Permission to Take a Break
Why Rest is Essential to the Creative Process
Creativity is strange because it’s something you can’t just turn off. Inspiration can strike at any moment—sometimes at 2 a.m. on a random Thursday, other times in the middle of a Costco line sneaking your third ravioli sample. That’s the beauty of creativity; it’s unpredictable.
But as we grow in our creative careers, learning to pause and take a breather becomes just as important as finding inspiration. Rest isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity for sustaining the energy and mental clarity that creativity demands.
There’s a popular saying floating around, something like, “Creatives need time to sit around and do nothing.” And it’s so true. But beyond just doing nothing, we need to actively rest—intentional breaks that allow our minds to recharge fully and return with fresh ideas.
Some of us have a more predictable 9-to-5 schedule, while others work at random hours. But regardless of when or how you work, prioritizing mental health is non-negotiable.
Our skill set is cognitive; it takes a lot of brainpower to fire on all cylinders, access new thoughts, and generate ideas that we bring to life. But if we don’t take care of that brain, creativity can slow down—or even stop.
Many of us have experienced burnout, and it’s a scary thing. We dedicated an entire podcast episode to recognizing the signs of creative burnout before it’s too late. I’ve personally been through it, and let me tell you, I wouldn’t recommend it.
So how do we take care of our minds and help prevent burnout? The answer: rest.
The good news is that rest can look different for everyone. For some, it’s a day in bed with a good book or a favorite show. For others, it’s a hike through nature, a lunch with a friend, or even a solo movie date. However you find your peace, make sure you give yourself time to unplug, recharge, and just be. If rest doesn’t come naturally to you, consider scheduling it into your calendar like any other commitment—it’s that important.
Think of this as your official permission slip to take a break.
And to practice what I preach, once I hit send on this post, I’m taking the rest of the day off. My brain needs it.
In the next week, try to carve out a day just for yourself. Embrace rest, recharge fully, and then…
Keep creating and repeating,
- Zack
The Create.Repeat Podcast
On today’s episode, I’m joined by singer-songwriter slimdan. We dive into the art and science of songwriting, exploring the contrast between writing for other artists—like Carly Rae Jepsen, Diplo, and Sasha Alex Sloan—and crafting music for yourself. slimdan shares the story of an unexpected, shady Uber ride turned drug deal that became a catalyst for him to pursue his own path, leading to the creation of his new album Second Dinner and touring with Remi Wolf. Through it all, slimdan embodies the mantra of staying curious in the creative process and letting unexpected moments fuel your art.
Create.Repeat x Happy Editing
We’ve teamed up with Happy Editing to bring you a curated collection of select editing assets, including film textures, text presets, and an exclusive film-inspired LUT—everything you need to elevate your creative projects. This collection is perfect for any creator’s library, with tools to bring both videos and photos to life.
These film textures and LUTs are what we use in all our videos, and the text preset is how we achieve that cool, grungy look. Right now, Happy Editing is offering a huge early Black Friday sale on the Create.Repeat pack and all their other packs. Don’t miss it—check it out here!
Starting today, we’re bringing back Talent Show! This is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on talented members of our community, showcase their work, and introduce them to everyone here.
Our first spotlight is Morgan Chancey, the designer behind our Create.Repeat Icon Logo.
Morgan Chancey is a gifted multi-media designer from Athens, GA, now flourishing in Waynesboro, GA. With expertise in graphic design, photography, and videography, Morgan embodies a core creative principle: “The details make the design!”
Morgan’s approach to design emphasizes taking your time and being intentional. It’s a powerful reminder that the best work isn’t rushed—it’s a product of dedication to detail and deliberate craft.
Embrace Morgan’s philosophy in your next project: slow down, focus on the nuances, and see how small touches can transform the whole.
If you’d like to be featured in an upcoming Talent Show, apply at CreateRepeat.com.
Links keeping us creative:
🏛️ MODERN ARCHAEOLOGY: A video-essay about the incredible treasures in the public domain.
📋 Clippings: A personal reservoir of quotes from designer Folkert Gorter.
🎸 Rocumentaries: Curated links to documentaries across the internet.
🎨 Hackers & Painters: “The way to create something beautiful is often to make subtle tweaks to something that already exists”
Create.Repeat is a community for creatives.
The Create.Repeat Substack is a project designed to be a weekly diary on creativity. Sharing inspiration for artists to keep creating and repeating.
Written and curated by Zack Evans & James Warren Taylor
Each week we will be sharing recent thoughts on creativity, some links helping us stay creative, and soon will be including a talent show featuring an artist from the community. Thank you for engaging with us.
History repeats. Create the future.
Some Final Links:
Check Out The Podcast - Episode #6 Out Now! 🔁
