Burnout is one of the most misunderstood problems in a creative career.

Cartoonists often interpret it as a failure of discipline.

They tell themselves they’ve become lazy. They assume they’ve lost their passion. They worry that the work no longer matters to them. Then they respond by pushing harder — adding more hours, tightening the schedule, and demanding even more from themselves.

That usually makes the problem worse. Burnout is not always a sign that you no longer care about the work. Sometimes it’s a sign that you’ve cared too intensely for too long without enough rest, support, or recovery. And that distinction matters.

If the problem is laziness, the solution may be discipline. If the problem is burnout, more discipline can become gasoline on the fire.

Here are five ways to begin finding your way back.

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