why creative rest?
Burnout is a debilitating experience that slowly seeps into every crevice of your life, much like a shadow lengthening with the setting sun. It's an insidious exhaustion that transcends the physical, reaching deep into the emotional and mental spheres. You feel as though you're trapped in a thick fog, with every task, no matter how small, feeling like an insurmountable mountain. The world outside your window seems to move in a blur, and you feel disconnected, as if encased in a glass bubble, watching life pass by but unable to fully participate in it.
Burnout, particularly prevalent in health care and education professions, is a unique form of emotional weariness. It's like walking through a dense forest with a heavy backpack, the weight of which is the constant exposure to the suffering, stress, and emotional demands of those you are helping. You begin to feel a profound emotional and physical exhaustion, a sense of helplessness and detachment, and a noticeable decrease in empathy and compassion. The very traits that once drove your passion to help others - empathy, care, and compassion - now feel like burdens.
Burnout and compassion fatigue are well-documented issues that have significant impacts on individuals in helping professions especially.
In "Understanding the burnout experience: recent research and its implications for psychiatry" by C. Maslach and M.P. Leiter, they delve into various conceptual models about the development of burnout and its subsequent impact. Their research focuses on the relationship between the dimensions of burnout, providing a comprehensive understanding of this experience (Wiley Online Library).
Compassion fatigue specifically has been studied in the context of helping professions as well. A study titled "Prevalence of compassion fatigue among helping professions and relationship to compassion for others, self‐compassion and self‐criticism" by N. Ondrejková and J. Halamová, explores the prevalence of compassion fatigue among different helping professions (Wiley Online Library).
In "The resilient practitioner: Burnout and compassion fatigue prevention and self-care strategies for the helping professions", the authors discuss how compassion fatigue is prevalent in helping professions more generally and is not specific to any one field (Google Books).
Within this experience of burnout, a longing for creative rest often emerges. This is not about simply stepping away from work, but rather, engaging in activities that replenish the drained emotional reserves. It's about fully engaging in activities that allow expression without demand or judgement. This could be painting, where each stroke allows a release of emotion; music, where each note resonates with inner feelings and brings comfort; or even gardening, where the act of nurturing life can restore a sense of control and purpose. The desire for creative rest is a longing to reconnect with oneself, to rekindle the flames of passion and compassion that have been dulled by constant exposure to stress and emotional labor. It's about finding balance and reigniting the joy and satisfaction that made one choose to work in a helping profession in the first place.
what elements do effective techniques have in common?
Effective creative rest techniques commonly involve various forms of rest, each catering to different aspects of well-being. The seven types of rest, as identified by Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, include physical rest, mental rest, spiritual rest, emotional rest, sensory rest, social rest, and creative rest. Creative rest, in particular, is the rest an individual experiences when they are able to appreciate beauty in any form, reawakening a sense of awe and wonder. This can be achieved through activities such as spending time in nature, engaging in artistic pursuits, or simply surrounding oneself with visually appealing and calming elements. These techniques are essential as they allow the brain to recover capacity to adapt, making creative rest an integral part of the overall restorative process. Scientific studies have shown that creativity often flourishes when the mind is at rest, and overwork can dull creativity. Artists and activists like Tricia Hersey, founder and creator of The Nap Ministry, help us to recognize rest as resistance to oppressive forces and remind us of our creative freedom in seeking restoration. Incorporating creative rest into one's routine is crucial for maintaining and enhancing our ability to live fully.
build your own creative rest toolkit
Allocate specific times for creative rest in your schedule. This could be a few minutes each day or a few hours each week, depending on what works best for you.
The tools for creative rest can be simple and readily accessible. They can include a quiet space, comfortable seating, any art materials you may want to use, or even a calming playlist if you find music helpful.
The setting for creative rest could be a quiet and comfortable space where you won't be disturbed. This could be a cozy corner of your home, a peaceful outdoor setting, or any place where you feel relaxed and at ease.
Start by setting aside distractions if you can. Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and take a few deep breaths to help clear your mind. Let your thoughts flow freely without trying to control or judge them. If your mind wanders, gently bring your focus back to your breath. You might find it helpful to set a timer for your creative rest period, so you don't have to keep checking the time.
Click through a few examples in the slideshow below to see what resonates with you.
find supportive community
Finding a supportive community can be deeply satisfying in your journey toward creative rest and overall well-being. This community could be a group of similarly inspired individuals who are also exploring creative rest, or professionals who can provide expert guidance. Sharing your discoveries with others not only consolidates your own learning but also provides opportunities for you to gain insights from the experiences of others.
