The Art of Rest: Why Slowing Down Fuels Creativity

When I was working a 9–5 job that often demanded planning outside of hours, burnout crept in more and more. I’d push through — until my chronic illnesses flared or my mental health took a hit. It wasn’t until I was forced to rest that I realised how essential recovery time really is, for both body and mind.

When I’m burnt out, I can’t create. The motivation fades. The ideas stop flowing.
But when I rest properly — when I give myself space to breathe and explore without expectation — that’s when creativity starts to return.

Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way, calls this “filling the well.” And that’s exactly what slowing down feels like for me. Letting myself pause, letting ideas percolate in the background — that’s when I’m most able to slip into a flow state and create from a more grounded place.

I’ve also learned that rest doesn’t have to mean doing nothing. I often struggle to sit still with just one thing — so I doodle while I listen to audiobooks, stitch while I watch a video, or colour while sipping a cup of tea. Repetitive, soothing tasks like these offer the perfect kind of restful creativity.

For a long time, I believed: “If I rest, I’m being lazy.”
Even now, that voice sometimes sneaks back in. But experience (and a few crash-and-burn moments) have shown me the truth: if I don’t rest, the quality of my work, my health, and my relationships all suffer.

Rest is not lazy. It’s essential.

As someone who enjoys strength training, I’ve reframed “rest days” as “growing days” — the time when muscles rebuild, making me stronger for the days ahead. I try to think of creative rest the same way. A space for recovery, reflection, and rebuilding. A chance to come back to myself before I pour out again.

If this resonates with you, I encourage you to carve out 5–10 minutes for restful creativity today. You deserve that pause.
Try colouring, journaling, doodling, or going for a walk with your favourite music in your ears.

I’d love to know — what does rest look like for you? And how does it help your creativity?
Let me know in the comments, or come chat with me on Instagram @warmwhimsydesigns. 🌿