RE: Filling Your Cup
Burnt out? Same. Let's talk about how to refuel when we're running on empty.
Yesterday, I had lunch with a friend who confessed she was in a bit of a funk. She’s a teacher on summer break—technically her time to rest, reset, maybe even get creative and take care of the things she’s been putting off—but instead, she felt uninspired. She wasn’t doing the things she thought she should be doing. She wanted to be creative, productive, lit up by something, but instead she felt like she was wasting her precious time off.
I knew the feeling all too well.
Right now, I’m gearing up for my book’s release and every day feels like a race against a never-ending to-do list. Meanwhile, I’m stuck at the midpoint of writing book two, the kids are on summer break, and my motivation and creativity just feels completely tapped.
So, sitting across from her, I said:
“You’re depleted. You were running on fumes at the end of the school year, and now you need to refill. Be intentional about doing the things that fill you up. Make that your focus.”
And as soon as the words left my mouth, I realized:
That advice was for me, too.
Ideas for refilling your cup
Here’s what I’ve learned (and am still learning):
Forcing it doesn’t work.
If you’re feeling blah, blocked, or like everything you're doing is “off,” try shifting your focus from producing to receiving—from output to input.
Some actions that usually help me when I’m feeling uninspired:
Read what excites you (or to get more of the feeling you’re currently lacking) Want to feel joy? Pick up a rom-com. Craving thrill? Go for a mystery. Let other people’s areas of genius light up that piece of you that feels dormant.
Watch your comfort movies. The ones that remind you why you love stories in the first place.
Go outside. Move. Breathe. Walking in nature is free, and it’s sometimes the very best medicine.
Try writing Morning Pages. If you haven’t read The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, I highly recommend it, but she recommends artists start every morning with a free write in a journal (a minimum of two pages). No thinking. Just letting the pen move across the page. Whatever happens, happens. It’s really incredible what can come from this simple exercise. 10/10 recommend.
Get away. Few things give a jolt of inspiration like a new place or a fresh adventure. (Even a staycation or a day trip can do a lot.)
Reach out. Phone a friend. Book a lunch. Make plans with people who lift you up. It’s an easy thing to skip when you’re feeling meh, but that’s exactly when you probably need to reconnect the most.
Give yourself permission to pause. Sometimes, we’re just in a quiet season. That’s okay. Growth happens underground, too.
I stopped writing for a few years. During that time, I read a ton, lived a lot, and eventually got the idea for a book I couldn’t not write.
Sometimes, you’re not blocked—you’re just gathering. Watering during the dry season, and trusting that the bloom will come.
