burnout

Many have warned me that I'm on pace to burnout very soon. I understand their concern. I've felt burnt out and so far I've been able to power through. If you're a subscriber then you saw my newsletter this week about needing to take some time to refresh. 

Here's what I know about burnout. Creative habits don't cause burnout. The habit itself is not the problem. It's the other stuff. It's the blogging and the sharing and the social media and the extra pressure I add to my creative habit. Simply playing around in my sketchbook for a few minutes each day does not lead to burnout. All the other stuff does.

If you're feeling "burnt out" I'd say really think about the cause. I bet it's not the creating part UNLESS you haven't allowed yourself to grow and change what/how you create. As long as you've let yourself evolve, I bet it's all the other stuff. And here's the thing...you don't really need to do the other stuff. And I don't either. I don't need to blog every weekday. I don't have to share every single painting on Instagram. Not every single painting needs to be framed and put in my shop. All that other stuff is extra. If it's causing burnout, then stop. Start again when you feel like it.

I am (and you are) not keeping creative habits to fulfill anyone else. If what you are doing is no long fulfilling you, then it's time to take a step back. So yesterday and today and probably a few other days this week, I'm just playing in my sketchbook. I'm taking a step back. And so far, it's wonderful. :)