Which part of being an Instructional Designer is the toughest?

Dear Instructional Designers,

Could you share which aspect of your role has proven to be the most challenging—perhaps something you wish you had been warned about beforehand? For instance, I’ve heard about the struggle of chasing after subject matter experts and the difficulty in managing time while juggling projects at various stages. I’m interested in learning whether your experiences include other unexpected obstacles. Please share any insights or challenges you’ve encountered along your professional journey.

Hey everyone, interesting topic indeed! For me, one of the trickiest parts is finding that sweet spot between creativity and the often rigid frameworks we’re given. I mean, it’s such a cool field, but sometimes it feels like you’re trying to create something super engaging while juggling limitations from budget, tech, or conflicting feedback. It can be really challenging to keep the innovative spirit alive when expectations are, well, a bit rough around the edges. How do you guys overcome these constraints? Have you found any clever hacks or workarounds that help you maintain creativity without burning out? Would love to hear your experiences and thoughts on this! :blush: