Fighting Chaos with Resilience
Hey there Reader,
What a crazy week this has been. After months of trying to get an appointment, I could finally start renewing my passport and ID last Wednesday. Now, I have to wait another 3-4 weeks until the documents are printed. So when LinkedIn informed me on Thursday morning that they had blocked my account due to some “suspicious” activity, I couldn’t get it unblocked because I didn’t have a new ID yet. Luckily, it turned out that the block was only temporary, and I am back online now, but as a trained UXer, these kinds of process hiccups always hit a little too close to home. The stress caused by that chaos was a real test of my resilience, but at least it inspired me to write about that topic today.
Resilience for UX Designers
I have seen many experienced UX professionals struggle with the realization that no matter how great your UX methods are, more often than not. Most of your recommendations go unnoticed in the daily stress of getting things shipped, and with a tough job market, finding a position where you can put your UX skills to work can be challenging. In those cases, your resilience can help you keep going even when the going gets tough (Yes, I‘m old enough to reference Billy Ocean).
But is resilience really?
I like the definition of the Cambridge Dictionary:
„Resilience is that ability to be happy, successful, etc again after something difficult or bad has happened.“
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/resilience
So, by that definition, you might say, it’s our ability to bounce back. Bounce back after you have lost your dream job, bounce back after your application is rejected, or bounce back after your stakeholders reject your ideas for gaining deeper customer understanding.
Well, that‘s all fine, right, but how Do you actually stay resilient?
Here are a few aspects that may help you work on your ability to become a little more bouncy.
Vent regularly
I know this might sound weird, but I need my little venting moments. If I don’t release some of that frustration energy, it builds up and hurts my progress in the long term. Now, I‘m not suggesting screaming at the walls of your office, but getting some exercise, like going for a walk or even a run, usually does wonders for me. The more my body moves, the more I can let go of the tension.
Reflect on your progress
This is one that I always come back to. As UX professionals, we are trained to see the flaws. All too often, we neglect to see the little steps of progress we may have already made and how far things may have come. Keeping a log of little wins along the way regularly keeps me from going into panic mode, even now as I am building out this coaching practice and UX career-building support.
Find partners
Sometimes we can become so involved in our challenges and stress that we can‘t see a way out. Even if it may feel like we are all alone, there are always others who face similar challenges. Building a support group of peers and supporters can be great for finding new perspectives on overcoming challenges and regaining motivation.
Take a step back
It may be an unpopular opinion among UX folks, but most of the people in our organization don‘t know or care about UX issues as much as we do. They have their own sets of challenges and goals to deal with. And while we may feel that everyone would benefit from better experiences, for many, it simply isn’t a priority. So when they ignore your suggestions, they aren‘t ignoring you personally. They may simply be putting their needs first. To help you deal with the pushback of other disciplines, putting a bit of distance between yourself and your role may be helpful. You are not your job.
Self-care
Many of us UX professionals are highly driven. In our quest to improve the lives of the people we are serving, one person gets forgotten the most. We forget about improving our own situations. Sometimes, it‘s best to remember airline safety instructions to put your oxygen mask on before trying to help anyone else. UX jobs are hard. Empathizing with everyone else, from users to peers and stakeholders, can take a lot out of you. Book some time for self-care and use some of those UX skills to improve your situation.
That’s my thoughts on becoming more resilient, but I know the list is nowhere near complete. What are your stress tools? Reply and let me know so we can share them with the community.
Reflection Question
What is one thing that regularly stresses you out and from which you have found a way to bounce back?
Could you apply the same strategy to other triggers?
Articles
Embracing the reality of burnout and stress in the world of UX design is the first step towards building a resilient and successful career. By Christopher Nguyen
From Stress to Success: Mastering Burnout in UX Design
Christina Bruce writes about 7 key skills that make designers more resilient.
What does it mean to be a resilient designer?
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That's all I have for this edition. Have a great week and wish me luck in dealing with our bureaucracy.
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Marvin Olukayode Hassan
UX Design Manager & Career Coach
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