Nurturing Creativity Without Sacrificing Sanity: A Modern Artist’s Guide
It’s not just about having a creative mind. Your body and soul matter, too
What I’ve been thinking about a lot lately is why so many great artists throughout history seemed to live in a world of pain and solitude.
When I say artist, I mean everyone who follows their heart and does something creative. Writers, musicians, actors, and painters.
Names like Vincent van Gogh, Ludwig van Beethoven, Frida Kahlo, Kurt Cobain, George Orwell, and Ernest Hemingway come to my mind when I think about the image of the ‘tortured artist.’
My journey is full of creativity.
My biggest passion is, obviously, writing. But I’m also a designer, painter, drawer, and I dabble at music, too. So, it made me think, because I’m an artist, a modern artist, but do I need to be a tortured artist?
Does it really have to be like that?
I don’t think so!
Solitude & Creativity: The Thing About Being Alone with Your Art
Most times, to really get into my creative zone, I need to be alone.
Regardless of what I do, writing or painting, it’s like I’m in this bubble where time doesn’t exist, and it’s just me and my art.
Just last month, I decided to publish every day (which didn’t happen for multiple reasons), and I realized it pushed me into this weird solitude that quickly turned into isolation.
I had writing on my mind all the time.
It cut me off from the real world and wasn’t good.
It reminded me of NaNoWriMo in 2021 when I spent a whole month basically in solitude and nearly broke my mental health.
I don’t have a vivid social life; I only have a few friends here in Canada. But whenever I choose to work on my craft, my art, I still have to decide if I want to live in solitude again or have a balanced life.
I choose balance.
Finding the Sweet Spot Between Health and Creativity
So, how do we find that perfect balance?
How do we keep our creative fires burning without burning ourselves out?
Here’s what works for me.
The Whole Package Matters
It’s not just about having a creative mind. Your body and soul matter, too.
For me, I know I need to
- Get enough sleep (7 hours at least)
- Eat right, which means a plant-based diet with mainly whole-food
- Drink plenty of water (I drink at least 2 litres)
- Drink only one cup of coffee a day and learn to rely on my own energy
- Move my body every day (30 minutes at least)
- Go out in nature every day, even if it’s just a short walk
- Play with my pet
- Meditate every day
- Take magnesium every day
- Let go of the things that don’t matter in 5 years
This might sound boring, but recognizing what impacts you and implementing your toolkit for success makes a huge difference in how you create.
Stay Connected
Alone time is great, but we can’t forget about our friends, family, and community.
Positive, meaningful connections (whether online or in person) matter because they keep us grounded and add more depth to our work.
Have a schedule that works for you. You know yourself the best, after all.
You might crave connection every day in some form; you might be a lone wolf and are okay with weekly brunch on Sunday morning with a close friend.
Life Beyond Art
You have to have some fun outside of your art.
You need to define what ‘fun’ means to you.
When I was younger, I wanted to conform and follow what fun meant to others: going out, drinking, dancing, and going to bed late.
It took me many years, over a decade actually, to realize it wasn’t the definition of fun for me.
Nowadays, I enjoy activities that mostly retired people do, such as bird-watching, easy hikes, and grabbing a coffee in a new place. These activities aren’t just time off but also a source of new ideas and energy.
Do something that makes you happy!
What Does Success Really Mean?
The same thing goes for success.
You must define what success or being a successful artist means.
For me, it’s not about fame or money.
Would it be great to leave some sort of legacy behind? Sure! It’d be sweet.
But more importantly, it’s about loving what I do, growing in my craft, touching the lives of those who see my work, being useful, and earning enough money that I don’t need to worry about money.
That’s what success looks like to me.
Taking Care of Your Mental Health
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s okay to seek help, whether it’s therapy, talking to friends, or joining a community.
I had a burnout in the past, and I never want to go through it again.
Taking care of your mental health is as crucial as taking care of your physical well-being.
The ‘Tortured Artist’ — Is It Just a Myth?
There’s this idea that suffering is necessary for great art.
Sure, tough times can inspire us.
One of my best-performing articles came from one of my failures. One of my most emotion-inducing paintings happened after I went through a dark time.
But I don’t believe it’s the only way to create something amazing.
I’ve realized that this whole ‘tortured artist’ thing can be pretty harmful. We shouldn’t feel like we need to be in pain to be good at what we do.
I’m a designer. I design software, and I’ve never been tortured to succeed in my 9-to-5.
Of course, there were challenging times with difficult personalities, and I’ve been part of toxic teams, but I managed.
If you’ve ever worked in tech (especially as a woman), you know exactly what I’m talking about. If you’ve never worked in tech or are not a woman, just picture constantly being mansplained and interrupted when you talk, where people see your confidence as bitchiness and not leadership. Well, that’s what it feels like.
Luckily, those times are behind me, and I knew it was a path I chose, and I didn’t mind confrontation at work.
So, I was happy to take on this challenge to live a comfortable life & have the time and means to focus on my craft outside of my day job.
The Artist’s Life
Being an artist is about more than just creating art.
It’s about creating a life that lets you be the best artist you can be.
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you must suffer to be great. Instead, aim for a balance that keeps you healthy, happy, and creative.
If you’re new to me, my name is Niki. I’m a part-time writer with a 9-to-5 job in tech.
