The Art of Creating as Burnout Prevention

Written by Naseem Amini

Burnout is a concept many of us have come to know closely. It manifests when the weight of work, classes, or daily tasks becomes so overwhelming that our mind needs a break. Without management, burnout can worsen the symptoms of anxiety or depression and significantly impact our mental health.

When I felt burnt out, I used to find myself resorting to compulsive, repetitive tasks such as scrolling on social media. This led me to lose hours of my day and end up feeling unsatisfied, unaccomplished, and unsettled. To combat these feelings, I have been using a different approach to burnout that instead produces a sense of accomplishment and purpose.

Art has been used as a model of stress reduction for decades, but I find that it is particularly impactful when approaching burnout. Creating a piece of art through drawing, painting, writing, sculpting, photographing, filming, knitting, and more offers you the opportunity to produce something tangible without the pressures of perfection or duty. Your brain releases dopamine as you engage your creative center, producing a sense of joy that will influence other areas of your life.

The next time you feel that familiar sensation of burnout approaching, try one of my favorite creative exercises:

• “Bad Art” - Set a timer to paint or draw a piece of artwork that is intentionally imperfect

• “One-Color Challenge” - Create a piece of artwork using a single color in your medium of choice

• “Boring Poetry” - Write a short 4-5 line poem about the environment you are sitting in

• “Junk Journaling” - Collect receipts, stickers, and other disposable items in a journal

• “A Story in Pictures” - Take 5-10 photos in one setting that tell a silent story

• “Anything-But-A-Brush” - Paint a picture using sponges, leaves, string, or any tool besides a brush

Interested in learning more about burnout and its effects on mental health? Email us to set up a free 15 minute phone consultation!