Being a creative is exhausting.

That has been my thought again and again these past few weeks. I know that every career path, every job has trials and exhaustion . What I have realised recently is this; constantly coming up with new ideas, creating beautiful adverts, photographs, designs and more is draining. You can never turn off the part of your brain that is the innovative one. Everyday involves imagining up something that’s not been done before, something breathtaking, beautiful, well executed and tailored to its target market. In today’s world- how are we supposed to come up with something new anymore? Innovation in so tiring- some days I want to just pitch up and listen, and not have to create, not have to think as if I am creating the new, biggest, greatest idea. Something that will wow the community around you. That takes energy, so much energy. When I am struggling in other areas, lack of sleep, physical health, managing day to day life, family and friends etc I just have nothing left to give to my projects at the end of the day. My energy has been put into everything else and it feels like I can just sit there and stare at a plain A3 page and have nothing to add, nothing new, nothing inventive.

So I am trying to think of ways to mange this brain fog/mind block type of feeling. My go to when I am struggling to think and produce work has always been to do something creative, but now that doesn't really work as it used to, seeing as the issue I am having is being creative. I have had to think through what I can do easily, what refreshes me, calms my mind and centres me. From the trial and error of figuring this out I have realised that something mind numbing can help, such as watching a movie you've seen before, going to the gym, walking outdoors (fresh air is always going to be so helpful), cooking and baking, tidying out my closets, and more. Find what you can do automatically, find something that will refresh you, will give your imagination and creativity a break and stop everything and focus on that for a while. It also helps when you are struggling to achieve in your work, to stop and do something that you can easily achieve, such as cleaning out your closet. The human mind wants to feel success and achievement, and even if it is something small such as doing the dishes, that feeling of knowing you have not been useless, but have achieved something is very good for putting your mind in a healthy place.

As the end of the year approaches, exam stress, portfolio deadlines and assignment submissions are approaching and the exhaustion and stress gets harder and harder to beat. I know that so many of us are struggling with this, and have struggled with this. After being in university for a number of years I am yet to not feel completely depleted at this stage of the year, and so I am trying my hardest to try and find some form of balance, a way of managing my stress and anxiety and to strive for a sense of peace rather than panic, I am working on a post that talks more specifically about this end of year slump and trying to not let it beat you, so stay tuned for that, and for today, try and find a way to help your mind be at ease and have a sense of accomplishment, even if it means doing the dishes, cooking a nice meal or washing the car!