One way to avoid burnout

My creativity is like a garden. I’ve for to consider what to plant, how to tend it and what can be harvested.

In the book, Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, the authors, Emily and Amelia Nagoski, write about ways to avoid, well... burnout.

One of the ways is engaging in creative expression (hi, visual journaling!).

Not only can it help you have more energy, excitement and enthusiasm while you create, but those effects remain after you're done.

Creative expression gives you a chance to move through big emotions and regulate your stress response so that you can avoid burning out.

Speaking from my own experience... it absolutely does.

Notice that creative expression, whether it’s making art, making music, dancing, or writing stories won't magically eliminate stress in your life. I'm sorry to break it to you, but nothing really will.

However, what it can do is help you and your body manage how you respond to stress. That's all "lower your stress" or "reduce stress" really means.

And it does it even if you don’t feel like you’re an artist.

Back in September when I was preparing to be a storyteller at my very first storytelling show, I was beginning to feel overwhelmed by it all and my doubts and fears almost prevented me from going through with it.

So I took a trip to my creativity garden and it was a soothing balm for my soul.

I was a big jumble of nerves and I was dealing with a slight health flare (trying to prevent a big flare) and agreeing to exciting new things that light me all the way up. But of course, fear was being a fucker and tried its best to snuggle up real close to convince me that I can’t do them.

So I pulled out my visual journals and started making a fun mess. Their pages heard the story I told at the storytelling show.

And turning to my visual journal helped me focus on what was true and real instead of allowing fear to convince me to give up. It also helped me extinguish an autoimmune flare before it got worse.

Really, my visual journals have helped me leap... who am I kidding, I have rheumatoid arthritis I don't leap... saunter into action, so I can still get shit done.

And I'm not talking about hustling so that I end up burning myself out anyway.

I'm talking about being able to direct my attention to where it’s needed instead of being so distracted that I feel lost and unsure of what to do next. That includes recognizing when I need to rest so that I can continue to show up in ways that don't go against my integrity or abilities.

Visual journaling has also helped me to dream and imagine a more hopeful future even when that feels impossible because of what I'm enduring in the present moment.

Plus, it’s a great way to explore your heart and mind to remember the wisdom that you already possess. The fun messes are just a nice bonus.