Web design was once my passion, but over time, it became more of a job than something that brought me joy. As a web designer, I spent countless hours staring at lines of code and making sure everything looked perfect on every device and browser. But the constant pressure to keep up with evolving technologies and changing trends left me feeling burnt out and unfulfilled.
In this article, I will share my personal journey of why I gave up web design and what lessons I learned along the way.
The Beginning of My Web Design Career
I started my web design career back in college when I was just a freshman. I had always been fascinated by the internet and how it worked, so I decided to study computer science with a focus on web development. I quickly fell in love with the art and science of designing beautiful websites that were both functional and visually appealing.
I landed my first job as a web designer at a small agency, where I worked on projects for local businesses and non-profits. It was a great experience, and I learned so much about design principles and best practices. But there was always a sense of urgency to meet deadlines and keep up with the ever-changing landscape of web development.
The Challenges of Being a Web Designer
As my career progressed, I began to feel the pressure of keeping up with new technologies and design trends. There were always new frameworks and tools being released, and it seemed like I had to learn something new every week. This constant need for learning and adaptation made it hard to find a work-life balance.
I also started noticing that web designers were becoming increasingly commoditized. With so many people entering the field and offering their services online, it became harder and harder to stand out from the crowd. I felt like I was just one of many, and my skills and experience didn’t feel as valuable as they once did.
The Final Straw: My Burnout
After several years of working as a web designer, I finally hit my breaking point. I was tired of the constant pressure to be better than everyone else, and I felt like I had lost sight of what I loved most about my job. I realized that I no longer wanted to design websites; I wanted to create something new, something that would make a real impact on people’s lives.
So, I made the difficult decision to quit my job as a web designer and start over from scratch. It was a scary but necessary step for me to take, and it was not an easy one. But ultimately, it was the best decision I ever made.
Lessons Learned: The Importance of Passion
Looking back on my career as a web designer, I realize that my burnout was largely due to a lack of passion for the work I was doing. Web design had once been something I loved, but it had become more of a job than anything else. When you’re not passionate about it, it’s easy to feel burnt out and unfulfilled.
That’s why it’s so important to find work that you love and are passionate about. It doesn’t matter what field you’re in; if you’re not passionate about it, you’ll never be truly happy or successful. So, take some time to reflect on your own passions and interests, and try to find a career that aligns with them.
The Importance of Adaptability
While my decision to quit web design was not an easy one, it taught me the importance of adaptability and resilience. Web development is constantly evolving, and you need to be able to keep up with those changes if you want to stay relevant in the field.