Does this sound like you?

• You spend a lot of time staring at blank screens or pages and the ideas just don’t come. 
• Instead of working on your project, you’re finally getting around to cleaning out your closet.
• You feel like blah. All. The. Time. 

If these sound familiar, you might be experiencing burnout. 

When you’re a creative – whether you design graphics, make handmade goods, or run an online business – your endeavors can suck up all your energy and you forget why this thing you do was fun once upon a time.

I’ve been prone to burnout. Years working in the news business, commuting for hours daily, and dealing with deadline pressure took mental and physical tolls. I was always tired, suffered headaches and my back was in knots. 

When I started my own business, I was still working under pressure because that’s just what I had known – keeping up with clients, trying to learn everything and do everything also got to me. I found a course called Get Your Mojo Back with Melyssa Griffin that helped me find some balance and introduced some new practice in my routines that help me keep on keeping on and feel better about it all!

I’ve learned to recognize the signs of burnout and you can figure this out, too, and have some fun doing it. Here are some ways to help from my own experience. I’m not a medical or mental health professional and do not claim to be in any way. 

Schedule time for fun 

The only way I get things done is putting them on a schedule. So I add things that are not just work. Make time for self care, getting crafty, building Legos, exercise, date nights, paint parties, mani-pedis, watching your favorite show, reading, hanging out with cute puppies – you get the picture. And then put it in your planner. Make this time non-negotiable. Let your family, your kids, your mom, your boss or clients, whoever usually interrupts you, know that you have very important things planned. Because fun is important. Turn off the phone. Put up a sign. You can take 15 minutes or 5 hours. Whatever you do. Treat yo self. 

Write (or talk) it out 

 Did you write in your diary as a tween? I did! My journaling now is much different than my chronicles of who liked who in 8th grade.

I write out mantras. I brainstorm. I doodle in the margins. I set intentions for the day. I dig in to problems. Sometimes I just write about how I feel. Getting the things out of my head and on to paper helps.

You can look for journaling prompts. You can draw. You can just record voice memos on your phone if writing is not your thing. Get into a practice – this goes on my schedule, too. Set some intentions, think about what might be stopping you, don’t overthink it. Look back on your pages every few weeks – you might find some good ideas, recognize patterns, and learn new things about yourself. 

Do a new thing

Try something you normally wouldn’t do to kind of shock your system. This could be a new exercise routine, a vacation to a new place, buying flowers for yourself, checking out some new music or a type of art or cooking. Try something that has nothing to do with that thing you do that’s burning you out. I started a little succulent garden during quarantine that just makes me so happy.

What’s up doc

 Seriously, go see your doctor. Find out if there’s an imbalance – I was vitamin D deficient – or if something else is off. Therapy is a big help, too. Get professional help. Find pros who you vibe with so you’ll want to go see them.

How do you handle burnout?

What kind of practices and fun things do you do to fight off burnout? Share in the comments. 

If you’d like to do some reading on burnout and creativity, I highly recommend Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic, Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski, and Gay Hendricks’ The Big Leap. These books can help you understand why you’re feeling blocked and how to punch burnout in the face. (These links to books are affiliate links. I may get a commission upon purchase. I appreciate your support!)

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