13 Self-Care Practices to Stay Inspired and Avoid Burnout in Content Creation
Ever feel like your creative well has run dry? When content creation becomes a chore, it can be tough to keep the inspiration flowing. To help, we've gathered insights from top experts, including a founder and an eCommerce business owner, who share their self-care practices to stay inspired and avoid burnout. From scheduling non-negotiable thinking time to using meditation to center oneself, discover thirteen practical tips to maintain your creative spark.
- Schedule Non-Negotiable Thinking Time
- Treat Content Creation Like a Job
- Take Intentional Breaks Throughout the Day
- Step Away and Head Outdoors
- Disconnect to Reconnect with Enjoyment
- Create Moments That Spark Joy
- Stay Active with Different Workouts
- Reconnect with Your Purpose
- Schedule Regular Creative Breaks
- Schedule Offline Inspiration Time
- Take Regular Breaks for Nature Walks
- Let Ideas Flow and Structure Later
- Use Meditation to Center Yourself
Schedule Non-Negotiable Thinking Time
One self-care practice I swear by is scheduling non-negotiable "thinking time" every week. This isn't just downtime; it's structured solitude where I step away from screens, meetings, and even my phone. For me, inspiration often strikes when I allow myself to reflect without distractions. I take a notebook, go to a quiet spot sometimes a park or a beach and spend time jotting down ideas, reviewing lessons from the past week, and brainstorming fresh approaches. This practice originated during my early days running my telecommunications business when I found that constant problem-solving was depleting my creativity. By creating a dedicated space to pause and think, I was able to come up with innovative solutions that contributed to the success of the company, which Telstra later recognized.
Over the years, my MBA and coaching experience reinforced the value of this approach. In coaching hundreds of business owners, I've seen how burnout stifles creativity, and I often recommend this practice to clients struggling with clarity or inspiration. It's been instrumental for me personally in staying energized and focused, even when managing ventures across multiple countries. This thinking time not only refreshes my mind but also ensures that my ideas remain sharp and my strategies aligned with long-term goals. It's a simple habit that has consistently delivered results, keeping me grounded and inspired to push forward.
Treat Content Creation Like a Job
I treat it like a job and not like an 'artistic' pursuit.
Let me put that into perspective.
There's this misconception that artists and creative professionals need to be struck with inspiration before they can work.
In my experience, that's not true. It's also self-defeating and stressful.
What matters most for creative professionals is the volume of inputs and outputs.
When I say inputs, I'm talking about the things you've seen, read, and experienced. You can't write about what you have no idea about. You can't draw new associations between ideas if you've never experienced those ideas.
I remember I was reading Antifragile by Nassim Taleb and Breath by James Nestor at the same time. It was enlightening because I was able to draw associations and create new ideas in a way that wouldn't have happened otherwise.
When I say output, I simply mean the amount of work you produce. Whether you're writing, drawing, doing graphic design, etc. Volume is a quality all its own.
To protect your sanity and your creative energy, work on a schedule.
I write for about four hours every day at the same time. I schedule in a few blocks from 9 AM to 1 PM. During this time, I follow the Pomodoro technique. The rest of the time is spent doing other tasks.
For me, it has removed the pressure of needing to be inspired. I just sit down and do the work. If I'm not writing well, I delete it and try again.
More often than not, inspiration strikes when I'm already writing and my output and the quality of that output improves.
It has helped me be more composed when I'm creating content. I'm not pressured to perform RIGHT NOW. Instead, I do what I can do when it's time to do it. If the content isn't so great, I'm not worried. I can go back and rewrite it or edit it.
This feeling of letting go has allowed my output and quality to shoot up.
Take Intentional Breaks Throughout the Day
One self-care practice I use to stay inspired and avoid burnout is taking intentional breaks throughout my day. This involves stepping away from my desk, going for a walk, or engaging in a quick activity unrelated to work, like reading a book. These breaks help clear my mind, recharge my creativity, and prevent feeling overwhelmed.
By allowing myself to disconnect briefly, I can return to my tasks with a fresh perspective and new energy. This has helped me maintain my productivity and led to more innovative ideas for content creation. When I care for my well-being, I can show up more fully for my work, stay inspired, and produce higher-quality content. This practice has become an essential part of my routine, allowing me to balance the demands of content creation with the need for mental and emotional restoration.
Step Away and Head Outdoors
When content creation starts to feel creatively draining, one of the best self-care practices I've embraced is stepping away from the screen and heading outdoors. Whether it's a walk in the park, a visit to the coast, or working in my garden, nature has a way of clearing the mental clutter and sparking fresh ideas.
The act of disconnecting from the digital world and immersing myself in the physical one helps reset my perspective. I've found that some of my best ideas come not when I'm staring at a blank page, but when I'm noticing the way the world carries on regardless. It's a reminder of the creativity all around us, and it reignites my enthusiasm for bringing those moments of beauty or energy back into my work.
This practice has not only kept burnout at bay but also given me a reservoir of inspiration to draw from. It's proof that sometimes the best way to move forward creatively is to take a step back and reconnect with the world outside.
Disconnect to Reconnect with Enjoyment
Content creation *can* totally drain your creative energy... IF you let it. What I've learned after years of ups and downs is that the magic happens when you intentionally disconnect from work and reconnect with what you genuinely enjoy doing outside of work. For me, hopping on my bike or taking a long walk is like hitting a mental reset button. The ideas start flowing, and suddenly those content blocks that felt so huge start melting away. It also helps to pair those active breaks with quiet moments - whether I'm pouring my thoughts into my journal or spending time in prayer. It helps me zoom out and remember my bigger "why." I'm telling you, this combination has been absolutely transformational in my business. Not only does it keep burnout at bay, but it actually gets me excited to show up and serve my incredible community.
