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Last week, I did something radical: I shut down my computer, packed a bag, and headed to the Grand Canyon with my wife and two kids. No deadlines. No screens. Just vast, ancient rock formations that made my daily stresses seem wonderfully insignificant.
I was feeling depleted: creativity running dry, motivation waning, and that persistent brain fog that no amount of coffee could clear. I recognized the classic signs of burnout. I imagine I’m not alone!
I read that 76% of workers in creative and tech industries report experiencing burnout, with 28% describing their burnout as “severe” or “extreme.”
For those of us who create digital worlds, the irony is that our screens are both our canvas and our cage.
It seems like it’s getting worse also, with AI and the uneasy feeling that we need to be constantly learning 100 different applications or tools in order to not fall behind. Things are changing at warp speed, and stepping away seems like an insane thing to do. Like pulling up a chair on the deck of the Titanic.
However, my Grand Canyon trip wasn’t just a vacation—it was medicine. A 2018 neuroscience study found that a four-day nature immersion boosted creative problem-solving by 50%. That’s nuts!
It feels really terrible to leave work for a week honestly. There is never a good time to leave. There is always a pile of bills, e-mails, requests, and a flood of new tech to learn about. The thought of leaving actually made me feel panic!
The goods news is that there is a bit of a paradox. When you’re burned out, you don’t realize how unproductive you are. Study after study shows that stepping away actually enhances creative output.
A 2021 Microsoft research study found that workers who took deliberate breaks produced 23% more original ideas than those who worked continuously. So, even though it feels like you will fall further behind, the opposite is actually true!
As creators, our minds need breaks. We need times when we’re not actively producing but regenerating.
My week away didn’t set me behind. It has given me new perspectives, renewed energy, and the clarity that comes from distance. It has been a long slog without a break and I am genuinely surprised at how helpful it was to step away. And it was only one week!
How about you? Are you feeling burned out? What would it look like for you to take a step back so you can regain the parts of life that make it worth living? Our industry is amazing. But it can also squeeze you dry.
Nobody is going to watch out for you, so if you need a break, make it happen. It’s worth it!
What do you think? Any insight would be great. You can reach me at joren@thepixellab.net
Good luck with your projects!
Joren Kandel is an Emmy Award winning artist with 15 years of experience in sports motion design. He is also Founder and CEO of The Pixel Lab, which has become the biggest collection of 3D VFX and VDB assets in the world!