When to Be Productive and When to Be Creative
Most people think burnout is caused by “too much work.” But burnout usually shows up when life is all structure and no soul, when we spend our days checking boxes and ignoring the very things that refill us. Productivity matters, of course. But so does creativity. So does connection. So does play.
Knowing when to push and when to pause is a skill worth learning, and honestly, one most of us don’t get taught until our body forces us to.
My Burnout Story (The Short, Honest Version)
Years ago, I was working full-time as a preschool teacher. I had a small child at home, I was a full-time student working toward my degree, and I was trying to be everything to everyone, except myself.
On paper, I was doing it all.
In real life, I was barely keeping up.
I constantly felt behind…
Behind at work.
Behind in class.
Behind as a mom.
And like most women, I kept putting myself last. Until my body said “no more.”
The migraines hit hard.
The body aches.
The irritability.
The brain fog was so heavy that I couldn’t concentrate on anything for more than a minute.
This wasn’t “being tired.” It was burnout. The kind that knocks you flat.
So I made the hardest decision at the time:
I quit my job.
I focused on finishing school.
And I made space to remember what I actually loved: creating with my hands.
Crafting has always been grounding for me. When I paint, glue, build, or arrange something, my brain finally quiets down. I feel accomplished in a way that to-do lists never gave me. That small spark is what eventually became my creative workshop business — a place where I could teach, connect, and help people feel the same relief I found.
Why Creativity Helps Your Brain
There’s real science behind why creative work is healing.
Studies show that:
Creative activities boost subjective well-being and reduce stress responses.
Learning something new strengthens cognitive flexibility, the part of the brain that helps with problem-solving and emotional regulation.
Social creativity (creating with others) releases tension and increases connection and resilience.
Translation: Creativity literally keeps you mentally healthy.
It’s not a luxury. It’s a tool.
When to Be Productive
Use your productive hours when you’re:
Clear-minded
Task-focused
Working with deadlines
In “action mode”
This is when structure thrives: emails, planning, admin, strategy, logistics. Productivity isn’t the enemy. It’s necessary. It keeps life moving.
Just not all the time.
When to Be Creative
Lean into creativity when you’re:
Mentally fried
Overstimulated
Stuck or uninspired
Craving connection
Feeling disconnected from yourself
Creativity shifts your brain out of stress mode. It gives you space to reset, breathe, and come back sharper.
Whether it’s drawing, crafting, cooking, woodworking, sewing, or joining a creative workshop, using your hands gives your mind a break.
How to Find Your Rhythm
If your weeks feel like endless productivity with no room for anything else, try this:
Schedule a creative break the same way you schedule meetings. Even 30 minutes.
Rotate productivity and creativity instead of expecting yourself to hustle nonstop.
Do something tactile — paint, bake, craft, garden. Your brain needs sensory play.
Create socially. Being creative with others lowers stress even more.
The Bottom Line
We need both: the productivity that moves our work forward and the creativity that keeps us human.
Burnout taught me that productivity without well-being isn’t sustainable. Creativity is the antidote; grounding, energizing, and deeply satisfying. It helped me reconnect with myself, build a business I love, and now share that grounding feeling with others.
Your work matters.
Your wellbeing matters too.
Find the rhythm that gives you both.