Creativity doesn’t run on coffee and pressure — I’ve tried. I used to push through blocks with longer hours, thinking more effort was the answer. But the real shift came when I slowed down and started noticing when I actually felt good making. This isn’t about fixing yourself. It’s about paying attention to what you need, making space for joy, and finding a rhythm that works for you.

Activity: Map Your Creative Week

This one’s simple. You only need a piece of paper, a pen, and a few minutes to think.

1. Sketch it out
Draw a seven-day grid or timeline. Think about your past week, or the one before if it was chaos. Mark down what you did and when you felt. You don’t need exact times — this is about noticing patterns.

– Energised
– Distracted
– Inspired
– Burnt out

2. Spot the shifts
Look at what helped or hindered your energy. Did you feel more focused after a walk? Did you crash after a long meeting? Circle the high points. Cross out the drains.

3. Adjust, don’t overhaul
Pick one small change to test this week. It could be starting later, blocking out 2 hours for uninterrupted making, or finishing early on Wednesdays. See how it feels.

4. Come back to it
This isn’t a one-time thing. Make it a regular check-in — monthly, seasonally, whenever you feel out of sync. The goal is to keep noticing and adjusting, not to chase some perfect routine.