The CREATIVE Life Highway

A short guide to traveling smarter.

LIFE IS A HIGHWAY, I wanna ride it all night long…🎶🎵 (3-part series)

As I was writing this, the well-stocked jukebox in my mind (yes, jukebox—I love all things vintage) pulled a record, pressed play, and now the chorus is on repeat. (Not the whole song, mind you—I only know the chorus. 😊)

The creative life is like an unconventional, winding highway lined with what I’ll call significant exits. Markers like Learn Here, Hope, A Win, Disappointment, Success, and other stops that make our lives the colorful journey we must learn to embrace. Each one is a needful stop, a place we must explore before we can move forward to the next.

But there are other exits too—on both sides of the road—along with a sea of blue interstate service signs calling out with purpose, curiosity, and familiar comforts, some tempting you to pull over and stay awhile.

You already know that every exit adds time to your trip. Noted. But some stops take much longer than expected—so long, you might even need to spend the night.

And because you’re tired, hungry, curious, bored, low on fuel, in need of a break, or—God forbid—you have an emergency, you veer off the path and take one of these exits.

These aren’t necessarily your main “marker” exits, but the ones in between. Let’s call these exits: Necessary, Points of Interest, and Distractions.

NECESSARY

The Necessary stops along your creative journey are unavoidable and a MUST! When your body, mind, and spirit have reached a “low” point, you must stop to refill and recharge. You need rest. And sometimes YOU WILL NEED IT MORE than you think. In fact, there are times you will need to stop more than you think.

When you have been driving non-stop, i.e. working on projects, working on someone else’s project, working period—plus taking care of ALL of your other responsibilities—if you are not intentional about rest and repair/self-care, you will B U R N N N n o u t. (add sputter effect)

And slow burnouts are the worst. Here’s why:

1. It feels normal.
   Slow burnout doesn’t announce itself. It creeps in quietly, disguised as just being “tired” or “busy.” You adjust, push through, and don’t realize how much it’s taking from you.

2. It erodes your passion.
   You don’t stop loving your creative work overnight—you just stop lighting up when you do it. The joy fades drip by drip, until one day, you’re just going through the motions.

3. It drains you.
   Constant low-level stress doesn’t always feel like a crisis—but over time, it chips away at your sleep, energy, focus, and immune system. By the time you realize something’s wrong, you’re already running on empty—and recovery takes longer than it should.

The creative life (and life in general) requires giving yourself permission, understanding, and unlimited love. Here are few tips you can try to be sure you take the Necessary exits:

1. Increase your self-awareness.
   Burnout doesn’t always come loud—it sneaks in like a thief. You start sighing more. (That’s my tell-tale.) The activities you used to enjoy start to feel like just another thing. You’re doing, but not really being. So, schedule—yes, actually put it on your phone or calendar—a self check-in every couple of days. Set a gentle reminder that simply says, “How are you—really?” Then pause for two or three minutes. Close your eyes. Ask:

   • Am I tired, or am I exhausted?

   • Do I feel clear or cloudy?

   • What do I need more of right now—rest, joy, connection, nourishment, God?

   You don’t have to journal a novel. Just listen to yourself. These quick soul check-ins help you catch any breakdowns before they become burnout.

2. Schedule play time.
   Don’t wait for an “occasion”. Put play, beauty, and delight on the calendar. Whether it’s a walk, a movie, a dance break, a video game, a museum visit, or quiet time with a book—scheduling fun is protecting your health and your sanity. Okay, maybe that sounds dramatic—but it’s also true.

3. Establish (or re-establish) boundaries.
   Burnout loves blurred lines. Get clear about what’s yours to carry and what isn’t. “No” is your friend. Don’t be afraid to use it. Take breaks without apologizing! And if your boundaries have gotten a little shaky, it’s never too late to shore them up—with grace and firmness.

Necessary exits give us time to reflect, get restored, heal, and grow. You don’t have to rush through them. You’re allowed to pause and get what you need before you get back on the road.

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Next up: Points of Interest—the special places of wonder, connection, and meaning that we find along the way.