We’re in the creativity business, and clients turn to us regularly for fresh inspiration, new directions, polished brands, and award-winning design. Around us, the world churns, even as the winter darkness recedes, and the daily news invades. The two trajectories – our creative process and our external influences – can sometimes feel like difficult bedfellows. How do we restore ourselves, so that we can create and build solutions for our clients? It’s a question we decided to examine more closely, and we hope it inspires you to think about your own best strategies. What works for you? What works for your team? And how can you inject moments of restoration into your own professional and personal life?
Ellen Kim, Founder & Creative Director
When I feel burnout creeping in, I’ve learned not to immediately jump into problem-solving mode. Instead, I try to sit with it, give myself space to feel what I’m feeling, and slow down before reacting.
Creative refills often come when I step away from design intentionally. Spending time outdoors—especially in botanic gardens and arboretums—reminds me that even the simplest things can be deeply intricate and beautiful when we pause long enough to notice them. Pictured below is a college project of mine that still resonates: I explored finding two very different images in everyday life and saw, when you slow down and really look, that they can feel surprisingly connected. I’m revisiting that now, as I try to relearn how to be still and notice simple things in new ways—much like I did in my 20s.
The philosophy behind the recent “Walk for Peace” – when Buddhist monks walked from Texas to Washington, D.C., to promote mindfulness, compassion, and inner peace – resonated deeply with me, as well. Peace isn’t something to arrive at someday — it’s something we unlock by being present, slowing down, and practicing mindfulness in the everyday moments. I’m reminding myself that even small pauses can be a quiet act of peace.
Walter Kim, Managing Principal & Strategist
Finding time outside, taking intentional breaths to ground me, prioritizing quiet moments to reflect, and carving out time to read the Bible are all ways I combat burnout.
Taking time away from the office and home brings me to places that slow time and recharge me. Having the same partner in my life and in my business means that finding peace in my personal and professional life often gets blurred, so I feel like I need to put in extra effort to find balance. I make it a point to stop working by 5:30pm – as a business owner, there’s always something that needs to get done, and most things can wait.
Grace Bockelmann, Designer & Social Media Manager
It can be hard to stay positive with everything going on in the world right now, but to remain steady and avoid the ever-present threat of burnout, I do my best to get outside with my family. There’s nothing better than an outdoor adventure, which, with a two-year-old, sometimes means a walk to the park.
If I have an opportunity to explore solo, I am either outside on a trail or in a city taking in some new art. To me, art represents resistance and is the best way to stay inspired.
Christine Davies, Art Director & Brand Strategist
A consistent routine that has helped me regulate myself over the past 10 years working at GRAPHEK and living through this period in history has been to completely unplug on Saturdays. No work, no commitments (aside from family), and a very long walk. An average of 20,000 to 30,000 steps with a fancy coffee in the morning, with various breaks to sit with a nice baked good, has become my solace.
I see the changes in the seasons, feel the wind in my hair and sun on my face, and take time to listen to a favorite podcast or music while I take in nature or the life of a busy city street. For me, it’s essential to physically remove myself from the computer and phone and just quietly be in the presence of life, whether that’s in nature or amongst other people, for one full day each week. The world may change, but life continues, and my day of self-care helps keep me grounded.
Nancy Lu, Client Relations & Project Manager
There is nothing more relaxing than smacking the $&^# out of a tennis ball!
Playing tennis has become my primary outlet since my empty nest era began nearly four years ago. Aside from the much-appreciated cardio, tennis has opened me up to new friendships I never thought I needed in middle age. Taking up a new-to-me sport has been a humbling yet affirming experience that one can learn anything at any age. Bringing this mindset has helped in all aspects of life and work. Next up: working on my golf swing!
Julia Woods, Senior Designer & Motion Artist
Burnout teaches me that I need to slow down, balance, and stay present. It’s hard to do at every moment, but I intentionally incorporate yoga and nature walks into my daily routine. I keep family and friends close, and I lean on my support system when needed.
When I’m in need of a breath of fresh air and inspiration, I look to nature. I crave a good challenge, and I relish proving to myself what I’m capable of. I spend my recharge time deep in the mountains – backpacking, hiking, rock climbing, or camping. I aim to always be learning something new outside, whether it’s a skill, knowledge, or new level of respect. As I write this, I’m learning to trail run, which is like hiking but running! It’s keeping my mind, body, and soul happy.
Being connected to nature fuels my creativity and helps me stay grounded. The wisdom that nature provides helps me navigate life’s challenges and provides passion for what I can do for others.
Knowing Your Signs of Dysregulation
According to Beth Kurland, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and contributing editor to Psychology Today, the ability to balance and recharge requires that we first recognize when we’ve become dysregulated. Signs can be physical or emotional, as well as evidenced by your thoughts and behaviors. Everyone may have different “red flags,” but the key is to know yours, and watch for them. She suggests that when you notice a sign, ask yourself, What is one small thing I might do to invite in more ease?
“This may sound obvious and simple, but oftentimes we miss both the noticing and the asking,” she said. “Just in the act of pausing, you are attending to yourself, and this small act of self-care can help to dial down your stress response.”
Signs could include:
Body:
Fatigue
Feeling run down
Digestion off
Running on adrenaline for long periods of time
Feeling of pressure in one’s chest and chronic muscle tension.
Emotions:
Overwhelm
High stress, worry, anxiety
Pressured feeling, feeling driven, or frenetic.
Thoughts:
Scattered
Hyperfocused, narrow, tunnel vision—unable to see the big picture.
Behaviors:
Overindulgence in food, electronics, or social media
More irritable and snappy toward others
Can’t slow down or difficult to mobilize.
How do you recharge and find inspiration? Share your thoughts, tag us @GRAPHEKInc and share our newsletter with colleagues. Let’s make this the year we connect, inspire one another, and recharge – together!
