Listen on the go, available on Apple Podcasts - apple.co/3MCK7hq, Spotify - spoti.fi/45eT5ci, RUclips Music - bit.ly/uhstudiopodcast or wherever else you may listen to podcasts. Search for UH Studio Architecture
This is advice for every field! I went to school for Architecture and Interior design some 15 years ago.. What I found out, at least in my area, that Architecture was primarily a Cash Grab for Fancy office Furniture companies. No one was thinking Sustainability or Smart City design at that time. I ended up switching to Landscape Architecture and after that, just got a degree in Horticulture.... I still draw as a hobby. I wish my Professors/Internships had your Mindset at the time.. That wasn't the way the work world worked back then or even now. But... A lot of people have to get sick and tired of something before any real change happens and If enough of you push hard enough, things will start to move in a new direction.
This topic is very important, thank you for sharing. I spent a lot of time putting my architecture project first, when in reality we need to put our well-being in the balance. As soon as you share this experience, you are part of the transformation vector for people who agree with you, congratulations on your attitude.
Man how many times I have burnt out... This topic has always been in a part of my mind and I have talked to my friends about it too. It is a very serious and common issue in our profession, unfortunately. One thing that scares everyone is the fear that, if you stop spending as much time and effort on it, the firm you work for will give up on you, or if you have your own office, that the clients are not going to want to work with you. I see this is not just a trick my mind plays to myself but a really threatening one. Although the right thing to do I suppose is to prioritize yourself, anyway. In an optimal world, everyone could have done this and we could have changed the ways this thing works. But I am not very optimistic to believe in that this change can happen only by individual action... I desperately hope that I am wrong.
The fear is real! The question is where does it come from? That we are not enough, no matter how much work we put in. It's deep, and somehow everyone has this embedded within them. I have a good story from a friend with a cafe. When she first opened her cafe, she was open all the time from very early in the morning to very late in the evening every day. She said that she was afraid that if she wasn't open, when the clients passed by, the would go somewhere else. Yet over the years, and she gained many regulars, she realised she does not need to work so much. Now she closes her cafe in early evening and doesn't work on sundays of holidays. Her business is thriving and she has more energy for when she does work.
Indeed! We have to become more aware of our own boundaries and be comfortable with the fact, that "hey, I won't loose my job if I don't stay late tonight" And the other issue is the lack of proper management skills I have observed in firms.
I think you hit the nail on the head with the ''in the project' comment. Your experience is in the starchitect realm it seems. I've worked in both glamorous vs functional bread and butter kind of stuff. What I would like to add , based on your spot on comment, is drawings / documentation is only one piece of the puzzle , relationship building is something more important. I mean you literally could build a lot of projects from text based descriptions
Totally! There are many different avenues, after 5 or so years of experience and it varies. Although, my experience isn't limited to "starchitect" firms, it is true that more internationally-oriented firms with larger clients on projects won via competitions or bids tend to be much more demanding and more anonymous than small-to-medium firms that may deal with long-term clients in their region, e.g. developers. Hence in those situations, they understand how to work with each other more efficiently.
Thanks for sharing. You're right, the topic is not talked about enough. Especially in as you say conservative professions or in "hands-on" professions like trades burn out is very common but dare you mention it. Then you get immediately stamped as softy or worse ( can't say that here). It's a problem throughout our working world unfortunately. Young people new to the jobs in particular, I find, often get exploited and the approach of how they're taught and run through the gauntlet is fundamentally wrong. If things like taking time for yourself or connecting with nature and your environment and finding that balance were taught from the get go, we would create a way happier and more productive work force in the long run, at least that's how I see it. Unfortunately I don't see the change coming any time soon on management levels. Personally I only started being happy again when I quit and became my own boss. Nothing more refreshing on a stressful day than taking my dog for a stroll in the woods. Highly recommend :)
And a great point about having a stroll in nature. We tend to forget we are part of nature, and the closer we are to it all, feeling the wind, the heat, the cold, the sun, the birds, the inherently better we feel.
great video. but I have to say, when you say thinks like this, it's when you're kicked out haha! Just kidding. In my opinion it all depends on your level of commitment for the job. If you're high value you may be allowed to say things like this. If you are just a monkey doing a task, you can't risk yourself going in that direction. One of the things that I most recomend if you're tired of architectural practice it's to change a little bit your work. Enter a competition, design some furniture, take photos, help a friend with their apartment renovation, I dont know! What I'm trying to say it's put some effort and work on your own too, It's super important to keep you proud of yourself and that's very good to your mental health
You raise a great point which I believe is directly addressing the situation - we are led to believe there is no alternative but to put in the grunt work and learn while doing it. Yes, we can all improve our skills and learn how to be efficient better. But the level of requirements are such that it is frequently needed to prioritise work above all else. And your are also right that I am free to say this because in a way I am outside the typical grunt work, by choice. However, I was also the one that was learning software on the weekend, staying countless late nights doing last minute changes, and prioritising work above all else. But perhaps practicing boundaries at all levels without fear of being overlooked for a raise or promotion is what's needed
Well yeah , we have to break out of the BOX architecture that millennia of generations have been subject to. Boxes, 90 degree angles and squares are only the first baby steps to greater things . Make the transition . BOX no.... Flowing Organic living....maybe. Round is perfect of course but to translate that to a useable structure is the challenge . Cool man ! :O)
Listen on the go, available on Apple Podcasts - apple.co/3MCK7hq, Spotify - spoti.fi/45eT5ci, RUclips Music - bit.ly/uhstudiopodcast or wherever else you may listen to podcasts. Search for UH Studio Architecture
Instant like within first two minutes. This makes so much sense 🥲🙌 Thank you for saying it out loud.
