Introduction
Creative burnout is something that affects the mental, emotional, and physical state of an artist, often draining motivation, inspiration, and even passion. It happens to every creative person in one form or another. For myself—and for many of my friends—we hit major burnout during our senior year of college. We were juggling multiple projects, preparing senior galleries, and counting down the days until we finished our undergraduate degrees. We had to push through and force ourselves to stay motivated just to end the year on a good note.
But not every artist studies art in school, so this isn’t everyone’s story. Your story is your story.
Where does it stem from?
For some, creative burnout stems from internal battles—mental health struggles, imposter syndrome, or general self-doubt. But from what I’ve seen, external factors often play a bigger role. Maybe it’s working a full 9–5 and trying to squeeze art into whatever time is left. Maybe it’s stress, drama, or overwhelm that leaves you mentally drained long before you ever pick up a camera or paintbrush.
External pressures often amplify internal ones. For example, imagine you’re scrolling on social media, admiring the work of photographers you look up to. Suddenly, a thought creeps in: “My work will never be that good.” That’s the beginning of imposter syndrome. You can respond to that thought in two ways:
Use it as fuel to push yourself and grow your skills.
Let it discourage you.
I’ve definitely chosen the second option more times than I’d like to admit. As someone who holds herself to high standards, it’s hard not to let someone else’s success make me question my own path. I catch myself wondering, “What am I doing wrong? What am I missing?” Those questions sit heavier and more often than most of us care to admit.
How do I fuel the creativity?
Back in college, whenever I told my photography professor I lacked motivation, his first piece of advice was always, “Go for a walk in the woods.” Getting outside—breathing fresh air, soaking up some vitamin D, moving your body—does wonders for clearing the mind and resetting creativity. I was lucky that my campus had a wooded walking trail. Find somewhere safe to walk, breathe, and let your thoughts move freely so you can process whatever needs processing.
Another thing I’ve learned from talking to other artists is that having a secondary creative outlet can be incredibly refreshing. For me, that outlet became baking—specifically sourdough—as well as embroidery. They give me a creative release without the pressure I sometimes feel in photography.
A note of encouragement
Whatever you’re going through—whatever is causing your burnout—know that you will get through it. Inspiration will return, even if sometimes you have to coax it out because of a deadline. Every artist encounters burnout at some point, so you’re not alone. It sucks, truly. I’ve been trying to plan a styled shoot for over a month with absolutely no luck. Feeling stuck is frustrating, but it doesn’t mean the creativity is gone.
It’s resting.
Just like our bodies and minds need rest, our creativity does too. Creativity becomes exhausted when we give too much of ourselves for too long. It needs space to breathe and rebuild. There is nothing wrong with taking that time. In fact, honoring it makes you stronger and more ready to create when the spark returns.
With love,
Savannah
