, I have no idea. I think you are right that the answer is management (thank you mental health professionals). And I do not know the answer to the content anxiety. But I know I would love if you were to share your progress and work in an informal way. I know I always put time aside to study the fundamentals, so informally sharing fundamental sculpting skills or something might be a great way for you to enjoy making art, whilst people passively learning with you and hanging out. It is nice to see a video from you pop up, made my Saturday morning a little brighter!
Super powerful content Laura. I think many creatives can relate to this and it's not talked about enough. The drive and passion of all these amazing new ideas that could change the way you work, only to never do that 'work', creating the art. Working in environment art I'm experiencing many of these challenges myself. Making endless tools for Blender, Houdini, Substance etc while losing sight over what lies at the core of what we do. I feel like especially in games problem solving has taken such a central role that many including me are sometimes losing track over the artistry of things. Tools and pipelines get outdated. Playing endless catchup and spreading too thin is a recipe for burnout. Starting projects, especially ones related to workflow and pipeline feels easy and safe as an artist. Creating something meaningful, sticking to an idea and especially finishing it is the exposing and often humbling part, especially in the competitive creative industries.
The spiral you describe is exactly what I've struggled with for years. The most important thing I learned in grad school was how to ride the spiral -- without falling in. Thanks for the video!
Please be kind to yourself when you need the time to do thing, its the hardest part stepping back especially for that drive to learn as you say 100% spirals into a weird... burnout like state that you still want to work in. Its a bizarre loop indeed but happy to hear you're finding the time to balance it!
Oh wow, I can really relate to this. You actually describe my main struggle: I'm never really satisfied with the result of my work as usually my plans/ideas become too big and additionally I demand too high standards of me. It's good to see this video and your open words, thank you very much.
Thanks for this honest video. It s nice to found this content in between of a lot non-stopping content creators. I had facial paralisis the last year because of my workaholism and don't hear myself. I can read you in between lines, and yes: enjoy the life its a very huge release too, and need time and patience.
