Taking a break doesn’t mean you’ve failed
Five surprising reasons why creative pauses are actually good for you (plus, how to restart without the pressure).
Hi friends,
After spending a few weeks away on holiday with family and friends, I thought today’s topic was especially fitting. If you’ve ever worried that stepping away from your creative habit means you’ve failed, let me say it louder for the people in the back: breaks are normal. They’re part of the process. I’ve been there, too—setting my notebook aside for days (or weeks) and wondering if I’d ever find my way back. Spoiler: I always do. And you will, too.
Today we’re talking about why creative breaks are actually good for you—and how to come back in a way that feels strong, sustainable, and joyful.
Here’s what we’ll cover in this email:
Why breaks protect your creativity
How stepping away gives you fresh perspective
Practical ways to restart without the pressure
1. Creative Breaks Prevent Burnout
When even playing around in your notebook feels like a chore, that’s burnout waving a little red flag. Just like our bodies need rest days, our creative minds need them too. Taking a break isn’t quitting—it’s protecting your energy so you can come back with joy instead of dread. This is especially true when we start to get into the more hectic times of the year.
Your Turn: Think back—when was the last time you took a creative break? Did you notice a difference in your energy when you came back?
2. Distance Brings Fresh Perspective
Walking away from a project can be the best thing for it. That little bit of space lets you return with new eyes—suddenly the thing that felt stuck now feels open again. Sometimes the pause gives us better ideas than the hustle ever could. I’ve had such great results with just leaving things on the side of my desk for a day…or a week.
Your Turn: What’s one project you could set aside for a week and revisit with fresh eyes?
3. Life Needs Your Attention Too
We’re whole humans. Creativity matters, but it’s not the only thing that does. Family, work, health, even just needing more rest—sometimes those need to take the front seat. And when they do, it doesn’t make you less of a creative person. It makes you someone who knows how to care for your life. This goes for double as we’re moving into the holiday season and the end of the year!
Your Turn: Where in your life could giving yourself more grace open up space for creativity later?
4. Breaks Encourage Play
Coming back after a pause often feels like a reset button. You’re less worried about perfection and more excited to just…make something. That’s when the magic happens: play, experiment, mess around with no expectations. I was so pumped to get back into my notebook after my two weeks away—I just had so much fun with the pages I made. Nothing big, important, or special—just getting my hands a little messy.
Your Turn: What’s something playful you’d like to try when you’re ready to jump back in—new supplies, a different prompt, or even just doodling for the fun of it?
5. Rediscovering the Joy
Absence really does make the heart grow fonder. After a break, the little things—the scratch of a pen, the smear of paint, the satisfaction of gluing down a scrap—hit different. You remember why you fell in love with creating in the first place and it feels so much less like something you have to do, and like something you get to do.
Your Turn: What’s one thing about your creative practice that makes you happiest to come back to?
How to Come Back Stronger
When you’re ready to return, make it easy on yourself:
Start small—a quick list, a background you prepped earlier, or just writing one sentence.
Tie it to a routine—after coffee, before bed, during your lunch break.
Keep a mini-kit handy—a notebook, pens, and a few stickers in a pouch, so you’re always ready when the mood strikes.
Restarting isn’t about doing it perfectly. It’s about showing up in whatever way works right now.
Taking a creative break isn’t failure—it’s fuel. It lets you rest, gather perspective, and come back with fresh joy. The real win is knowing you can pause when you need to and still trust yourself to return.
So if you’re in a break right now, or just coming out of one, know this: you’re not alone. Your creativity will wait for you, and it will welcome you back every single time.
Here’s what we covered today:
Breaks protect your creativity, not sabotage it
Distance and rest give you fresh perspective
Coming back small, playful, and joyful is the best way to restart
Action step: Give yourself permission to take the rest you need—or pick one small, playful way to restart today.
Talk to you next week!
xoxo,
Kristin
P.S. If you’re enjoying these newsletters, please consider sharing this edition with a friend who might need a little creative boost today.
This is the message I needed to hear today. it's so easy to beat yourself up when you take breaks from your creativity, but it's so necessary. Also: your travel journals bring me joy!