Reigniting Your Creative Spark After Burnout | Ep. 71

Creative burnout is a normal part of the artistic process that happens to everyone, so let's talk about it!

Episode Topics:

• Nina Simone faced industry pressures and racism that repeatedly led to burnout, requiring her to step away and reclaim her artistry on her own terms
• Recognizing our personal patterns helps identify when burnout is approaching and what strategies work best for our individual creative processes
• Burnout differs significantly from laziness or procrastination—it occurs when we pour too much into our creativity without refilling our own cup
• Taking intentional breaks and engaging in non-creative hobbies provides essential mental space for renewal
• "Micro-creativity" activities like journaling, doodling, and mind mapping offer low-pressure ways to maintain creative practice during burnout
• Physical self-care through sleep, movement, and nutrition forms the foundation of sustainable creativity
• Content consumption matters—choose inspiration over comparison to protect your unique creative voice

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Theme Music:
She No Dull Beat by Nana Kwabena
Festivities in Belize by RAGE Productions

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome and Nina Simone's Legacy
• 6:33 New Episode Format Introduction
• 9:56 Creative Burnout Is Normal
• 15:51 Recognizing Your Creative Patterns
• 21:22 Burnout vs. Laziness: Important Distinctions
• 26:03 Micro-Creativity and Mind Mapping
• 31:15 Physical Care Equals Creative Care

Transcript

Aliya Cheyanne: 1:22

Testing testing one, two, three. Testing testing one, two, three. Okay, okay, hey friend, welcome back to the show. I'm so happy that you're here, thank you for tuning in and, if you haven't already, be sure to rate and review the show and share this podcast with a friend. Since it's Women's History Month, I want to highlight an incredible Black woman you should know about.

Aliya Cheyanne: 1:50

Nina Simone was a musical genius.

Aliya Cheyanne: 1:54

She poured her soul into every song, but the industry and the world often took more than it gave. Nina used music as both a creative outlet and a tool for activism, but the weight of racism and industry pressures burned her out multiple times in her career. She had to step away, move abroad, claim her income and reclaim her artistry on her own terms. She had to find new ways to nourish herself creatively and emotionally, which is exactly what we're talking about today. Honor her today by listening to Mississippi Goddamn or Feeling Good and reflect on how art can be a release. And reflect on how art can be a release Now. Today I want to talk a little bit, so I'm switching up the format of the show just for a little while and trying something new Well, not completely new, because, as many of you may remember there was a period in 2024 where we kind of doubled up on episodes for a few weeks and had shorter runs. They were like mini episodes. So I'm experimenting with doing that again just for a little while. So we're kicking that off with this episode. The format will go a little something like this We'll kick things off with a relative fact based on the theme of the month whether that's Women's History Month, whether that's National Minority Health Month or beyond and then we'll dive into the topic. At the end we'll recap what's salient and then we'll close out with a call to action. How does that sound to you? Let me know by leaving feedback for the show. You can do so in a five-star rating and written review. You can always email me at podcast at theprolifichubcom. Let me know your thoughts on social media at the Prolific Hub pod on your favorite social media platforms, and you can also let me know what you think in a text to the show. A link to send a text to the show is always in the episode description. It's always captured in the show notes. So be sure to click that link and send a text to the show. So with that, let's jump into today's fact it's Women's History Month. Since it's Women's History Month, I want to highlight an incredible Black woman you should know about. Nina Simone was a musical genius who poured her soul into every song, but the industry and the world often took more than it gave. Nina used music as both a creative outlet and a tool for activism, but the weight of racism and industry pressures burned her out multiple times in her career. She had to step away, move abroad and reclaim her artistry on her own terms. She had to find new ways to nourish herself creatively and emotionally, which is exactly what we're talking about today. You can honor Nina's memory today by listening to Mississippi Goddamn or Feeling Good and reflect on how art can be a release. Now on to today's topic.

