Is this you?

Creative Burnout is real, my friend. And unlike regular burnout, we can’t just “push through” and suck it up. Creative work draws from a different well, and when that’s dry…well, no wonder you’re having a hard time writing.

If you’ve worked with me, you know I’m as passionate about supporting the creative process as I am the finished product: whether that’s the day-to-day of writing, the specifics of finishing a book, or the daily challenge of being a visionary person in a hustle world. And yes: I want to help writers become better at their craft…but I also know we can’t plant seeds in depleted soil.

How do you know if you might be creativity burned out? Here are some possible clues:

Possible Signs of (or Contributors to) Creative Burnout
(no judgment but be honest!)

• You’ve just finished a big creative project (a book, manuscript, etc.)
• You find yourself down “research rabbit holes” during writing time
• You’ve just finished a big life project (a move, remodeling, etc)
• You’re having a hard time finding something to read that excites you
• You’ve signed up for a workshop you didn’t finish or didn’t even start (my hand raised on this one!)
• You’ve recently had a big life change (new baby, illness in the family, etc.)
• Your old writing habits aren’t working anymore
• You need more sugar/caffeine than usual to write
• Everything you’re writing feels/sounds like everything else you’ve written–you feel stuck in a creative loop
• You’ve had increased feelings of creative jealousy (everyone else is doing it better)
• OR You’ve had an increased desire to isolate (I’m leaving social media, etc.)
• You’ve stopped doing things you know are good for you (i.e. journaling, walking) and you can’t seem to get back in the rhythm.
• You find yourself tired when it’s time to write
• You’ve been feeling more defensive than usual about your work (not taking rejections/feedback well)
• You can’t remember the last time you took yourself on an artist date
• You forget to eat OR eat mindlessly throughout the day
• You’ve had trouble sleeping–either falling asleep or waking up often
• You are easily distracted from your creative work
• You need external motivation or the writing doesn’t happen
• You don’t have many other creative people in your (real) life who “get” you
• All your writing has started to sound the same–no sparkle/new ideas.
• You don’t have the time or mental space to go “deep”–you stay on the surface of your ideas
• You don’t have a regular writing routine OR your regular writing routine is no longer working
• You feel estranged from your work

Spoiler alert: The hustle is killing your creativity

(Now if this list does not speak to you–fantastic! Keep kicking butt, my friend!)

BUT…if any of these sound familiar, and you want to reverse or even avoid some of the pitfalls that might land you in Burnout Land–then I’m inviting you to join me for a brand new FREE 5-Day Reversing Creative Burnout Challenge:

From Burnout to Breakthrough: 5 Days to Get (or Keep) Your Creativity on Track: April 4-8, 2022

Five days of small but powerful action steps to overcome creative burnout PLUS a 90-minute live virtual retreat with me to end the week.

How it works:

Once you register, I’ll send you one email each day (beginning Monday, April 4th) examining each of the 5 areas of creative burnout: how it happens, how to avoid it, as well as small, actionable steps you can take today to move the needle even 10%.

Then we will gather for a 90-minute live virtual retreat on Friday, April 8 at 11 am MST. Bring your notebook and your beverage of choice and give yourself the gift of a mini-deep dive with other creatives.

This 5-Day Reversing Creative Burnout Challenge is FREE–including the mini virtual retreat–but you must register. Replays will be available for a limited time for those who sign up.

REGISTER HERE and I’ll see you next week!

xoxo

Nancy

P.S. Don’t forget to register!