Pressure to deliver the best ideas on tight deadlines has always felt like a badge of honor when working in advertising. But even the most successful campaigns and crushed ROIs can leave teams running on empty and needing to recharge. Burnout is a constant challenge every agency and team has to deal with, but building a culture where mental health practices are at the forefront can keep creativity and productivity thriving.
The Burnout Gap
Forbes says 66 percent of U.S. employees are experiencing burnout in 2025, and the leading causes are mental/emotional stress and long hours. Agency burnout rates run higher than average, with 76% of creative leaders saying their teams are burnt out. As employees pay more attention to how company culture supports mental health, there are ways to keep both top talent and great creative work.
Culture Starts at the Top
Leadership sets the culture from the beginning. Take time off, discourage long hours and be a resource for direct reports on the agency’s mental health practices. When mental health is the priority from the top, employees will almost certainly be happier and more productive. Supervisors and managers should have regular check-ins with their direct reports and offer support with workload, role responsibilities and questions. People matter as much as performance, and these practices send a clear message that you care about people — not just the work.
Individual Habits for Navigating Stress
While leadership and managers set the tone, every employee plays a role in preventing burnout. Setting reasonable boundaries, taking breaks, using PTO and sticking to healthy daily habits can have a huge impact on your mental health. Above all, communicating early about feeling overwhelmed is the best way to ensure you're supported before the burnout kicks in. You are your first and fiercest advocate, so use your voice and ask for help when you need it.
A creative and thriving culture is a team effort. When the team works together and communicates, creativity has a space to thrive, and so does employee retention. Burnout shouldn’t be the cost of great work. Strong work doesn’t come from teams stretched thin. Invest in your people, and the results will follow.
At VI, we believe creativity thrives where people do. That’s why we’ve built a culture that values balance, open dialogue and proactive support, because the best work doesn’t come from burnout. It comes from teams who feel seen, trusted and energized to solve big challenges. We don’t just protect the work. We protect the people behind it.
