Creative Burn Out

You’re probably here because like me, you have days when you’re not particularly your best creative self. You probably can’t afford to take a long hiatus every time you feel stuck.

Being in a creative industry means we have to learn how to conquer our creative mood instead of the other way around. 

So I sat down, and thought about a few reasons why I usually get stuck and hopefully some of these would resonate with you as well. 

Overwhelm

Do you sometimes feel like you have so many ideas, and so little time?

We create a long list of things-to-do with a quite unrealistic timeline, we end up accomplishing nothing because we have no idea where to start. 

The truth is, no one is chasing us and no one is rushing us to execute ALL our ideas, RIGHT NOW. 

There are no shortcuts. The only way to go is take it one step at a time and enjoy the process.

Forgetting our WHY

One of the main sources of creative burn out is forgetting the bigger picture. 

We get caught up with “life”, we forget to find meaning in what we do.

We live in auto pilot, accomplishing goal after goal. We fill up our days with activities. We keep ourselves busy, so our lives may seem to be moving forward. We consume and resort to instant gratification to feel content and happy. 

We forget to take a moment to remind ourselves of our purpose – why we do what we do.   

Lack of Growth

We plateau. We often settle in our comfort zones, we forget to learn something new and develop new skills.  

Growth is intentional. We have to make time to learn, experiment, and collaborate. This way, we learn new things about ourselves, spark inspiration, make new friends, and over all grow as a person and as a creative.

I have proven this so much this year – doing something different and jumping out of my comfort zone has always been the ones that spark my creativity the most.

Giving

To be of service to others is the greatest source of meaning and fulfillment. 

When was the last time we did something for the sole purpose of serving? When was the last time we gave without expecting anything in return? 

When we do things for the sole purpose of kindness and generosity, our hearts get lifted up and we find purpose. 

“Love people and use things because the opposite never works.” 

Don’t look at people as mere stepping stones for your “success”. Always find ways to serve others instead of the other way around.

Gratitude

We’re often too busy chasing our dreams, trying to live our best life, we forget to be grateful of what we already have.

Gratitude allows us to appreciate our lives – the people who love and support us. Gratitude allows us to get inspired by everyday mundane things that are often overlooked.

When we take a moment to be grateful of what we have, we realize that we are right where we’re supposed to be, and we’re surrounded by amazing little sources of inspiration.

Self love

Love yourself first, then take that overflowing love and share it to the world. 

Taking care of ourselves does wonders to how we perform. I find that when I take care of my mind and body, I feel lighter, I think clearer, and I become more creative. 

Balance

Life is not all about “what you do”. 

We can be so amazing at what we do but it doesn’t make up for not being able to take care of our health and not having enough time for our families.

Finding balance allows us to feel whole. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

Some days, we either have to toughen up, or be kinder to ourselves. We have to take a moment to evaluate our lives – are you putting too much on your plate? Have you been neglecting your health and your loved ones? Have you learned something new recently? 

Being able to recognize and understand what we feel is an essential step to conquering creative burn out. 

Take note of triggers that inspire you or get you into your creative mood. For me, it’s reminding myself of my WHYS, working in a new environment, spending quality time with loved ones, or having a good cup of coffee!

Awareness would allow us to acknowledge what we feel, so we can take control.