We asked fellow creatives how they avoid running on empty from October through to December. Here’s the best advice they shared.
Is it just me, or does the last quarter of the year always feel like the busiest? Maybe it’s because we’re on countdown for Christmas. Maybe it’s because so many people are off, desperately trying to use up their annual leave before it’s too late. Or maybe it’s because briefs that sat around all summer suddenly need turning around before year’s end.
Whatever the reason, clients want everything done and signed off ASAP. So you put in more hours, drink more coffee, take fewer breaks, get less quality sleep. Yet none of that seems to touch the sides.
We asked the community in our own creative network, The Studio: what’s the one thing you do to get through the end of the year without running on empty? Here are some of the best tips they shared with us.
1. Walk, and make it fun
We’ll start with the one that everyone knows, but few of us actually do: take regular walks. It makes sense, though: the time you spend out in nature will be repaid in a refreshed body and a sharper mind.
Struggling to motivate yourself? If you’re already thinking of getting a dog, now’s the perfect time. “I don’t know where I’d be without my daily dog walk,” says video producer and animator Nick Hill. “It’s in one of two local parks, so it never varies much, but it helps me declutter my mind before pitching into work.”
If you’re not a dog person, though, just borrow the idea and form the habit anyway. That becomes easier if you have a clear goal in mind. Artist and illustrator Selena Tabakovic’s suggestion: “Walk with some music that puts you in a cathartic mood. Find a place where you can look at the horizon, and nothing is between you and the vista.”
2. Chase the daylight
One of the biggest challenges of Q4 in the northern hemisphere is lack of light. So maybe follow the example of designer and art director Asa Rodger. “In Scotland, especially further north, the light is SO short,” he explains. “So I’ve started striving for the daylight a bit more proactively. I’ve been swatting up about light – circadian rhythms, cortisol, melatonin; how it all works together.”
The typical work times felt like they were working against him, and winter was feeling tougher to handle each year. “So I started taking a big hour-long walk after lunch to get the light. Then I’d work an hour later at night, 5-6pm, when it’s dark anyway.”
The first year he tried it, winter felt less of a slog, so the habit stuck. If you’re freelance, it should be easy to do the same. If you’re not, and your boss is unwilling to be flexible, a lunchtime walk is the next best thing.
3. Cut the noise
Often, the stress we feel from work is simply compounded by the constant noise we get from our phone apps. But there are easy steps you can take to dial that down. “Turning off notifications was fantastic for me,” says author and illustrator Juliana Salcedo. “It lowered my anxiety a lot.” Her next goal is to leave the phone far from her bedroom.
Designer Steel Grimpeur has gone further. “Here are a few things I’ve begun implementing. No social media, no notifications, just a massive waste of time. Creative Boom is the ONLY place I go. Which means all I need is a dumb phone. I only add a number in when I have to call it; forget the rest.”
4. Nap without guilt
We often associate napping with elderly people, but in truth it can be hugely helpful with stress, whatever age you are. “Even short naps make a big difference for me,” says artist Destiny Hankerson. “They help my brain rest and shut the outside world out for a while.” Writer Jamie R takes a similar line. “I plan to replenish myself with lots of naps. I’ve done great things for myself this year, and I feel tuckered out; I’m going to be gentle with myself.”
5. Protect your time off
Even if the fourth quarter is the busiest, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take proper time off. Indeed, it’s actually the best reason to do so.
“I started to protect holidays from business encroachment a few years back,” says designer Matthew Gallagher. “Early in my career, for easily the first 10-15 years, I worked non-stop and never had a proper holiday because there was always a gig popping up – and I couldn’t pass up the money. Now, however, those holidays at the end of the year are sacrosanct, and they provide the joy and celebration that sustains me and fills me up for the new year.”
Programmer Martin Beroiz keeps it simple: take a week off in October if you can. Graphic designer Aneala Wilson, meanwhile, always has a mini treat to look forward to, whether that’s a holiday, an art class or a festival, and treats a break as non-negotiable.
If that doesn’t feel like it’ll help, though, why not follow in brand designer and illustrator Wajeeha Abbasi‘s footsteps? “I took three months off from my corporate job because of severe burnout,” she reveals. “I went to the mountains, ate good food, slept in on days I felt exhausted, limited social media, reconnected with old friends, created art for myself. And now I feel like a brand new person!”
6. Step away mid-deadline
When you’re drowning in deadlines, it’s tempting to keep at it and never switch off. That, however, isn’t just bad for your health; it’s counter-productive because it’s going to drain your productivity and creativity. So why not follow this advice from Selena: “Take a few hours or days in the middle of a tight deadline and do something completely unrelated to your work. Find a way to laugh until you cry.”
That might sound reckless, but staring at a problem rarely solves it. Walk away, do something fun, come back sharper. You may fix in 20 minutes what you previously couldn’t fix in a day.
7. Ask for help
Remember too that you don’t have to do any of this by yourself. “I am notoriously bad at reflecting,” says graphic designer Lyndsey Yates, “so I join the quarterly review calls with the Being Freelance community, which help me look back at what’s worked and what hasn’t.”
“It also means I can hear what other freelancers have been up to, the difficulties they’ve experienced, and offer my own advice and support where I can,” she adds. “Sometimes just knowing you’re not the only one is a real comfort.”
8. Give yourself some credit
Finally, part of what makes a busy period stressful is that we stop being kind to ourselves. Yet as architecture and interior design photographer Erik Sven points out: “You’ve made it this far because you’ve worked hard and had a few wins. Take a look at the progress you’ve made.”
In other words, rather than hitting November with a mental list of everything that went wrong, write a list of what went right instead. Then follow Erik’s other advice: “work smarter, stay hydrated, and recognise the need for rest. Guard your time. Let your feet touch dirt. Winter is coming… at least that’s my Seattle mindset.”
