Hey friends,
We’re back! This week on Crafty Ass Female, we’re talking about something that is absolutely essential to my personal creative life (probably yours too, even if you don’t know it) and it doesn’t always get the credit it deserves: rest. Not as a reward. Not as a break. But as an intentional, creative practice. Rest is a part of the work, not something you get afterwards if everything is done perfectly and on time.
This episode came out of a real-life thunder-snow wake-up call (literally), a week of migraines, and a lot of reflection on how rest ethic1 is just as important as work ethic—especially for those of us trying to live creatively in a world that glorifies constant productivity.
If you’ve ever felt guilty for slowing down, or unsure what rest even means in your creative life, this episode is here for me to chat through it with you.
What You’ll Get from This Episode
In this episode, we’re chatting about:
Why “rest” isn’t always sleep or stillness – Sometimes it looks like sorting your supplies or doodling on your iPad.
How capitalism tricks us into resenting rest – And why feminist creativity gives us permission to go slower.
The difference between burnout breaks and built-in rest – And how routines (like my Daily Pages) can help you stay in touch with your creativity even on low-energy days.
Whether you're deep in a creative rut or just feeling a little frayed at the edges, this one has lots of stuff you can think about.
Big Takeaways
🎨 Rest is not separate from your creative work—it’s part of the cycle.
Think of it as space-making. Room for your ideas to land, shift, and breathe.
✏️ You don’t need to earn rest.
It’s not something you get after being productive. It’s something you need in order to be your creative self in the first place.
🖌 Your notebook can be your rest.
Daily Pages are a soft place to land. You don’t have to show up perfectly—just show up honestly.
Take a moment to reflect:
What kind of rest are you craving right now?
Is it softness? Space? Silence? Saying no? Saying yes to something gentle?
Let your creative rhythm include pause, slowness, and grace. You’re allowed to go 12 miles per hour.
I’d love to hear from you—What’s your go-to way to rest creatively?
See you next week for Episode 219: Making in the Middle of a Mess.
Kristin
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