Wandering Texan Journal

There’s a particular kind of quiet that settles in when my creative fire stalls.

Projects pile up. Ideas feel distant. The sparks that once felt effortless suddenly go dim, and no matter how long I sit with my coffee or stare at a blank page, nothing moves.

Creative ruts have a way of making us feel like something is wrong with us. Like we’ve failed somehow.

The truth is much simpler and far kinder: this happens to everyone.

Why Creative Blocks Happen

Creative blocks rarely show up out of nowhere.

Most of the time, they’re built slowly through burnout, overthinking, lack of time, stress, and perfectionism quietly tightening their grip.

For me, it’s almost always a mix of overwhelm and exhaustion. Life piles on, responsibilities grow heavier, and the creative rhythm becomes something I promise myself I’ll get back to “when things calm down.”

Sometimes that pause lasts weeks. Other times, it’s months.

Restarting can feel daunting and more exhausting than stopping ever did. But I’ve learned something important along the way: getting back into creating doesn’t require a dramatic comeback. It just needs a reset.

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If this reflection feels familiar, I send weekly notes and simple creative ideas to help you reset, reconnect, and create at your own pace. You’re welcome to join me in your inbox.

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When Life Forced a Full Stop

In 2023, my creativity didn’t fade. It stopped. I wasn’t quite feeling like myself.

Health issues arrived one after another. Heart abnormalities. A tumor. Ongoing feminine health problems. Each diagnosis pulled energy from places I didn’t realize were already running low. Recovery wasn’t quiet or simple, especially with a toddler racing through the house and life refusing to slow down.

My small business stalled. Products that once flowed easily no longer did. I tried pivoting, tried forcing momentum, even tried a big sale in the middle of burnout, hoping effort alone would pull me through.

It didn’t.

But here’s the part I hold onto: I didn’t let the hardest moments of that season define the ending.

After stepping away, after letting myself rest longer than felt comfortable, I slowly began choosing forward again. Not all at once. Not perfectly. Just intentionally.

Small Steps That Helped Me Reset

My creative reset didn’t start with a masterpiece. It started with permission.

While pregnant with my youngest, I began toying with the idea of this blog. Writing has always been home for me. It’s how I process, connect, and make meaning out of challenging periods.

Instead of asking how I would do everything, I asked how I could do one thing.

I rearranged my desk to support shorter, quieter work sessions. I brainstormed freely without committing to outcomes. Blog ideas. Schedules. Systems that fit real life instead of trying to push myself through burnout.

From there, writing became easier. Direction started to glow faintly again.

If you’re feeling stuck, here are a few gentle creative reset ideas that don’t require more energy than you have:

• Change your environment. Take a walk, shift your workspace, or move to a different room. New surroundings wake up tired ideas.
  
• Set a 10-minute timer. Doodle, free write, or sketch with no intention of saving the result.
  
• Use what you already have. Limit yourself to a few tools or colors and let constraints guide you.
  
• Try a simple creative challenge. Create something using only three materials or one prompt.
  
• Rest on purpose. Sleep, stillness, and quiet time are creative acts too.

You don’t need a head start to begin again. If burnout or exhaustion stopped you, you’re allowed to plan your way back.

A Gentle Resource Coming Soon

I’m putting together a free list of Creative Reset Ideas designed to meet you exactly where you are. No pressure. No hustle. Just small, doable ways to spark inspiration when creative blocks show up.

Think of it as a companion for the days when motivation fades, and real life settles in.

I’ll be sharing it here on the blog and through Wandering Texan Journal soon.

A Southern-Style Send-Off

Your creativity isn’t gone.

It isn’t broken, lost, or wasted. Sometimes it just needs a reset button, a deep breath, and permission to return in a new shape.

If you’re not sure where to go from the bottom, just look up.

The small rungs of the ladder will still move you toward your reawakening.

What helps your creativity find its footing again?

From my road to yours, happy wandering.