A small dog sits on a kitchen table beside a steaming mug with a spoon inside, a colourful tea towel, and a few slices of toast. The dog stares directly at the camera, giving the scene a cosy but slightly chaotic morning vibe.

Signs of Creative Burnout (That Don’t Look Like Burnout at First)

Debbie Palmer

If you're wondering whether you’re just a bit tired or quietly combusting — you're not alone.

This is what early burnout symptoms can actually look like for creatives.
Or at least make you laugh before you cry into the slightly sticky pile of well-meant intentions on your desk.

Stage 1: Early Signs of Creative Burnout (Disguised as Productivity)

You tell yourself it’s just a dip. A wobble. A minor blip in the grand scheme of things.
Maybe it's just a caffeine rush. Or a run of late nights. Nothing serious. Completely fine. Probably.

You declare yourself “absolutely fine” while trying to absorb a YouTube tutorial on setting up an online business — with one ear — as you finally wash yesterday’s dishes at 1:37am.
You sip your tea slowly, partly for comfort, mostly because the spoon’s still in it, and say, “just one day where getting dressed doesn’t feel like an achievement worthy of a certificate.” That’s all I need.

Then you make the list, stare at it, get lost in the middle of it, and start rearranging pens — because somehow, lining up pens feels more productive than choosing where to start.

You pat your printer like it’s doing its best. You thank your laptop out loud. Even ChatGPT has started replying with “Really?” and you’re not sure if that’s progress or a cry for help.
But it’s fine. You’re absolutely fine.

A small fluffy dog with expressive eyes sits on a kitchen table in sharp focus, while an older woman in glasses and a colourful cardigan is slightly blurred in the background, pouring tea into a bowl of cereal. The scene captures a warm, slightly chaotic morning moment at home.

Stage 2: Burnout Symptoms That Look Like Busy-ness

You whisper “I'm resting” while writing Facebook captions and googling how to sleep less.

You stare at the fridge, holding the TV remote, and wonder why the kettle won’t boil. You nearly pour tea on your cornflakes, stopping just in time — thanks to the dog giving you a look that says, ‘We need to talk.’

Then the milk leaks in the fridge and, for a moment, moving out feels like a valid option.

You know that phase — the one where you insist you’re fine, just tired — while stress-eating toast and blinking back tears. The tea’s cold again. Still totally manageable. Nothing a bit of denial and a bowl of cereal can’t fix. Right?

Stage 3: When Burnout Sneaks Up On You (And You’re Still Smiling)

A stranger says, “you’re doing great,” and you feel it in your throat — the sudden pressure of un-cried tears. You nod, say thanks, then immediately pretend to need the loo.

The Shopify cha-ching goes off and for a split second, you pause. Not because you're ungrateful — it’s still a good sound — but it’s also a reminder that success occasionally shows up dressed as mild panic.

You scroll past memes about burnout and think, “bit dramatic.” Then realise you’ve been in the same hoodie for four days and haven’t genuinely laughed at anything that didn’t involve a dog on a skateboard.

Still. Probably fine. Just tired. Definitely not burnout. I'm fine.

A frustrated woman with messy hair and glasses sits on the floor holding a pair of socks, yelling in exasperation. A vacuum cleaner and household clutter are visible in the background, capturing a moment of domestic burnout or overwhelm.

Stage 4: When Burnout Stops You Mid-Task

At first, it just feels like another long day.
Then the hoover clogs for no reason and you burst into tears. Or you catch yourself genuinely negotiating with a sock. Or maybe you briefly wonder if lying under the table counts as self-care. That’s when it hits.

This isn’t just tired. This might be burnout — or something dangerously close.

Tiny Human Fixes (That Don’t Involve a Bubble Bath)

Drink some water (and no, tea doesn’t count — actual water).
Eat something that wasn’t ejected from a toaster or unwrapped while typing.
Let the job wait — whether it’s photographing your latest tote bag or answering DMs. The internet will cope.
Speak to a human who doesn’t say “algorithm” in casual conversation.
Sleep. Not a pretend nap — proper, dribble-on-the-pillow kind of sleep.

Time for a Bloody Good Talking To

If you’re nodding along to any of this — the cold tea, the leaked milk, the quiet rage over a lost sock — it might be time to give yourself a proper talking to.

Not the soft kind — the firm, ‘What exactly are you doing?’ kind.

You’re not lazy. You’re not failing. But if exhaustion has become your brand, maybe it’s time to rebrand. Preferably before you start crying over a teaspoon.

Toast and to-do lists aren’t balance — that’s barely coping in disguise.

Be kind to yourself. The real kind. Not just lighting a scented candle while doomscrolling.
Have a proper nap. Eat something colourful. Watch something that makes you laugh.
Let the inbox sulk — it’ll get over it.

And if the mood strikes, you can peek at my make-up bags...But honestly? They’ll still be there after your nap.