In 2025, creative teams within in-house agencies and brands are under pressure to deliver. The consequence of this high demand environment is an all-too-familiar cycle of overwork and burnout.
Overwork culture is harmful to the wellbeing and productivity of in-house creative teams. It often results in a diminished ability to think creatively. And what is an in-house agency without creativity? There are many ways to break the cycle of overwork and create a healthy work environment.
Here are five ways to reduce overwork and burnout in 2025:
1. A stress-less work environment
When an in-house team is put in a high-stress situation (unreasonable deadlines or a chaotic studio), they risk moving into fight-or-flight mode. When people stay in this place for too long, they get burned out. Can you incorporate stress reduction habits into your team’s daily workflows?
2. Quiet time
Encourage the use of private workspaces when creatives need to focus. If you don’t have private workspaces where your team can go to focus or decompress, use signals like ‘do not disturb’ signs when needed or schedule ‘no meeting hours’ to enable creatives to focus on elements of their job, such as ideation. What methods can you promote for team focus and 'do not disturb' time for creatives?
3. Set boundaries
Nowadays, teams are often in different locations and might work outside of traditional hours. However, the blurring of work and personal time is a source of job stress. One study has found that it is not just answering emails that increases employees’ anxiety; it is the expectation that they are available outside of work hours. To combat this, set guidelines and follow them. Could you use email scheduling so that if you’re working around the clock, you’re team isn’t expected to either?
4. Flexible work
For a highly adaptive team, create an adaptable work environment. Give your employees flexibility by allowing them to work staggered hours. Hold one-to-one’s to understand those needs and discuss arrangements for people who are struggling with work-life balance. Take into account the individual needs of your team. Do they have a long commute, are they neurodiverse, and do they have caring responsibilities outside of work?
5. Embrace creativity and outsource production
Would outsourcing creative production free up your team? Many creative leaders worry about the effect of outsourcing on staff. It’s not about trying to reduce headcount Remember, creative production outsourcing is about enabling your staff to do more. Chances are they are consumed by production and, as a result, miss out on bigger creative projects. Creative production outsourcing can save time and enable your skilled in-house people to focus on their strengths: ideation, creativity, and design. What can be outsourced to free up time for the in-house team?
Want to learn more? Join our free webinar on 26th March 2024
Overwork and burnout are not badges of honor. They’re silent dangers that erode creativity. Former in-house creative leader Michael Storey checks in with in-house agencies to ask, ‘How are you getting on?’ Building upon his session at Creative Production London*, Michael will share recent ‘hot-off-the-press’ findings. You'll realize that you are not alone in your overwork challenges and will discover ways to keep work/life in balance in an industry where this can sometimes seem impossible.
Michael and Robert Berkeley, CEO of EKCS, will join forces on 26th March. Robert has spent over two decades leading diverse and busy teams at a global creative production agency. Both will be on hand to answer your questions and offer advice. *Please note that if you attended their session at Creative Production 2025 on 1 March, new ground will be covered. And if you couldn't make the event, this webinar is essential for anyone facing burnout and/or managing overworked teams.* Register for free here.
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