Burnout and Aligning with Your Creative Core
What if we approached burnout differently?
What if we approached burnout differently? Instead of running from it or patching it with quick fixes, we faced it head-on? Creative professionals, painters, designers, digital creators, we all know the unique weight of constantly producing. It’s draining, no doubt about it. But maybe the key isn’t just in avoiding burnout but in understanding it, letting it teach us what really matters. Let’s dig into burnout from a new angle and see how we can come out stronger on the other side.
The Forgotten Truth About Burnout
The conversation around burnout often focuses on taking breaks, practicing mindfulness, or setting better boundaries. While these are undoubtedly helpful, they can sometimes feel like band-aids rather than cures. The deeper issue often lies in misaligned creative identity and over-complication of purpose.
Misaligned Creative Identity: When your work feels like a departure from your authentic self, the risk of burnout skyrockets. This happens when creators compromise their unique style to cater to trends, audiences, or external demands, like abandoning their signature color palette to fit a popular aesthetic or altering their storytelling approach to chase virality. It’s exhausting to live out of sync with your true creative core.
Over-Complication of Purpose: Many creators feel that their work must always serve a higher purpose or meet an impossible standard of perfection. This mindset can create a cycle of self-criticism and procrastination. Sometimes, art’s purpose is as simple as joy, both for the creator and the audience.
The Radical Approach: Embracing Burnout to Grow Through It
People often talk about avoiding or curbing burnout, but what if the real growth happens by experiencing it fully? Burnout isn’t fun, and it isn’t supposed to be, but those moments of exhaustion and frustration force us to confront what truly matters.
Instead of dodging burnout, consider these questions: Are the long hours worth it? Is the low revenue sustainable? Are your sacrifices aligned with your values? Living through burnout can uncover the root causes of imbalance in your life and work, helping you redefine what’s truly worth your time and energy.
The Radical Approach: Decouple Output from Validation
One perspective rarely discussed is the idea of decoupling output from validation. In a world dominated by likes, shares, and external approval, it’s easy to let your worth hinge on the reception of your work. But what if you created simply because you wanted to?
Here’s how you can start:
Create "Unshareable" Art: Dedicate time to creating something you have no intention of showing anyone. Scribble, experiment, and mess up. Many creators have found that this process helps them reconnect with the pure joy of making art, free from judgment. The freedom of knowing it’s just for you can reignite your passion.
Embrace Micro-Creation: Not every project needs to be a masterpiece. Engage in small, low-stakes creative activities, like doodling on scrap paper or writing a single poetic line, to keep the spark alive without pressure.
Practical Steps to Avoid Burnout for Good
Revisit Your Why: Regularly ask yourself why you create. If the answer feels heavy or distant, it might be time to simplify your goals.
Unlearn Productivity Myths: You don’t have to work endlessly to be successful. Studies show that rest fosters creativity. Schedule downtime and treat it as a critical part of your process.
Find a Non-Creative Hobby: Channeling your energy into something entirely unrelated to your creative work can be refreshing. Gardening, hiking, or even assembling puzzles can help balance your mental load.
Two Key Takeaways
Align with Your Creative Core: Protect your authenticity. Create work that resonates with you first and foremost, even if it bucks trends or expectations.
Redefine Success: Let go of the idea that every piece must serve a grand purpose. Sometimes, the act of creating is enough.
With the right mindset and tools, you can break free for good. I'm right there with you, stumbling, learning, and figuring it out, too.
Win The Night is a reader-supported publication. Subscribe for free, or upgrade for exclusive posts, credit on our videos & more