I like to work on a lot of different things, mainly because I have many ideas. I really enjoy getting into a creative state and bringing those ideas out of my head into the real world. In fact, I have some upcoming projects I’m looking forward to completing. But one of the things I've realized is that I need time to rest, too.

Sometimes I push too hard and try to put out lots of stuff at once. It's always been a habit I've had. I would write stories even when my wrists were aching, because I had all these ideas that were begging to be released.

But over time, this started taking a toll on my health. I was reluctant to take breaks, because I felt they might waste valuable creative time. But my body couldn't withstand the constant output, and I would feel burnt out and lose all my ideas. I’d even deal with physical injuries from using my wrists too much (in writing and drawing, for example).

Now that I've grown older, I've started to slowly appreciate the importance of rest and relaxation time. It's still a challenge for me to take a break sometimes, because I feel I should always be doing something, but I see there's value in taking time off. I’m learning how to lighten my schedule, so I can give myself some breathing room!

The fact is that we can't go non-stop. Whether you're a writer, researcher, artist, YouTuber, or something else, you need time to rest.

In fact, in the space of rest, your brain has a chance to unwind and come up with new ideas. I recently learned that when our brains are simply "dawdling", such as when we're daydreaming or doing random chores, we actually make new creative connections! (I found this out from an excellent video by eteportraits.)

But if we don’t give ourselves rest, we can actually find it harder to create. Unlike machines, human brains don’t work well on a constant treadmill of output. A machine can duplicate a pattern or copy an image 1000 times, but a human would grow exhausted doing this again and again. A similar principle applies to a constant stream of creative output: for most of us, it’s just not something we can easily do, and maybe that’s a good thing. What we don’t have in effortless duplication, we make up in originality.

What’s more, rest allows us to physically recover if our work involves our bodies. If we’re dancers or athletes, we need to rest to recover from intense performances. Even painters and writers must rest so they won’t get wrist pain from repetitive hand motions.

This goes for mental exertion, too. Research scientists or computer programmers must rest their brains after putting in hours of study or coding. It’s similar when you consider the intense mental work involved in creative practice.

I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with building a body of work or putting effort into your craft. There’s real value in hard work as you reach your goals. And I enjoy challenging myself with new projects and things to do. But you don’t want to work so hard that you burn yourself out, and that’s what I’m starting to learn.

Balancing my activities is often a work in progress for me, because a habit of taking on a lot doesn’t disappear overnight! But now I’m more careful to set limits around my time. Sometimes this can be as simple as extending a deadline or respectfully turning down certain events. Other times, I take on the project, but I make sure to set aside time for relaxation and hobbies. Even small moments of rest can make a big difference.

Beyond the Pressure: Finding Rest

Sometimes we may feel pressure to put out a constant stream of content, especially if we use social media platforms or work in the creator economy. A lot of these platforms use algorithms that reward activity, so some creators are afraid to take breaks because they may lose momentum and attention.

However, in the long run, I think it’s actually better to create at a sustainable pace. It’s important to find a way outside of the “content creation treadmill”. At the end of the day, we need space to rest our minds and rejuvenate.

One of the ways I get my rest comes from naps, which allow me to recharge. I also like reading books that have nothing to do with something I’m working on, such as books around different non-fiction topics or a good novel. Sometimes I’ll listen to music or browse the internet, too. Taking a walk is another way I unwind.

These are things that give me a break from creative work. They also give my brain some inputs to match the outputs! Sometimes I’ll even come up with a new idea based on something I read, heard, or saw.