Making Art When You’re Tired, Not Inspired

There’s a myth that creativity only happens when we feel energised, motivated, or “in the mood”.

I mean, from my experience, it helps! I certainly find my flow a little easier when I'm in the mood.

But real life isn’t like that. Most days, we’re just… tired. Work tired. Life tired. Brain-full tired. Overwhelmed tired. And if you’ve ever wondered how to stay creative when you feel burnt out or low energy, here’s some good news: you don’t need inspiration. You just need to take it slowly, gently. Move at your pace, at your vibration. Create the same.

Because creativity doesn’t have to be big or brilliant to count. It can be small. Soft. Barely-there.

On low-energy days, try lowering the bar until it almost disappears. 

• Instead of: “I’m going to make a finished piece” Try: "I’m going to sit with colour for five minutes.”
• Instead of: “I should practice properly” Try: “I’ll just doodle while my tea cools”.

Tiny acts still matter. In fact, they often matter more.

When you create while tired, you’re not performing. You’re simply being present. There’s less pressure to impress. More permission to play. And that’s often where the most honest work appears, and you create just for you.

Here are a few low-effort ideas for gentle days:

• Fill a page with one colour
• Trace shadows from objects nearby
• Glue scraps into a messy collage
• Draw with your non-dominant hand
• Copy shapes from nature
• Colour an old page instead of starting new
  

No decisions. No expectations. Just movement. Some days creativity is expressive and exciting. Other days it’s soothing and quiet. Both are valid. Think of it less like “making art” and more like “checking in with yourself”. A soft conversation between your hands and your mind.

And, for those of you who find it difficult to make art without purpose...I know you're out there...this is all material you can return to later if you want to, to transform it into something else. Or you may just find you like it as it is. There are no wrong answers.

So if you’re tired today, don’t wait for the perfect mood. Make something small. Something simple. Something kind. Because when you build a sustainable creative practice for mental wellbeing, it needs to work on the messy days too.

Especially the messy days.

This post is a collaborative effort between AI and myself in order to work a little bit faster.

Do you like what I do? If so please consider supporting the project by buying something from my shop, or becoming a supporter via my buymeacoffee page. You can make a one off contribution, or sign up to a £2 a month membership.