The art of slowing down and embracing new rhythms
In my last blog post, I wrote about navigating burnout as a full-time artist. And I’m so grateful that many of you reached out to let me know how you resonated with that too, and for your kind words of encouragement. Just want you to know how much I appreciate all of you!
Something I’ve learned on this journey is that being an artist isn’t like flipping a productivity switch every day.
Some days you’re extremely motivated and you can produce multiple paintings in a single afternoon, while other days your body and mind are just calling you to slow down. And on those slower days, it’s easy for guilt to creep in, taunting you that you’re not doing enough, that you shouldn’t be resting, that you should be doing so much more.
But creativity requires energy, and I’ve learned that on days where I’ve been pouring out a lot of energy – socially, emotionally, physically – I tend to crave quieter moments and slower rhythms. In the past, I would just force myself to push through and keep striving for excellence, because I believed the lie that slower days were a sign of laziness. I equated productivity to how much I could accomplish, which was just a recipe for burnout.
It’s so important to give yourself the grace to embrace a slower routine when you need it. Excellence without grace just leads to exhaustion.
With that said, I still wrestle with feelings of guilt and shame at times, often wondering if I’m doing enough – but in this season, I’m learning to create more space for things like:
A change in routine
I have a planner where I keep tabs of all the things I need to do and I assign days to work on them. I love having a framework to know what I need to work on, but there are days when the structure feels a bit suffocating, so even now, I’m learning not to feel so guilty about changing things up (while still ensuring that I meet my deadlines). 😄
For instance, on this particularly gloomy, rainy morning, I decided to pop into my cozy neighborhood cafe to focus on writing. I haven’t been here in a month because I’ve been spending most of my days in my studio (which is great!), but I woke up this morning with the sudden urge to write my newsletter instead of painting, so here I am!
Slow days
It’s perfectly okay to cultivate a slower rhythm, especially after a busy stretch. On quieter days, I might only have enough energy to finish one or two tasks instead of the usual five or six – and that’s more than enough. I’m learning to tune into what my body and emotions need, and to actually enjoy the slowness, rather than push past it.
More time for creative play
As a creative, making space for play/experimentation is so important for the soul. I have several sketchbooks dedicated to random sketches and art explorations. But it’s not just about finding the time – it’s about doing it from a place of rest.
That can be challenging when you’re caught up in deadlines, projects and an endless list of to-dos pulling you away from stillness. For me, I usually try to finish up the time-sensitive tasks first so I can approach the creative process with a free mind, unbothered by looming deadlines in the horizon. But you should do what works best for you! ☺️
Working out
I started going for strength-training and functional muay thai classes last year at the local fitness studio near my place. I try to go multiple times a week – and I find the classes really helpful because I can just tune out from thoughts about building my art business and just focus on building myself instead. 🤣
Anyway, it’s totally normal to feel overwhelmed when you’re juggling work and the need for a break. I suppose the key is learning to trust that those quieter, slower days aren’t signs of failure or laziness — they’re the groundwork for the next surge of inspiration.
I had to learn the hard way that pushing through exhaustion might just slow me down in the long run. Sustainable productivity means balancing work with rest, and when I remind myself that rest makes me more productive and creative, it feels easier to invite it into my routine.
I’d love to hear what you’re holding space for in this season. What do you usually do on your slower days? Do you let yourself rest or push through? 😊