“There is virtue in work and there’s virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither.” – Alan Cohen.
After a creative break this week (just 3 days out of this week really), I’m super excited to be back to the creative process of putting together my weekly posts for the blog. I spent a great part of that 3-day break thinking of how to efficiently create posts to help YOU live better and thrive in a world that sometimes feels like it’s falling apart!
Slides by RAE Accessories
I’m talking about taking creative breaks today because I know that they’re more important than we make them seem. Therefore, this is going to be the first of a 4-part series about creative breaks because I want to take you behind the scenes and help you to plan your own break. In this series, I’ll be talking about my creative break and why taking a creative break is important to creatives and our work.
I don’t know about you,
but as a creative who does her work both online and offline, it is quite easy to buy into the myth that I need to be a creative machine: I need to be producing amazing work constantly, effortlessly and tirelessly. Then I need to spend a good amount of time getting that work seen and shamelessly marketing myself to the point of sometimes feeling sleazy.
As Creatives, we work under this pressure of belief that we can’t stop because the people we look up to and compare ourselves to aren’t stopping. We need to create, publish, promote, and repeat the entire process without the thought of a break, knowing that the minute we step away, people will forget about us, we might suffer creative block, and all our work and sacrifices will be for nothing.
But you know what my friend?
That isn’t true.
If you’ve been working as a Creative for a while, you’ll know that what’s more important is to be aligned with your values, create your best work, and put yourself out into the world in a way that feels good to you and your audience. It’s important to not burn out, and work in a sustainable way, with the knowledge that looking after yourself is essential.
Here’s an important fact:
Your creativity can’t exist in a vacuum or machine.
First of all, operating under the pressure to create will kill any creative ideas you have. Secondly and more importantly, forcing yourself to work like a machine isn’t healthy for your mind or your body, and I’m sure you know this already from experience (I know it too well).
As much as you value your creativity and need to protect it, you also need to take care of yourself and protect your work so that it can continue to bring you joy and doesn’t become a job you hate. You need to give yourself space, time and energy to re-inspire yourself, feed your soul and be you. You are so much more than the work you do, the gifts you give the world, and the content you put out there.
I’ll be ending this part of the series on creative breaks here so that it doesn’t get too long and bore you. I look forward to chatting with you in the next instalment of the ‘Creative Break’ series. Have a lovely weekend darling!
XoXo,
“As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.” – 1 Peter 2:16
This article was first published on my previous blog and was transfered here with only minor typographic edits.
The content provided in this article is provided for information purposes only as a snapshot of my personal thoughts at this particular time and is not to be a substitute for life advice and consultation as I am not engaged in the provision or rendering of psychological or philosophical advice or services. You understand and agree that I will not be liable for any claim, loss, or damage arising out of the use of, or reliance upon any content or information in the article.
