The Power of Rest: Why Taking Breaks Boosts Your Art Business

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Estimated read time: 8 minutes

Welcome back to another episode of Art + Audience, the podcast designed to help artists grow their businesses, make money from their art, and avoid common missteps in their careers. In this solo episode, Stacie dives into a topic that might seem counterintuitive when it comes to business growth: the transformative power of taking a break.

The Counterintuitive Path To Growth

Many believe that business growth in the creative field means increased hard work, buying more programs, or hiring coaches. While these actions are the right call at the right time, there’s another powerful strategy to boost your artistic spirit: taking a hard, necessary break. Yes, sometimes stepping away from creative work is the best way to treat symptoms of creative burnout!

Stacie’s Journey Through Burnout

Over her 15 years of running Gingiber, Stacie has experienced the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. She has faced moments of extreme burnout, pushing herself to the edge in the name of progress. In 2023, she hit a wall of creative exhaustion so hard that she had to take a two-month sabbatical, which she disguised as a dream trip to Europe with her family. Making her creative projects into a career was indeed a dream come true, but the reality was that she had burned herself out.

Before her sabbatical, Stacie’s business seemed to be in a rut. Despite doing everything “right,” she couldn’t get traction, especially in her art licensing ventures. This led to an identity crisis—how could she teach fellow artists about art licensing when she was struggling herself? She even had a promising deal fall through just before her break. She was showing all the early signs of creative burnout.

The Power Of Rest And Recharging

Taking a long period of time off from her to-do list and creative activities allowed Stacie to reset mentally and physically. It took a couple of weeks to shake off feelings of rejection and imposter syndrome. As she journaled and reflected during her trip, she realized that sometimes, when we want something too badly, we suffocate it. We deprive it of the space it needs to grow. Doing this to your creative journey can lead to symptoms of burnout.

When she returned, Stacie was a changed person. Her team noticed a difference in her creative process, and the momentum in her business picked up in ways that felt almost miraculous. Licensing opportunities started flowing in, and projects that had been stagnant began to thrive. Her work life and creative output mirrored her mental health.

Lessons Learned And Advice

Stacie has learned from her experience that even giving yourself short breaks can lead to breakthroughs. Here’s why stepping away can be crucial:

1. Clarity and Perspective: Time away from work can give you a fresh perspective. When one is exhausted, even simple tasks feel monumental.
2. Preventing Overwork: Over-caring for a business can be detrimental. Like overwatering a succulent, too much attention can stifle growth.
3. Rejuvenation: Rest helps one return with new ideas and renewed energy, which an audience can feel in the art.

Practical Tips For Taking A Break From Your Art Business

1. Completely Disconnect: Lock up the computer and hand over the phone. True rest means disconnecting from artistic work entirely.
2. Change Your Environment: A staycation or a short trip can do wonders. Leaving your usual surroundings helps break the routine.
3. Engage in Non-Work Activities: Spending time on hobbies or physical activities that aren’t related to the business can reignite artistic passion and creativity.

Sharing And Growing Together

Have you ever experienced a breakthrough after taking a break from your creative routine? Stacie would love to hear your artist's block stories. Head over to Instagram and share your experiences on this episodes's post using #ArtPlusAudience. Let's support each other in finding balance and achieving our dreams.

Remember, progress at the expense of well-being isn’t sustainable. Take the breaks you need, regroup, and come back stronger. Your art and your audience will thank you. Thank you for joining us on this episode of Art + Audience. Don’t forget to like, follow, and review the podcast. Your support means the world. Until next time, take care and keep creating!