This could be in the form of one-on-one support with a dedicated professional, a group of supportive friends, or even an online community like art therapist Shauna Kaendo's Creative Community Care. Such a community becomes a safer space for you to express yourself, learn, grow, and celebrate your progress. Creative rest is deeply personal, but it doesn't have to be solitary. In the company of supportive individuals, you can navigate this path with shared enthusiasm, collective wisdom, and mutual encouragement.
reflect on what's most meaningful to you
Reflecting on what's most meaningful to you in your creative rest practice involves diving deep into your experiences and emotions associated with this unique form of self-care. Ask yourself, what aspects of your practice resonate with you the most? It could be the tranquility you feel while painting, the thrill of creating a new dance move, or the satisfaction of baking a perfect loaf of bread. Perhaps it's the mindful moments during yoga or the sense of accomplishment when finishing a captivating book. Consider how these practices contribute to your overall well-being. Do they help reduce stress, improve your mood, or enhance your creativity? Maybe they provide you with a safer space to express yourself or help you connect with your inner self. As you reflect, identify the elements of your creative rest practice that align with your values, passions, and needs. These insights will not only deepen your understanding of what's meaningful to you but also guide you in nurturing and refining your creative rest practice for sustained personal fulfillment and joy.
What specific aspects of your creative rest practices bring you the most joy and fulfillment, and why do you think that is?
Can you recall a moment during your creative rest practice that you felt particularly connected to your inner self or experienced a sense of peace? What were you doing, and what made that moment special?
How have your creative rest practices influenced other areas of your life, such as your relationships, work, or personal growth? Can you describe any specific instances where you noticed this impact?
need more support?
Canadian International Institute of Art Therapy (CiiAT)
CiiAT specializes in virtual art therapy education and clinical services, offering affordable and accessible virtual art therapy services. Their Art Psychotherapy Diploma is recognized by the Canadian Art Therapy Association and the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario.
Full Circle - Art Therapy Centre
This center offers both in-person and remote art therapy sessions, providing a safer space for individuals in need of mental health support. They aim to help people heal through creative processes and offer free 15-minute phone consultations with their art therapists.
SickKids - Creative Arts Therapy
The Creative Arts Therapy program at SickKids supports the health and wellbeing of children, youth, and families through therapeutic relationships using music, art, and play. They provide art therapy for patients ages 5 to 18 years from any inpatient area in the hospital who need support.
references
Brooks, D. M., Bradt, J., Eyre, L., Hunt, A., & Dileo, C. (2010). Creative approaches for reducing burnout in medical personnel. The Arts in Psychotherapy. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0197455610000638
Torres, K. A., Glaros, C., Henry, A., Reed, K., Moss, R. M., & Geller, J. M. (2023). Creative arts intervention to reduce burnout and decrease psychological distress in healthcare professionals: A qualitative analysis. The Arts in Psychotherapy. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S019745562300028X
Nápoles, J. (2022). Burnout: A review of the literature. Update: Applications of Research in Music Education. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/87551233211037669
Kryshtanovych, M., Akimova, L., Akimov, O., & Kryshtanovych, Y. (2022). Features of creative burnout among educational workers in public administration system. Creativity Studies. https://jau.vgtu.lt/index.php/CS/article/view/15145
Reed, K., Cochran, K. L., Edelblute, A., Manzanares, A. J., Rojas, A. D., & Moss, R. M. (2020). Creative arts therapy as a potential intervention to prevent burnout and build resilience in health care professionals. AACN Advanced Critical Care. https://aacnjournals.org/aacnacconline/article-abstract/31/2/179/31039/Creative-Arts-Therapy-as-a-Potential-Intervention
Tjasink, M., & Soosaipillai, G. (2019). Art therapy to reduce burnout in oncology and palliative care doctors: a pilot study. International Journal of Art Therapy. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17454832.2018.1490327
Ho, A. H. Y., Tan-Ho, G., Ngo, T. A., Ong, G., Chong, P. H., Dignadice, D., & Rawtaer, I. (2019). A novel mindful-compassion art therapy (MCAT) for reducing burnout and promoting resilience for end-of-life care professionals: a waitlist RCT protocol. Trials. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13063-019-3533-y
Ifrach, E. R., & Miller, A. (2016). Social action art therapy as an intervention for compassion fatigue. The Arts in Psychotherapy. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0197455615300344
Van der Vennet, R. (2002). A study of mental health workers in an art therapy group to reduce secondary trauma and burnout. https://www.proquest.com/openview/b42fd9a20e9e9a002dfcb675c324b290/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y