Aliya Cheyanne: 5:15

Y'all creative burnout is real and here's the thing it's also super normal. It happens to everyone. I can't tell you the number of times I felt burned out by even this show. It's always great and it's always fun to show up and to talk. There's a lot of planning and prep and a lot of other things that go into the back end of developing a show, producing a show, editing a show, publishing a show and promoting a show. It can be really draining and sometimes it can take the fun out of doing the project itself. But here's the thing in continuing to pour into the show because I love doing it, I've learned to recognize when seasons of burnout are coming on. And during those times I've learned what tools work for me Everything from stepping away everything to seeking out ways that everything. From stepping away for a bit of time to finding alternative ways to feel re-inspired and pouring into my creativity again whether that's connecting with nature or going to a museum to see a new exhibit, or chatting and reconnecting with friends, or spending some time bouncing ideas off of other creative collaborators or connecting with other folks in the podcasting community who are experiencing the same thing and navigating the same feelings.

Aliya Cheyanne: 6:50

Whatever it is, I always recognize that creative burnout doesn't last forever. It's a normal part of the creative process and the creative process often ebbs and flows. Many of us have seasons of feeling really excited about our work and really creative and really energized around it and so excited and so happy to pour in. And then we go through seasons where things might feel a little bit more low energy or a little bit more down and we may not feel as inspired or energized or excited about what we're doing. We may even experience seasons where we question everything, like what is the point? Why are we even still doing it? Should we pack it up? It's normal to go through those feelings. Those are part of the creative process. However, it's important to hold on to the fact that those seasons don't last forever. They ebb and flow, they come and they go again and again and again. There are so many ways to recover from burnout and reignite that creative spark, and it's on each of us to learn which tools work best for us.

Aliya Cheyanne: 8:07

When we get into those states, do you recognize when you feel the most excited and energized about your creativity? Do you recognize when you feel the most burned out and when you don't have the desire to pour into it? Perhaps during seasons of burnout, it's important to lean into the things that we know and lean into the things that light us up. It's important to recognize when and why we're feeling most, and it's important to recognize when and why we're feeling most inspired. For me, it could be during a time where I have a streak of ideas and a new way that I want to approach something, so I dig into it and I dive into it and I think about it and I research for it and I do what I need to do for whatever amount of time, whatever period of time, and then I sit down to create. Maybe for other people it's, maybe you notice that you feel less creative and less inspired during the winter months, but when spring starts you're start. But when spring starts, you start to feel more alive. Maybe you feel the most creative after spending time with friends or other creatives and other creative collaborators and just in the energy of creativity and inspiration and that pours into what you create. Maybe you feel less creative after spending a lot of time in isolation and not being around anyone else and just being with yourself and your thoughts. Or for other people, that's when they feel the most inspired to create In their time with themselves, in their stillness, in their quiet time. Everyone is different and it's super important to recognize what works for you, what works best for you, and how you feel while doing it. Now hold on, because this is important.

Aliya Cheyanne: 10:03

Burnout and laziness are not the same thing. There's a massive difference between needing rest and procrastination, and even in using terms like laziness and procrastination, there are so many other factors that go into those too. Are you so overwhelmed that maybe you're stuck in freeze mode or fawn mode? Are you so much of a perfectionist that you would rather procrastinate and not tackle a thing because the fear of your own success renders you immobile? Or have you been pouring into a thing so much of yourself that you're forgetting the? Or do you pour into yourself and your creativity, or are you pouring into your creativity so much that you're forgetting to pour into yourself and refill your own cup so that you can continue to do so, thereby rendering yourself burnt out and stressed out? Sometimes we have to step away to step forward.

Aliya Cheyanne: 11:05

Contrary to what hustle culture wants you to believe, breaks are essential. Breaks are necessary, and during those times, it is especially important to pour into non-creative hobbies. During those times, to get your spark back, it is so important to pour into the hobbies that have nothing to do with your typical creativity, especially if it's creativity that you earn an income from, or it's creativity that is your business, or it's creativity that supports your livelihood. It is so important during these times to pour into alternative hobbies that have nothing to do with anything that feels like work.

Aliya Cheyanne: 11:49

During seasons of burnout, it's also possible to fall into the habit of mindless scrolling, and during this time, it is essential to curate the content you consume to fuel you rather than drain you. There's a difference between being inspired and falling into comparison. What you have to give is unique. What you have to offer the world is only something that you can offer in a unique way, and when you fall into the trap of comparison well, as they say, it's the thief of joy. Comparison will have you questioning your own gift, your own abilities, your own unique skill set, your own masterful way of doing a thing. And well, comparison can kill a dream, and that's not the space we want to be in, especially during seasons of burnout. So it's important to think about what inspires you versus comparing yourself to anyone else. So be mindful of your content consumption during this time and at all times.

