Ever find yourself feeling burned out as a church creative, especially early in the year? Whether it’s due to creative fatigue or the demands of the role, many individuals in the creative church community experience this challenge sooner than expected.
What if there were proactive ways to prevent burnout and sustain creative energy throughout the year? While I can’t promise a one-size-fits-all solution, my experience in the church’s creative realm has uncovered effective strategies to ward off burnout, even in the early months.
Uncover Your “Big Creative Why”
If you find yourself creating solely for approval, out of obligation, or without a clear purpose, burnout may be looming. Let your creative work be guided by your relationship with your craft and faith. Identify your “big creative why” – what inspires you to keep creating when challenges arise? Only that why will keep you going even when things get rough.
Embrace the Creative Privilege
Shift your perspective from “have” to “get.” Instead of viewing your creative tasks as obligations, see them as opportunities and gifts. Saying “I get to contribute creatively early in the year” can infuse positivity into your mindset and help combat burnout.
Anticipate Creative Challenges
Acknowledge that creative challenges will inevitably surface. Living in an imperfect world, it’s essential to prepare for creative hurdles, whether they involve technical issues, collaboration complexities, or artistic blocks. Make decisions in advance to navigate these challenges with resilience.
Pace Yourself
It is easy to get excited and hyped up for the new initiatives, goals, and vision for the new year and become frustrated when you do not see them come to fruition by February 1st. Take time to plan out how you will accomplish those goals and take it one day at a time. Rome wasn’t built in a day, as they say.
Trust Your Creative Leaders
While it can be challenging, trusting your creative leaders is vital for a harmonious creative year. Release any doubts or feelings of superiority. Embrace trust in your creative team to alleviate the pressure and contribute to a more positive and collaborative atmosphere. Humility is the key that unlocks the door to peace.
You are Not Alone
In the pursuit of creative significance and inspiration, the early-year burnout challenge is not insurmountable. It is easy to believe that you are alone in your struggles with exhaustion and burnout especially this early in the year, but trust us, you are not. Don’t walk alone join the creative and technical community for you. Be a part of a community that understands what it means to be in the trenches week after week. Click here to start your SALT journey.
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