My article in Professional Photographer Magazine

THE OTHER SIDE OF BURNOUT

Yes, there’s light at the end of the tunnel l BY LAURIE KLEIN

“I attacked my burnout like it was war. I was going to battle to win back me.”

the morning. It brings calmness and a feeling of connection to my source. Quiet moments of meditation or doing yoga help you hear the voice of the muse inside you. It took me a few years to get quiet enough to hear her, but she’s coming in loud and clear now!

I believed I couldn’t take time for myself because I had major responsibilities. But the truth is, I discovered, that when I take time for me, I’m more effective and happier. So are my kids and my business.

I was also convinced I had to change everything and start over to be happy. Well, I changed my mind about that, at least, and asked myself what had worked in the past. What it was it about my business that I loved, that excited me? What impassioned me about photography when I started out, so passionate I couldn’t wait to start the day? What inspired me in the past? I started a list of what was working for me. Try doing the same thing, only add things that aren’t working and things you truly don’t like about your business or photography. Jettison what doesn’t work to make room for what does.

You might consider finding or starting a group that will support one another, and hold one another accountable for the goals you commit to.

Perhaps the most uplifting bridge to the other side of burnout was mentoring high school kids. It’s like a shot of adrenaline. They’re excited about everything. Mentoring rejuvenated my passion, and it may do the same for yours, too.

Creative people need creative tactics to get off the burnout track. It takes years to get to burnout, so give yourself time to work through it. There’s life after burnout— fantastic, fulfilling life! However bizarre it sounds, my burnout was a gift in disguise.

Laurie Klein Gallery is in Brookfield, Conn. (www.laurieklein.com).

©Laurie Klein

One day my youngest son asked me, “Mom are you happy?” I felt a stab of pain in my stomach.

Then he asked “Do you like what you’re doing?”

Did he know I wasn’t looking forward to going in to work?

Then the crusher, “Is there anything besides us you feel passionate about?”

No, no and no. Ouch.

I’d wanted to reinvent myself for some time. I felt I wasn’t growing as an artist. I’d been doing the same thing for over 20 years and I needed a change. I forgot how to nourish my soul, because I was so busy taking care of everyone else and supporting my family with my photography. I was suffering from burnout and it took a month of mulling it over to see that I had choices, that I could do something about it.

I attacked my burnout like it was war. I was going to battle to win back me. Any changes

had to happen inside myself—working from the outside had been disastrous. I started listening to the advice I had been giving others, and resolved to retake control of my life.

If you think you’re in the same boat, read on. Start by making a commitment to carve out time for yourself. One of the first things I did was to commit to taking at least one photograph a day just for myself, not to make money. I wouldn’t show it to anyone unless I wanted to. Just the act of using the right side of your brain will feel so good. It will reconnect you to your creativity.

After that baby step, I started feeling better inside. It dawned on me that in nurtur- ing my personal artistic work, I would become a stronger commercial photographer.

Exercise more than your creativity; go out into nature for a walk, even if it’s only 5 minutes a day. I also do a breathing medi- ation for 5 minutes before I get out of bed in the morning. It brings calmness and a feeling of connection to my source. Quiet moments of meditation or doing yoga help you hear the voice of the muse inside you. It took me a few years to get quiet enough to hear her, but she’s coming in loud and clear now!

I believed I couldn’t take time for myself because I had major responsibilities. But the truth is, I discovered, that when I take time for me, I’m more effective and happier. So are my kids and my business.

I was also convinced I had to change everything and start over to be happy. Well, I changed my mind about that, at least, and asked myself what had worked in the past. What it was it about my business that I loved, that excited me? What impassioned me about photography when I started out, so passionate I couldn’t wait to start the day? What inspired me in the past? I started a list of what was working for me. Try doing the same thing, only add things that aren’t working and things you truly don’t like about your business or photography. Jettison what doesn’t work to make room for what does.

You might consider finding or starting a group that will support one another, and hold one another accountable for the goals you commit to.

Perhaps the most uplifting bridge to the other side of burnout was mentoring high school kids. It’s like a shot of adrenaline. They’re excited about everything. Mentoring rejuvenated my passion, and it may do the same for yours, too.

Creative people need creative tactics to get off the burnout track. It takes years to get to burnout, so give yourself time to work through it. There’s life after burnout— fantastic, fulfilling life! However bizarre it sounds, my burnout was a gift in disguise.

Laurie Klein Gallery is in Brookfield, Conn. (www.laurieklein.com).