Yes, important topic! Caring four our bodies, minds, and souls should be just as important as caring for projects
Such an important topic! Thanks for sharing your experience.
Would love to hear about how others are recovering from burnout.
Indeed! Would love to hear everyone's experience of burnout!
This is advice for every field! I went to school for Architecture and Interior design some 15 years ago.. What I found out, at least in my area, that Architecture was primarily a Cash Grab for Fancy office Furniture companies. No one was thinking Sustainability or Smart City design at that time. I ended up switching to Landscape Architecture and after that, just got a degree in Horticulture.... I still draw as a hobby. I wish my Professors/Internships had your Mindset at the time.. That wasn't the way the work world worked back then or even now. But... A lot of people have to get sick and tired of something before any real change happens and If enough of you push hard enough, things will start to move in a new direction.
Appreciate sharing your experience!
This topic is very important, thank you for sharing. I spent a lot of time putting my architecture project first, when in reality we need to put our well-being in the balance. As soon as you share this experience, you are part of the transformation vector for people who agree with you, congratulations on your attitude.
Thank you 🙏 And congratualtions on yours as well!
Man how many times I have burnt out... This topic has always been in a part of my mind and I have talked to my friends about it too. It is a very serious and common issue in our profession, unfortunately. One thing that scares everyone is the fear that, if you stop spending as much time and effort on it, the firm you work for will give up on you, or if you have your own office, that the clients are not going to want to work with you. I see this is not just a trick my mind plays to myself but a really threatening one. Although the right thing to do I suppose is to prioritize yourself, anyway.
In an optimal world, everyone could have done this and we could have changed the ways this thing works. But I am not very optimistic to believe in that this change can happen only by individual action... I desperately hope that I am wrong.
The fear is real! The question is where does it come from? That we are not enough, no matter how much work we put in. It's deep, and somehow everyone has this embedded within them. I have a good story from a friend with a cafe. When she first opened her cafe, she was open all the time from very early in the morning to very late in the evening every day. She said that she was afraid that if she wasn't open, when the clients passed by, the would go somewhere else. Yet over the years, and she gained many regulars, she realised she does not need to work so much. Now she closes her cafe in early evening and doesn't work on sundays of holidays. Her business is thriving and she has more energy for when she does work.
yes there is a massive problem with over working and over deadlining everything in life based on business not creative!
Indeed! We have to become more aware of our own boundaries and be comfortable with the fact, that "hey, I won't loose my job if I don't stay late tonight" And the other issue is the lack of proper management skills I have observed in firms.
I think you hit the nail on the head with the ''in the project' comment. Your experience is in the starchitect realm it seems. I've worked in both glamorous vs functional bread and butter kind of stuff. What I would like to add , based on your spot on comment, is drawings / documentation is only one piece of the puzzle , relationship building is something more important. I mean you literally could build a lot of projects from text based descriptions
Totally! There are many different avenues, after 5 or so years of experience and it varies. Although, my experience isn't limited to "starchitect" firms, it is true that more internationally-oriented firms with larger clients on projects won via competitions or bids tend to be much more demanding and more anonymous than small-to-medium firms that may deal with long-term clients in their region, e.g. developers. Hence in those situations, they understand how to work with each other more efficiently.
Thanks for sharing. You're right, the topic is not talked about enough. Especially in as you say conservative professions or in "hands-on" professions like trades burn out is very common but dare you mention it. Then you get immediately stamped as softy or worse ( can't say that here). It's a problem throughout our working world unfortunately. Young people new to the jobs in particular, I find, often get exploited and the approach of how they're taught and run through the gauntlet is fundamentally wrong. If things like taking time for yourself or connecting with nature and your environment and finding that balance were taught from the get go, we would create a way happier and more productive work force in the long run, at least that's how I see it.
Unfortunately I don't see the change coming any time soon on management levels. Personally I only started being happy again when I quit and became my own boss. Nothing more refreshing on a stressful day than taking my dog for a stroll in the woods. Highly recommend :)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
And a great point about having a stroll in nature. We tend to forget we are part of nature, and the closer we are to it all, feeling the wind, the heat, the cold, the sun, the birds, the inherently better we feel.
Totally agree. Has to be done without devices though - no phones, earbuds or anything like it. We tend to forget that in this day and age.
great video. but I have to say, when you say thinks like this, it's when you're kicked out haha! Just kidding. In my opinion it all depends on your level of commitment for the job. If you're high value you may be allowed to say things like this. If you are just a monkey doing a task, you can't risk yourself going in that direction. One of the things that I most recomend if you're tired of architectural practice it's to change a little bit your work. Enter a competition, design some furniture, take photos, help a friend with their apartment renovation, I dont know! What I'm trying to say it's put some effort and work on your own too, It's super important to keep you proud of yourself and that's very good to your mental health
You raise a great point which I believe is directly addressing the situation - we are led to believe there is no alternative but to put in the grunt work and learn while doing it. Yes, we can all improve our skills and learn how to be efficient better. But the level of requirements are such that it is frequently needed to prioritise work above all else. And your are also right that I am free to say this because in a way I am outside the typical grunt work, by choice. However, I was also the one that was learning software on the weekend, staying countless late nights doing last minute changes, and prioritising work above all else. But perhaps practicing boundaries at all levels without fear of being overlooked for a raise or promotion is what's needed
Well yeah , we have to break out of the BOX architecture that millennia of generations have been subject to. Boxes, 90 degree angles and squares are only the first baby steps to greater things . Make the transition . BOX no.... Flowing Organic living....maybe. Round is perfect of course but to translate that to a useable structure is the challenge . Cool man ! :O)
Thanks for this master advices
Cheers! Always nice to hear from you :)
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