There’s a kind of burnout no one talks about.
Not the kind from doing too much — though you’re doing plenty.
But the kind that comes from doing everything except what makes you feel alive.
Motherhood can be all-consuming.
It’s diapers and drop-offs, dishes and deadlines.
And in the middle of keeping everything running, the pieces of you that once danced, wrote, painted, played…
They start to go quiet.
Not because you don’t love those parts. But because somewhere along the way, it stopped feeling like there was room for them.
Too tired. Too busy. Too much to manage.
So you get good at functioning — and forget what it’s like to feel creative.
You forget what it’s like to lose yourself in something that isn’t a task to check off.
You forget what it’s like to do something just because it fills you up.
But here’s the unseen truth:
That part of you? The one who writes, dances, paints, sings? She’s not gone. She’s just waiting for you to come back.
This post is your permission slip to return.
Not because you’ll publish it or sell it or post about it.
But because you’re allowed to make room for joy — even in the mess.
Especially in the mess.
When Did Creativity Become a Performance?
We live in a world obsessed with results. Monetize it. Post it. Track the likes. Build a brand.
And while there’s nothing wrong with sharing your gifts, there’s something dangerous about only creating when it leads to a “productive” outcome. When we tie our creativity to our worth or visibility, we rob ourselves of the very thing that made us want to create in the first place: freedom.
- You don’t have to justify your creativity.
- You don’t need an audience to write a poem.
- You don’t need a market to pick up a paintbrush.
- You don’t need a stage to dance in your kitchen.
Joy is enough.
The Cost of Suppressed Creativity
We go from the innocence of dreaming audaciously to the exhaustive realties of motherhood. But, when we stop creating, something inside us withers. We go from vibrant to “functional.” From expressive to efficient. From alive to just managing.
You don’t need to be a professional to benefit from creative expression. You just need permission — your own.
And when you give yourself that, everything shifts:
You laugh more. You feel lighter. You reconnect with yourself. You show up in other areas of life with more clarity, patience, and passion.
Creating for the Process, Not the Product
When was the last time you did something creative without trying to perfect it?
- When you wrote because the words needed out
- Painted because the colors made you feel something
- Moved your body because the music told you to
Creating for the process means showing up to explore — not to impress.
It’s about falling in love with the doing, not the result.
But What If I’m Not “Good” At It?
Here’s what I want you to know: that voice in your head saying you’re not creative? That’s not your truth — it’s your programming.
Somewhere along the line, you probably heard:
- “You’re not artistic.”
- “You should stick to what you’re good at.
- “There’s no time for that kind of thing anymore.”
But creativity isn’t a talent — it’s a practice. It’s a human instinct. And it doesn’t need to be good. It just needs to be real.
It’s ok to: Paint badly. Write messy. Dance like nobody’s watching — because honestly, no one is, and even if they are… so what?
You don’t owe the world polished. You owe yourself presence.
What Happens When You Start Creating Again?
Here’s what I’ve seen — in my own life and in so many women I talk to:
When you start taking a stand for your creativity, even just 10 minutes a week, that spark comes back. You stop waiting for the perfect conditions. You start feeling alive again.
You become:
- More playful Less judgmental of yourself
- More open to possibility Less dependent on external validation
Creating again isn’t about changing your title — it’s about changing your temperature. Warming up your life from the inside out.
The 10 Minute Journal and Writing Prompts that Became a Book
When I started journaling again, I didn’t think it would lead anywhere. I wasn’t trying to write a book. I was just trying to find myself again on the page. To express the stresses of the day. To release the tension. To pour out the busy thoughts populating my mind.
Something happened when I gave myself permission to write without judgment. The words flowed. Ideas formed. Truths surfaced.
Eventually, that journal became the seeds of my book,
But even if it hadn’t? It still would’ve been worth it.
Because the act of showing up to write healed something in me long before it ever became a manuscript.
5 Ways to Reclaim Your Creativity (Without Overthinking It)
1. Give Yourself a Judgment-Free Zone
Create a time and space that’s just for you. No goals. No audience. No pressure. Just freedom.
2. Pick Up an Old Passion
What did you love doing before life got loud?
Try it again — not because you’ll master it, but because it once made you feel like you.
3. Try a 10-Minute Creative Block
No expectations. Just 10 minutes.
Write. Doodle. Sing. Play guitar. Craft. Move.
Let your brain breathe.
4. Use Prompts to Get Started
If staring at a blank page feels intimidating, try prompts:
- “If I weren’t afraid, I’d create…”
- “Today, I feel called to express…”
- “I don’t know what I’m doing, but I’m showing up anyway.”
5. Celebrate the Act, Not the Outcome
Finishing a sketch, writing a paragraph, dancing through one song — that’s enough. That’s a win. That’s yours.
👑 Reclaim the Stage — Not for Applause, But for Yourself
In my book, Mom Take Center Stage, I share what it really looks like to come alive again — not just as a mom, but as a whole woman. It’s about rediscovering who you are, what matters to you, and what lights you up.
✨ Pre-order the eBook now on Amazon!
Also available for preorder on Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple, Smashwords and more! Click here to buy now⬇️
https://books2read.com/u/baMdry
If you’re a book reviewer, librarian, book store or an avid reader, click the link to request an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy):
https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/680615
📚 Print editions coming soon!
This isn’t about being productive. It’s about being present. Being expressive. Being you.
💬 What About You?
What creative outlet have you been missing — or maybe never given yourself a chance to try?
Leave a comment below. Whether it’s painting, journaling, pottery, singing in the shower, or writing your heart out on a napkin — I’d love to hear what lights you up.
Because sometimes, the act of naming it is the first step toward reclaiming it.
Photo credit: https://unsplash.com/@jungfish