Aliya Cheyanne: 13:02

Really, one thing that I love that I recently learned the term for is micro creativity small, low pressure ways to create. That can be journaling, that can be doodling, that can be mind mapping. Last year, I created a mind map for an organization that I'm contracted with when it came to their communication strategy and how we were connecting certain themes that the organization uplifts and is central to their mission with a lot of the events and the communication strategy and the social media posts that they were making, and it was a helpful and clarifying way to sort of bucket these different areas and get them out in a visual way that anyone could understand. And guess what else? I did a mind map and guess what else? I did a mind map for myself. That's partially how I even got the idea to do it for the organization, because one day I sat down and I said to myself these are all the things that I want to do, these are all the things that I want to accomplish. How can I spit them out in a visual way so that when I'm explaining it to others or even when I'm trying to process it for myself, I can do that simply and easily? So I made a mind map. It was a fun activity for me, a low pressure way to create, and it still provided me with a helpful framework and strategy for a lot of the creative work that I'm doing now. And guess what else? I also love doodling, occasionally by Malia Siegel, who is the founder of Rebellious Evolution and a licensed clinical social worker who I had the honor of meeting during the May 2023 Unruly Retreat by Sheila Marie in Jamaica. Malia created the Doodle Noodles notebooks and I cannot tell you how many times I used my notebook to jot things down, but also just to be silly and color and have fun.

Aliya Cheyanne: 15:14

Microcreativity is an incredible way to support us during seasons of creative burnout. Additionally, physical care equals creative care. Don't underestimate the role of sleep, movement and nutrition and creativity. And it's so much harder to start new habits and make lifestyle changes when you're feeling completely burnt out. It's so important to make these changes when you're in a clear headspace and when you're feeling well, so that they can support you and help you and maintain you during seasons that are feeling a little bit more off. But difficult doesn't mean impossible. If you are going through a season of burnout and you know that you are not getting the best sleep or the longest sleep that you need, make the change. Use tools that can support you and help you with your sleep. For some people, that's developing a nighttime routine. I love a good nighttime routine, a good wind down that signals to my brain and my body that I'm preparing for sleep and I'm preparing for bed. Movement is so important. I've had a long standing challenge with movement and exercise and I'm realizing that it has more to do with discipline than motivation. Discipline than motivation. Even if it's just 5, 10, 15, or 20 minutes a day.

Aliya Cheyanne: 16:45

Move your body in a way that feels good to you. It could be as simple as a walk, or maybe doing a few sets of an exercise at home during an at-home workout. It could be going to the gym, if that's your thing. It could be going on a hike in nature. It could be going on a hike in nature. It could be going on a hike in nature if you're able-bodied and able to do so.

Aliya Cheyanne: 17:06

But moving your body is essential to creativity. When we're feeling stagnant and when we're feeling stuck, it's hard to channel our energy in a way that is conducive to our needs and our creative desires. But when we move our bodies, we're able to move that energy, and that is so important. Nutrition matters too. Fueling our body with foods that help us to feel clear and energized and well also supports our creative journey and our creative process. So, to the best of our ability, we want to ensure that we're putting things into our bodies that make us feel good, that make us feel our best, that make us feel energized enough to pour into our creativity, that make us feel energized enough to pour into our creativity. Finding ways to nourish yourself creatively and emotionally, just like Nina Simone, is essential to your creative journey.

Aliya Cheyanne: 18:10

Burnout is temporary and part of the cycle of creativity. It doesn't last forever. If you are in a season of creative burnout, or any kind of burnout, I encourage you to try one small action today to reset. And if you are a creative who has experienced many cycles of burnout and found your way to the other side, tell us Share your favorite way to refresh creativity in a review or in a text to the show, or let us know in a comment on Spotify or on YouTube. Or let us know in a comment on Spotify or on YouTube. Thanks for tuning in to this short but sweet episode. If this episode resonated with you, please be sure to tell a friend. Tell a friend and to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts and to rate and review the show on, like the video on YouTube, youtube, and leave your comments on YouTube and Spotify. Thank you for lending me your time, your energy and your ears, and I appreciate you for being here. Have a great rest of your day or night and I'll catch you on the next episode. Bye.