Create Moments That Spark Joy
As a content creator, I've learned that the magic isn't just in the big creative moments, but in deliberately crafting moments where you can "feel the flutter" throughout the day. Feeling the flutter is my term for creating rituals that spark joy for you (from Marie Kondo!) -- those sweet, simple experiences that make you want to put your hand over your heart. ✨ For me, it's about weaving these intentional moments of joy into my content creation and artistic schedule. It's in the SIMPLE. Baking cookies before a long meeting so by the end, you can have a little reward. Taking your laptop outside and working on a beautiful, spring day. Lighting a candle next to your desk. Painting your office your favorite color. Turning on my twinkling lights, drinking tea, playing holiday music, whatever it is to make your work THAT much more fun. I say this especially for the "hustle era" moments in your business -- when self-care can feel scarce and you have to spend some time working a lot so you can be rewarded later. It's really designing your day with these little pockets of delight in mind -- those pockets of self-care. Because your creative journey doesn't have to feel like a constant grind (even if you are hustling a bit right now). By doing this, yes, you're avoiding burnout, but you're also creating a beautiful, sustainable creative LIFESTYLE so that you're truly not just enjoying hitting the goals, but loving the journey in between each!
Stay Active with Different Workouts
One self-care practice I rely on to stay inspired and avoid burnout is staying active and experimenting with different workouts. As a marketing manager for a bodybuilding supplement company, I not only write about fitness but also live it. Going to the gym, trying new routines, or even going for a long run clears my mind and often sparks fresh ideas for content. For instance, a challenging workout might inspire me to write a blog about recovery strategies or the importance of specific nutrients for muscle repair. This practice not only keeps me physically healthy but also helps me reconnect with the mindset and needs of our target audience. It's a win-win that keeps the creative juices flowing while avoiding the mental fatigue that can come from sitting at a desk all day 5 days a week.
Reconnect with Your Purpose
Running a platform that serves 21M+ public sector job seekers, content creation is at the core of what we do at Careers in Government. Staying inspired and avoiding burnout isn't just personal—it's crucial for the success of our entire operation.
What we've found is that creativity thrives when you're connected to your purpose. In the world of government recruitment, we're not just creating content—we're helping shape the future of public service. This perspective shift is powerful. When you're feeling drained, reconnecting with the 'why' behind your work can reignite that spark. For us, it's about remembering that every piece of content could help someone find their dream career in public service.
We've built a community of over 300 government thought leaders who contribute to our platform. Engaging with their diverse perspectives and experiences not only enriches our content but also continually inspires our team. It's like having a constant influx of new ideas and fresh energy.
My advice: Schedule regular interactions with your audience or industry peers. Their challenges and successes can fuel your creativity. Remember, self-care isn't selfish—it's essential for sustainable content creation and business growth.
Schedule Regular Creative Breaks
One self-care practice I rely on to stay inspired and avoid burnout is scheduling regular "creative breaks." These are short periods where I step away from work to do something that sparks joy, like reading, taking a walk, or exploring a hobby. For example, walking outside often clears my mind and helps me approach content creation with fresh ideas. It's helped me stay energized and avoid the exhaustion that comes from constantly pushing creativity without rest. Prioritizing these breaks ensures I stay motivated and consistently deliver quality work without feeling overwhelmed.
Schedule Offline Inspiration Time
As an SEO agency owner and specialist, one self-care practice I swear by is scheduling "offline inspiration time." This involves stepping away from screens and immersing myself in activities like reading non-digital content, exploring nature, or attending networking events. This practice allows me to reset my creativity and come back with fresh ideas for content strategies or campaigns. For example, reading a physical magazine often gives me unique headline ideas or a different angle to approach trending topics.
This has helped me avoid burnout by breaking the cycle of constant digital consumption, which can be mentally exhausting. It also ensures that my creativity is fueled by diverse inputs rather than just what's trending online. By stepping outside the digital bubble, I've been able to create more authentic and engaging content that resonates with audiences while staying motivated in a demanding industry.
Take Regular Breaks for Nature Walks
One self-care practice I rely on to stay inspired and avoid burnout is taking regular breaks for nature walks. Spending time outside, away from screens, helps clear my mind and re-energizes my creativity. Nature's calming effect allows me to step back from the intensity of content creation, recharge, and return to my work with a fresh perspective. This practice helps me avoid feeling overwhelmed and maintain a balanced workflow, ultimately fostering long-term productivity and inspiration without feeling drained.
Let Ideas Flow and Structure Later
The trick is to not dwell, or force it. Write what comes to mind, and if it doesn't fit it's ok... Just take a step back, meditate, listen to music, go for a walk, work out, etc. Do what you can to just let your ideas flow and structure them later. You can always throw your ideas into a GPT and see what it creates for inspiration, like a live brainstorm. Take all of these approaches and put them together and you'll find yourself in a much better position to avoid burnout, stale concepts and tired-sounding words.
Use Meditation to Center Yourself
Meditation is such a powerful modality to center back, find my center and care for myself when creating content. Every time I feel I am out of center, I simply tune out whatever I am doing and tune into my inner world. I can meditate walking in a garden or sitting at my desk or a coffee shop. It's a tool that is available to me at any given time, and everybody can learn to use it.
