How To: Protect Your Creativity
What to do when you're running on empty
If a decade spent working in the creative industry has taught us one thing, it’s that a career here means constantly drawing on your own well of ideas. And let’s be real: That well is not bottomless. The paradox is that the very things that make creative work exciting (ambitious briefs, big clients, many and varied projects) are often the very things that leave you feeling drained.
Whether you’re a designer churning out back-to-back campaigns or a copywriter navigating endless rounds of feedback, burnout is always lurking (sneaky). So how do you protect yourself and keep the ideas flowing? Here’s how to safeguard your creativity when it feels like it’s slipping away.
Step away from the screen. No, seriously.
Creativity doesn’t happen at your laptop. In fact, we’d argue that stepping away from your laptop is the only way to guarantee it. Go for a walk (without headphones). Let your mind wander. Take a moment to pull on the loose threads of a thought and see where they lead. Some of your best ideas won’t come from staring at a blank Google Doc; they’ll hit when you least expect them.
Take a minute to digest feedback.
Endless amends. Panicked Slack messages. Clients who want "just one more tweak." It’s enough to send anyone into a tailspin, making creativity feel impossible. Before you react, step back. Read the feedback, then take a breath before diving in. Not every edit is an improvement - some are just changes for the sake of it. And if that’s the case - push back! Chances are your client will respect you for it, and you get to keep things moving.
Know when to say no.
On that note - not every request deserves a yes. Not every round of changes makes something better. And not every client knows best. If a revision is diluting the original idea rather than strengthening it, say so. Protect your work and your time - because if you don’t, no one else will.
Refill the tank.
What first made you fall in love with creativity? The answer is probably the key to replenishing your energy. Was it sketching, writing just for fun, or listening to music that scratched an itch in your brain? Get back to that. Consume art that excites you. Read books that challenge your thinking. Give yourself permission to enjoy creativity without a deadline attached.
Collaborate. Always.
Feeling stuck? Get someone else involved. Creativity thrives in conversation - whether it’s a five-minute chat with a friend, a full-blown brainstorm, or just saying your ideas out loud. A fresh perspective can be the difference between staring at the same problem for hours and finding the solution in seconds.
TL;DR: Creativity isn’t infinite, and burnout is real.
But if you step away, take a breath, protect your ideas, and fill up your own cup, you’ll find that creativity isn’t gone - it just needed a minute to find its way back to you.