“It’s a big sign of the state I’m in when for two days in a row, I don’t feel I have the energy to write.
You have the urge to write, make music, paint a picture – something, but as you stare at the word document, sheet music, blank canvas… nothing comes out.
Every fiber of your being wants to create It makes you happy. It makes you feel fulfilled. Yet you still stare at the nothing, the empty waiting to be filled, and the words/lyrics/lines clamoring in your head have no outlet.
It’s like your hands are made of lead. It’s like there’s a dam that was built between your mind and your fingertips. Your motivation is both there and absent. You want it but you don’t and you can’t.
Why.
Creative burnout is a very real thing that many people face. There are times when it can seem insurmountable. It’s easy to feel lost when faced with this phenomenon. You want to make something but you also don’t at the same time. It seems like the solution to the situation you’re in is to find the source that’s blocking your creativity, but you barely have the motivation to look for that.
If this is hitting close to home for you, you’re not alone. Our team at Recovery Center for the Arts knows how healing and important creativity is, yet we see so many people walk through our doors who worry they’ve lost the spark. They feel like they haven’t been able to create in so long that they may never create again. This isn’t true.
Our blog today is dedicated to talking about the importance of creative downtime. We’re here to show you the way out.
How Not Creating Can Make You More Creative – The Importance of Creative Downtime
Creativity is one of the most incredible things that humans are capable of. Our minds are wonderful places that allow us to express ourselves in amazing ways, and it’s truly a blessing that we’re able to do so.
There’s no wrong form of creativity. People often think of creativity as physical art, writing, music, photography, or film, but it’s so much more than that. People can be creative in how they code things, through acting, and more.
Despite how healing and joy-bringing creativity usually is, it’s not an unlimited resource that we can just tap into at any point. In fact, outside factors like stress or self-care needs can make accessing our creativity much more difficult.
Learning how to balance your desire to create with creative downtime is imperative in helping you maintain a healthy relationship with your creative spirit. Let’s talk about why.
What is Burnout and How Can You Avoid It?
The original definition of burnout came from mechanical devices. It referred to the failure of that device, normally through overheating, hence the term “burn” being in the word.
The term “burnout” in relation to mental health was first introduced as a concept in the mid-1970s by Freudenberger and Maslach. It wasn’t until 1997 that “burn-out” was added to the International Classification of Diseases’s 10th Revision as an occupational phenomenon (not a mental health condition).
To put it simply, burnout in this context refers to physical or mental collapse in job, motivation, or creativity due primarily to overworking or stress.
The best way to avoid burnout is to be aware of it. The resolution to burnout isn’t pushing through it, but rather learning management strategies to help address the source of your burnout.
The Ties Between Creativity, Mental Health, and Planned Downtime
As healing as creativity can be for those with mental health conditions, it can just as easily be negatively impacted by untreated mental health symptoms. The biggest example of this is those managing depression: they often deal with a desire to create, but find themselves unable to for one reason or another.
Why is that?
At the end of the day, the lack of ability to create, whether with or without mental health conditions, ties back to self-care and your overall well-being. Your mind and body have their own priorities, regardless of whether they line up with the perceptions you have. Their main focus is to ensure you’re healthy. This means if your other needs aren’t met, or aren’t being met consistently, you’re less likely to be able to focus on other “frivolous” desires that also require brain power.
What Are the Benefits of Downtime?
Everyone, whether they seek creative outlets or not, needs downtime. We as people aren’t built to go go go every waking moment of every day. We weren’t put on this earth to constantly do things we dislike just to be able to live.
Downtime helps us manage stress, which is a huge thing that impacts all other facets of our lives. High stress can lead to many negative side effects such as:
- Fatigue
- Decreased appetite
- Headaches and migraines
- Nausea and vomiting
- High blood pressure
- Dizziness
- Tremors
- Aches and pains, including chest pain
- Lower sex drive
- And much more
You can see now why stress management is so important. So, what classifies as downtime and how can you better add it into your life?
It Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated – Easy Ways to Incorporate Downtime Into Your Daily Life
Contrary to what many might think, downtime doesn’t just mean sitting still or resting. Downtime, rather, relates to a time when you’re able to focus primarily on yourself and your own care rather than trying to put energy into something else.
Of course, the best way to manage the negative effects of burnout is to help it not build up in the first place. This is where our tips and tricks can help. By adding some of these into your routine, you can help keep burnout at bay.
- Find activities that are relaxing to you – Not all relaxation looks the same! For some, it may be spending time zoning into cooking a nice meal while others may enjoy mindlessly punching a bag in the gym.
- Dedicate time to your hobbies – It can be easy to push aside hobbies we enjoy in favor of other “more important” things, but hobbies are just as valid and necessary a way to spend your time. Scheduling time for this can help you stick to it and not feel like you’re “wasting time” when you could be doing something else.
- Take breaks at work and during long periods of creativity – This may sound obvious, but actually taking a moment to step away from things that are heavily engaging our brain is very beneficial for your well-being. This can be as simple as taking a walk around the house, or letting yourself eat your meal not at your station so you can take your focus off of your duties for a moment.
- Make plans with people you love – For extroverts, social interaction is a great way to have downtime. Being around people you enjoy, talking with them, or engaging in activities together works a different part of our brain than work and creation does. This gives the other parts of your brain a moment to unwind.
- Embrace silence – For introverts, too much noise or chaos can kill creativity. Work on embracing quiet moments – turn off the television, take a bath, and spend time reading and in nature.
How Creativity and Downtime Can Help You Heal – Creative Recovery Programs Available Here in Arizona
If you feel like you’re stuck in a vicious cycle of burnout, sometimes the tips and tricks listed here in this article just aren’t enough. That’s where seeking out mental health services can get you back on the track you want to be on. Having that outside expert who can guide you through your situation with solutions you may not have thought about on your own can make a world of difference.
There’s no shame in needing or seeking out support for your mental health. If we wouldn’t mend a broken bone on our own, why should we be expected to innately know how to address untreated mental health conditions or periods of high stress or trauma? There are dedicated experts available now who want to see you thrive, all you have to do is reach out.
Our team at Recovery Center for the Arts recognizes how important creativity is to so many, and that’s why our treatment is centered around it. Not only do we work with you to find your inner child once more, but we do so through creative means. From recording studios to photography, painting, and more – we’ll work with you to build a strong foundation for your healing and success. Just give us a call at (480) 386-1593 to get started today.
Recovery Center for the Arts – Finding recovery through creativity.