The Value of Taking a Break



A few weeks ago, I was feeling disappointed and unsatisfied with everything I drew or painted. The harder I tried to create something “good”, the more unhappy I was with the result. Even sketching was frustrating. I knew I needed to do something to shake myself out of the funk I was in, besides my go-to standards of long walks and extended yoga sessions.    

The first step was to acknowledge that whenever I work on an art project when I am lacking inspiration and enthusiasm, I am always disappointed in the end result, and do not enjoy the process of creating. Once I had accepted that, I knew the time had come for the second step: a break.

While I live a quiet and simple life, I find taking deliberate breaks and rests difficult. I am better at it than I used to be, but it is still a challenge. For this particular break, I left the time-frame open-ended, because creativity is spontaneous and I wanted to allow for the flexibility to sketch ideas if they came to me. As it turned out, the break only lasted a little over three days, as halfway through the fourth day, I was feeling inspired and refreshed, so I picked up my pencil and started sketching. I am now back to a more or less regular routine, but taking that pause was invaluable for both my mental health, and the quality of my art. 

A few weeks prior, I was feeling burnt out with social media, so I decided to ban myself from all platforms for a week. I uninstalled the apps, and went about my life. Since I am introverted, being disconnected (as much as is realistic in the age we live in), stepping away from social media was much easier than was the respite from art. And when I did return to it, everyone was still there, and nothing catastrophic happened. News flash, life goes on without you, which is both unnerving and comforting,    

The last pause I took recently was from a project I have been working on since the start of the year. Last month, I reached a natural stopping point with it, so I decided to set it aside for a few months. Creating a bit of distance from it will allow for greater objectivity when I do take it out again, which will help with the revision process. I have big plans for this labor of love, and I want to know that, when it is finally finished, I took the time to get it right.         

All this is to say that, if you find yourself in a slump (I call it “feeling meh”), and are forcing yourself to plow through on a creative project, in the hopes you’ll get over it and come out the other side, my advice is to take a step back, put it away, and consider taking time to reset. We are not machines, and our brains and bodies need down time. Your mind, as well as your work, will benefit from the rest.

Creativity does not work on a 9-5 schedule, and there are periods when it is simply time to put the pencil or paintbrush (or social media) down for a few days, or a week, or however long is needed to recharge and reset. The world does not end, and the creativity is still there - it just needs a break.



  





       



Popular posts from this blog

Series: A Capsule Kitchen: An Introduction + Minimalist Everyday Bread Recipe

Image
  This is the first post in a new series I’ve opted to call “A Capsule Kitchen”, which I will be incorporating into my blog every other month. Typically, I write about art and creativity, with the occasional off-topic piece peppered in for a bit of variety. This year, I came up with the idea of “A Capsule Kitchen”, and thought it would be a fun addition. Each post in the series will feature a tried-and-true recipe that is in regular rotation in my household. For the introduction of the series, I thought it might be helpful to provide some context and a brief background, before starting things off with a simple staple recipe. My husband and I eat a vegan diet, and I do the cooking and baking, which I enjoy, especially now that I have a curated collection of trusty go-tos we both like and that are easy to prepare. We are decidedly unfancy when it comes to our food preferences, both by choice and necessity, which will be clear from the recipes I will be sharing. I decided to call the seri
Read more

Series: A Capsule Kitchen: Minimalist Cornbread

Image
This simple and humble cornbread is one of my husband's favorites, so I typically bake it once or twice a week. I have it streamlined to just 5 ingredients, which are inexpensive and always on hand. Years ago, we occasionally bought cornbread, and I feel like such a sucker now, as making it at home is so easy, which is why I wanted to share this recipe for fluffy, yummy, cheap and easy cornbread.  Minimalist Cornbread Supplies 8” round baking pan Measuring cup Measuring spoons Spatual Mixing bowl Cooling rack or cutting board Ingredients ( Dry ) 1 cup all-purpose flour (whole wheat flour also works well, and gives it a bit of a rustic taste and  texture)  1 cup cornmeal 1 tablespoon baking powder ( Wet ) ¼ cup vegetable oil 1 cup water (I've used almond milk, but found water works just fine, and is much more cost-effective) Optional ingredients   Pinch of salt A drizzle of agave or maple syrup, if you like a sweeter flavor Grated vegan cheese or a sprinkling of nutritional yeas
Read more

Series: A Capsule Kitchen: Vegan Chili Mac

Image
Vegan Chili Mac is one of our favorites, so we have it a few times a month. It is just my husband and myself in our household, so the amount I make is enough for several nights.  As is the case with most of recipes I use, this simple and cheap dinner is more of a template, rather than strict instructions to follow to the letter, which makes it pretty foolproof, and allows for additions or omissions depending on your preferences. Based on trial and error, we have settled on this combination of ingredients most of the time, with the occasional addition if we want try something different, or have something that needs to get used. Simple Vegan Chili Mac Ingredients 2 cups uncooked macaroni ½ cup dry red beans, or 1 15oz can, rinsed and drained. (I use dry beans because they are cost effective. A ½ cup dried will be about 2 cups cooked.) 1 15 oz can tomato sauce ¾-1  cup frozen corn (more/less, if desired) ¾-1  cup frozen kale (more/less if desired) 3 tablespoons chili powder Water (add for
Read more