5 Ways To Know If A Creative Pause Is Necessary…

Creating from an authentic and engaged place should be the goal of every innovative person.

There are times, however, when this goal is difficult to achieve. We may notice that our creative energies have slowed or that having that ‘spark’ of creative energy takes longer to find, if at all. We can be well into the middle of this cycle before we realize or understand the reasons for our slowdown.

I am a firm believer in the mindset that ‘you can not give what you do not have‘. Whether your magic lies in music, film, dance, or the arts – being creative invites us to express ourselves at a highly elevated level. The output of our expression may be passionate, calming, reflective, educational, etc. Because of this, the space within us that initiates that output requires a clear and focused type of vitality.

It is that simple.

There are times, however, when the level of energy and thought is difficult for us to summon.

I am an artist. Having the physical energy to create as well as being at peace is essential to creating authentic and beautiful work. When either of these things are out of alignment, I begin to suffer. WHich leads to my suffering. Earlier in my art journey, it took me a while to realize when a ‘reflective’ season was approaching. Because I was not yet practiced in recognizing this, I would stubbornly push forward, ignoring the small voice inside yelling for me to stop! My exhausted, half-hearted attempts at creating would end unsuccessfully.

My goal as an artist is to share myself through my work – yes, as well as share my experiences. I recently ‘returned’ to my studio space following an intentional season of rest, and I wanted to share this with other creatives. Sometimes, simply living life is enough for us to dispense some much-needed grace to ourselves.

5 Reasons to Invite Rest:

1. You are going through a transitional season in your life.

This reason resonated deeply with me.

Beginning in 2019 until the summer of 2022, my life was in flux. While this was the period of professional growth as a fine artist, it was also a time when my personal life underwent a drastic change.

The transition began in 2019 when I moved from a stay-at-home mother to a full-time interior designer due to an intentional marital separation. After working for a little over a year, I was laid off due to the pandemic in 2020, divorced in 2021, and bought my first home in 2022. During this entire time, I grew my art practice. While this process was a move towards a healthier life, the mental and physical energy it required was real. At the ‘end’ of this process was the blessing of a peaceful home. And so I rested. I needed to.

Noted – this is an extreme example, so please know that I have called myself to rest for less extreme examples. The perceived weight of our circumstances should never dictate the level of rest we need. Another person’s perception or opinion of our circumstances should never dictate how or when we rest. Our bodies, and minds give clues as to when we need to pause – and this looks different for everyone. The best thing we can do is be aware of how we are during ‘out of the ordinary’ moments and be honest with ourselves.

2. You are burned out.

Any experience from above could easily lead to burnout. Working consistently for months or even years without a break, or working in areas not specifically suited to our talents and skills can lead to burnout. The burnout may disguise itself as procrastination or reveal itself as us not being fully engaged in our work, or being easily distracted. We all have our saturation points, and regularly working beyond them requires extra energy. The reasons leading to fatigue are endless, but the result remains the same; we come to our work with a lack of excitement, energy, and zeal. We may be restless or simply want to pause, but may feel guilty for not ‘pushing forward’. Pay attention to your mental energy and engagement level while producing – if it wanes easily and often for a period, it may be time for a much-needed break. Listening to your body will give you the rest you need and allow you to return to your work excited and inspired.

3. You depend on other artists for inspiration more than you should.

One lesson I was taught early on in architecture school was to learn from the masters; to study their work and figure out what makes them great. There is no doubt that we learn from and are inspired by others. Studying the techniques or understanding the philosophies of those we admire in our field assists in our personal growth and development. We use what we have learned and interpret it in our unique way. This may become an issue if we are only able to create by looking at the work of others. When the act of creating is reduced to simply copying the “look” of another artist, we are not operating from our unique voice – which is always more complex than what something looks like. When we do not allow space for our voice to find a way to express itself, this may be a signal for us to take some time and examine why our voice is not enough.

4. You have not firmly established your ‘WHY’.

At the beginning of my journey, establishing a ‘why’ was not critically important to me. Painting was a calming, reflective activity done in my quiet time. Making a career out of it was the furthest thing from my mind. As I continue to grow as an artist, establishing my core purpose of why I’m doing what I’m doing has only strengthened my work. It clarifies how it is created and how it is framed.

Currently, I am reading “Start With Why” by Simon Sinek. Through this book, I am learning how establishing a clear and concise “why” inherently gives a different kind of depth to the work of individuals. Years ago, I began painting to calm my nerves. Because I am no longer in that space, my reason for painting changed. Yes, I still love painting because it is a quiet and reflective practice, but I now desire to inspire others through my art.

Knowing my ‘why’, if nothing else, keeps me focused on the larger goals I have for myself.

5. Your relationships or health are beginning to suffer.

This may be self-explanatory, but it bears mentioning if we want sustainability in our careers.

When your relationships or personal health are beginning to suffer due to the hours you are focusing on your craft or the intensity at which you are pushing yourself – as hard as it may be, change is necessary.

When I was a young professional, I participated in the accepted, but unhealthy cycle of working overtime, getting little sleep, and having little connection with friends. The cost of this? Being burned out, grumpy, and out of touch.

At this point in my life, my relationships and overall health are critical. My children are entering their teenage years, my parents are in their senior years and I am in the middle of my life. Taking good care of myself and continuing to foster healthy relationships is the only way I can serve those I love and be engaged with things that matter.

If you sense that the energy in your relationships is beginning to shift or that your health and well-being dull before things completely disintegrate, take the time necessary to restore yourself and connect with loved ones. I do not know of any work worth the cost of losing either of these precious gifts.