Experiencing burnout as a creative person is on one hand totally inevitable, but also still really weird.

I’ve been in a bit of a slump recently, and in the past week particularly I’ve experienced the worst burnout I’ve had in years. To the point where the only thing I can think to write about right now is my burnout.

I’m sure everyone has felt burnout to varying degrees at some point in their lives. Everyone experiences it differently and everyone has their own unique way to deal with it.

I personally don’t cope very well. When I’m burnt out it’s like my brain has been juiced for all that it can squeeze out, and it takes the same amount of effort to form a coherent thought that it takes to hike a mountain.

If you’re anything like that, hey! You’re not alone! And if you too still have stuff you gotta get done despite feeling like the charred end of a match, I have some tips.

Sometimes feeling out of ideas or at the end of your rope is simply an obstacle, like a fallen tree blocking your path. It’s something you can overcome, usually by letting go and maybe getting a little weird with it. Seeing all of your ideas as valid and equal, even the really out there ones. When your brain gets to the end of its list of quick and easy solutions it sometimes blocks anything past that with a big, brick wall, because it’s afraid of judgment, ridicule, or rejection from broadcasting those ideas. For me this is actually where some of my best ideas come from, not because they’re the easiest, or quickest, but because they’re the most unique, and (despite me not feeling like it) creative!

The other form of burnout is much more debilitating. Feeling like your brain is literally empty, but for some thick, grey fog and maybe a tumbleweed rolling past every so often.

This is how I felt last week. It sucks, and despite it feeling like you can’t do anything about it, there are some things you can do to help. This is why it’s so important to keep experiencing new things, learning, exploring. This deep, soul emptying burnout is a drought of inspiration. And I know when I feel like this, I can’t get out of it by myself. I have to ask for help. Ask someone to come with me somewhere or do something with me, because its way too intimidating to do it alone.

But even though I know theoretically how to ease my burnout, sometimes I still really struggle with actually doing it. Like how I’m writing about it instead of going out and trying to find some inspiration for myself.

But through it all, the most important thing to remember is you’re not alone. And you’re never bothering anyone by reaching out for help.