So it’s now June and half of the year is gone and I can feel that creative burnout smell and I better do something about it, or else, I will be spooning my whole summer with the crash and burn aftereffects. I am being more aware that I need to take care of myself so that I can take care of my practice and also encourage the importance of self care in my clients. As a creative arts therapist and counsellor I have decided to take myself out of feeling the need to be creative 100% and have decided to take a break from the traditional meaning of creativity, in different ways.

So here is one main tip that I have started to implement as I am beginning to prevent the dreaded emotional drain of batteries. ‘Take a break’ is my latest mantra and I have been sharing ideas with my colleagues, at workshops and with my clients and it’s amazing how many conversations are being generated around self care and self advocacy. A study by the University of Illinois has shown that the brain’s resources drop after a long period of focus, which hinders overall performance. Even a brief time away can restore the brain’s ability to think creatively.

So, here are 50 ways to take a break:

1. Take a bath
2. Listen to music
3. Take a nap
4. Go to a body of water
5. Watch the clouds
6. Watch the stars

   

7. Fly a kite
8. Let out a sigh
9. Rest your legs up on a wall
10. Light a candle
11. Learn something new
12. Read a book
13. Sit in nature
14. Write a letter
15. Move twice as slowly
16. Meander around the house
17. Call a friend
18. Meditate
19. Take deep belly breaths
20. Write a journal
21. Notice your body
22. Walk outside
23. Go for a stroll
24. Smell or buy flowers
25. Find a relaxing scent (if you are not allergic)
26. View some art
27. Create your own coffee break
28. Pet a furry creature (if you are not allergic)
29. Go to a park
30. Daydream
31. Turn off electronics
32. Eat a meal in silence
33. Examine an everyday object with fresh eyes
34. Walk or drive somewhere new
35. Go to a framers or community market
36. Forgive someone
37. Read, listen or watch something funny
38. Engage in small acts of kindness
39. Let go of something
40. Play in a jungle gym
41. Make some music
42. Color with crayons
43. Do some gentle stretches

    

44. Paint on a surface other than paper
45. Walk on grass with bare fee
46. Write a quick poem
47. Put on some music and dance
48. Give thanks
49. Laugh with children
50. Make a mess and then clean up

I am not following any order but have started to take ownership for de-braining and hope that these will help to reconnect my neural pathways in more than 50 ways and rewire for some amazing bursts of creative genius in my work and personal life. So give some of them try and see if you can also come up with something on your own!

*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA