Break Before Burnout

Have you experienced creative burnout? I'm guessing you have or at least known someone who has. I truly want to help other creatives avoid this as much as possible. But at the minimum, I want to help you recover from creative burnout as quickly as possible if you are currently in a creative slump. As counter intuitive as it sounds, you need to take a break. You need to take an intentional, scheduled break (longer than 15 minutes). Put time on your calendar once a week. Pick one day a week, it can change from week to week so don't over think this. Then block off a chunk of time, ideally 2 to 4 hours to really give your brain a break. Now these are some things to try doing your scheduled break: Pick one of your hobbies Rest, Nap, Sleep Watch a movie, play video games, read a book Hangout with some friends, play board games, chat Get perspective, talk with other creatives on how they keep burnout at bay Go fresh air, go for a walk, ride a bike, hike a trail Try something new, a different route home, new store or restaurant All these activities give your brain room to think in the background without adding to your stress or anxiety. You may be surprised that giving yourself a break can lead to great creative breakthrough. Just try to be present enjoying the activity away from your creative work.