I no longer push myself to create every day
...and why it's OK
I’ve noticed something. Even the things I enjoy doing have a natural seasonality to them. There are times when I’m drawn to write so much, create so much, and read so much. And then there are times when I don’t want to do any of it.
But in the world we live in, this cycle often creates so much tension in my body. And invites a hell lot of self-doubt, including the question, “Isn’t this something you said you enjoy, Rachna? Then why aren’t you enjoying it now?”
I’ve had to gently say to myself: Stop. Breathe. That’s okay.
The world we live in is obsessed with maximising productivity, without really thinking about the cost it comes at. Often, that cost is our well-being. No matter what we do, we’re expected to churn out more and more, as if we were factory workers. But we forget something crucial: as creators, this constant pressure can squeeze the life out of our creativity… and the love we feel for our art.
No matter what I do, the creative side of me just can’t follow the factory schedule of showing up 9 to 5 every single day.
And yes, there’s still a little voice in me that whispers during my quiet phases: You’re procrastinating. But I’ve learned to pause and go deeper. And more often than not, the answer I find is filled with grace.
Lately, I’ve started respecting this cycle. Thanks to the people who’ve written about it and shared their stories. I recently read how
took a courageous step of closing down her online art shop and reopening it every now and then.I’m glad that things in my life keep reminding me that everything flows.
There’s an ebb and flow to everything.
Like last week, when I was cajoling my younger brother into giving me a head massage (perks of sibling love). He massaged my head for a good while and then said, “It’s done.” I sighed and said, “Why do good things end so quickly?” And he replied, “Well, bad things end too.”
Wisdom. That landed.
We’ve both completed a 10-day Vipassana meditation retreat (meditating in silence for ten days in an ashram-type setting) and share a common language for living a wholehearted life. One core idea from Vipassana that stays with me is: Impermanence. Nothing is permanent.
But then the practical part of me pipes up: “Wait, Rachna. You’ve got bills to pay.”
The only answer I’ve figured out for myself is this: Build an emergency fund during your creative peaks so you can sail through the lows. And enjoy both periods as a natural part of being human.
Good work isn’t just about maximising productivity. It also means holding space for yourself to just be… and appreciating the season of life you’re in.
Nature shows us this every day. Even in autumn, when it looks like everything is falling, it’s doing its own kind of quiet work. So are we.
This post is simply an invitation to cherish yourself in every season of your life :)
Take a Little Pause 🌼
Which season are you in? What does this season need from you? Maybe it just needs rest.
I’d love to hear. 😊
My Moment of Pause/Calm🌿
The first few hours of my morning. I’m loving the onset of the rainy season here in India. It gives me the luxury to stay in the park a little longer, with just the right amount of sunshine.
What have you heard, seen, or done this week that brought you a moment of calm? I’d love to hear! 💛
Now?
Sharing what I’m watching, reading, and learning!
📺 Slowly watching: Nothing at the moment
📖 Happily reading: Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal, and a few Hindi novels (More book recs? Check my list!)
🎨 Doing: Following a pact to run 250 metres for 7 days and slowly get back to running :)
PS: If this newsletter brought you a moment of calm or a spark of inspiration, feel free to share it with a friend! You can also tap the ❤️ button so others can discover it on Substack. No pressure—just love and good vibes. 💛
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Take care! 💛
Rachna
I write Take a Little Pause for those who wish to live a wholehearted life. This newsletter is a journal of my experiments in living wholeheartedly, with each post accompanied by visuals created by me. If you’re on a similar journey, subscribe for free, or consider becoming a paid Patreon to support my writing and help me publish a coffee-table book. 💛
So true and important, thank you for a kind reminder. 💐