May 30 2024 17 mins
In this podcast episode, I reflect on my my experience as an architecture professional and student and how important it is to have a balance between work and life, so that we are not completely overwhelmed by our projects. I believe that the way we have been taught about architecture and the way we practice is WRONG and it starts really early - in university, so when we develop our professional charcater, we are already deep into a system that deprives us from basic balance, because deep down we have been taught and accepted that the highest imporance is always placed on the project instead of ourselves. 👉 Project-based work in all creative industries emphasizes the importance of "creativity" at any cost. Yet, burnout is real, but it is institutionalized within architecture, design, and other creative industries, starting from education. We are taught that the must invest all our energy into the good of a project. This applies to student work in universities and at work in firms, agencies, and more! What is the balancing act? It starts with prioritizing basic needs like enough sleep, food, and more. And continues with realising that better management would lead to less last-minute requests that cause burnout. But most importantly, it leads to understanding fundamentally within each of us what our priorities are and how our daily pattern and work requirements serve these priorities. Perhaps, if it is a priority to climb the corporate ladder as quickly as possible, without regard for family and friends, then always prioritising the project, at any cost is ok. Yet in many cases, I dare to think that our priorities may be different. What are yours and how do you balance your work load, especially near deadlines?