Overwhelmed but Make It Creative

I Didn’t Want to Write, So I Wrote This. + Picasso. Books. Inspiration.

I have really been struggling with the feeling of being short on time over the last couple of weeks. Client work is steady, the holidays are around the corner, and I’ve booked a vacation for January. All this means I need to get ahead on client work because, as a freelancer, no one is going to "watch" my vacation. It means I have to take the work I would normally do in December and January and cram it into the weeks leading up.

I’ve been overwhelmed before, but this time it feels heavier. The steady hum of client work, the looming holidays, and the mental checklist for a vacation I’m supposed to enjoy have taken root in my mind. Instead of excitement, I feel an ever-present clock ticking down, urging me to cram two months’ worth of work into the few weeks ahead.

Each day, the thought creeps in: What if I just let the writing go this week? Maybe no one would notice. But I would. And that’s where the knot tightens—because I’m scared that skipping one week might turn into two, and soon, I will decide it is not as important as I thought.

It’s tempting to abandon writing altogether, to skip setting aside time for my own creative growth. But as the pressure to prioritize client work builds, I feel less inspired and less able to pick up new ideas.

Here I am, on a Friday, writing. Exasperated, I told my partner I’d try again. Funny enough, just showing up sparked an idea.

This reminds me of something Picasso once said: “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.” Creative work isn’t always fuelled by lightning strikes of inspiration. Sometimes it’s about showing up, even when it feels like nothing is there.

Building a personal practice is part of being creative. It means understanding that it’s human to have moments of malaise, days when you don’t feel like doing anything. This is where experienced artists often separate themselves from beginners. You still do something. If you’re a painter, it might mean showing up at the studio and playing around. It could mean going to a gallery to absorb new ideas. It might even mean going for a walk in nature and journaling afterward. It doesn’t matter what you do, only that you take an action that supports your work.

It’s much like someone building the habit of running or working out. Sometimes, lacing up your shoes or showing up at the gym may be the best you can do, but it’s vital that you do it.

I’m reading Why We Remember by Charan Ranganath, and on page one, a line really stuck with me: “The happiness and satisfaction you gain from the outcomes of your decisions do not come from what you experienced, but rather from what you remember.”

For me, building a weekly writing practice has been about more than just producing words. What I remember most is learning how I think. What helps me focus. The places and ideas that inspire me. The walks with my partner, where we discuss an idea I’m mulling over.

So this week, honestly, I didn’t feel like writing. But it’s important to me because I know that in the future, I’ll look back—much like I have on the past year—with pride that I stuck to it. That I prioritized writing and my personal goals.

The more you respect your creative work, the more likely you are to feel proud of the progress and results you achieve. As we head into what many agree is a busy time of year, I implore you to be intentional with your creative time. If you need a week off, take it. But commit to returning the following week. What are your non-negotiables? What tactics will help you keep moving forward? What actions will you take so that, as Picasso said, when inspiration is ready to find you, you’ll be prepared to accept and act on it?

Dose of Inspiration

Here's what's currently inspiring me:

Quote:

Book: Why We Remember

Unlocking Memory's Power to Hold on to What Matters By Charan Ranganath

Memory, Dr. Ranganath shows, is a highly transformative force that shapes how we experience the world in often invisible and sometimes destructive ways. Knowing this can help us with daily remembering tasks, like finding our keys, and with the challenge of memory loss as we age. What’s more, when we work with the brain’s ability to learn and reinterpret past events, we can heal trauma, shed our biases, learn faster, and grow in self-awareness.

caption...

Photographer: Matthew Genitempo

website: https://www.matthewgenitempo.com/

Video: Your Brain Hallucinates Your Conscious Reality | Anil Seth

Printmaker, Illustrator: Sonia Dubois

Printshop

Instagram

Personal Work

Mist on Kwai Lake.

Hey, you made it to the end! I have a little secret for you. The vacation I booked is to Oahu. We decided that this year we really needed some sunshine between the holidays and spring. Our only rule was that it needed to be warm and easy. I've actually been before and am excited to take Corey to some of my favourite experiences. If you have any "must-do" experiences you'd recommend, send them my way! I have some hikes planned and cocktails at the Laylow, but because Corey subscribes to my email, I can't say much more. Also, tell me where the best coffee can be found!

Bestie Des Iles was my vacation buddy last time I went, touring me around the island and taking photos of me like a personal paparazzi.