Breaking Through Burnout with David Jackson

Burnout is an unwelcome visitor - one that we’ve all met (designers, no exception), hope to never meet again and surprisingly, stand to learn a lot from. In this revealing episode of Space by Stansons, host Guy Stanley sits down with David Jackson, Design Manager at British Land's coworking brand, Storey, for an honest exploration of professional burnout, recovery, and rebuilding. 

What You’ll Learn

• How to recognise early warning signs of burnout, from constant phone-checking to physical symptoms
• Why the design industry’s traditional workplace attitudes toward mental health need to change 
• The "Four D's Framework" (Do, Decide, Delegate, Delete) for managing workload and preventing burnout
• How to implement and maintain healthy boundaries in a deadline-driven industry
• The importance of extended breaks in long-term recovery from burnout
• How AI tools can be leveraged for personal organisation, reducing stress 
• Why recovery from burnout is a continuous journey that can span up to two years
• The power and criticality of facilitating open dialogue about mental health in professional settings

Backed by extensive experience in workplace design and project management, David Jackson now serves as the Design Manager at British Land's coworking brand, Storey. With a background in interior design and entrepreneurship, David has demonstrated resilience and adaptability as he founded his own workplace design company during COVID-19, subsequently transitioning to corporate leadership roles. His transparent approach to discussing mental health challenges in the design industry, particularly from a male perspective, provides valuable lessons for design professionals navigating the demands of modern workplace culture.

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Episode Highlights

• [00:00] Intro
• [02:20] David’s Story: Choosing Yourself 
• [07:28] The Work That Causes Burnout  
• [09:54] The Signs and Experience of Burnout 
• [14:12] Healing Through Travel & Journalling 
• [20:16] The Hardest Thing About Getting Back to Work 
• [24:00] The Balance: Loving Work and Finding a New Outlet 
• [26:15] Locking Up Your Phone & Other Boundaries  
• [28:08] Recognising Burnout 
• [30:48] Why Designers Need to Caution Against Burnout 
• [32:58] ChatGPT and the 4 Ds: Ways to Prevent Burnout  
• [37:16] Now vs. Then & The Long-Term Effects of Burnout

Episode Resources:

David Jackson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-jackson-58026611b/
Storey: https://storey.co.uk/
Guy Stanley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guystanley
Learn more about Stansons Group Ltd. here: https://stansons.co.uk 

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