Creative Burnout by Enneagram Type
If you are an artist or creative of any type, I bet you’ve experienced creative blocks from time to time. But, what do you do if those blocks become more frequent? How do you know when those creative blocks have crossed over and become creative burnout?
Creative burnout is when one experiences emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion related to creative tasks. So many creatives get overwhelmed and burned out and they never see it coming. They start out creating art, then fall in love with the process and the joy it brings them! They decide to create a business using their art. They start their part-time or full-time creative business believing it will be fulfilling and rewarding because they are doing something they love.
But then, a few months later, they are stressed and overwhelmed. Then, it’s not long until creative burnout happens.
Let’s break down the signs of creative burnout for each Enneagram Type. Make sure to read through all of the types, too. Even though these are the common signs of creative burnout for each Type, but you may also be experiencing some of the signs of many of the types.
Then, keep reading to learn the #1 Mistake Creatives Make When Trying to Make Art and Build a Business and what you can do to avoid it!
Enneagram Type 1
A few symptoms or signs of creative burnout for Type 1s include:
- being extra critical and snappy
- being oversensitive to criticism or more sensitive than normal to criticism
- having a lack of motivation to work on your creative pursuits
- experiencing more symptoms of physical illness or exhaustion
- procrastinating on starting or working on creative projects
- becoming easily angered or irritable
Enneagram Type 2
A few symptoms or signs of creative burnout for Type 2s include:
- experiencing brain fog
- exhibiting passive-aggressive behavior
- being more prone to emotional outbursts
- getting easily frustrated by others
- experiencing creative blocks regularly
- wanting to isolate or withdraw from others, even from friends and family
Enneagram Type 3
A few symptoms or signs of creative burnout for Type 3s include:
- being disengaged from your creative pursuits
- having a lack of motivation to work on creative or other projects
- experiencing decreased productivity and creativity
- having feelings of apathy
- being reluctant or unable to make decisions
- finding themselves mindlessly scrolling on their phone or computer
Enneagram Type 4
A few symptoms or signs of creative burnout for Type 4s include:
- constantly comparing their creative works to others’ works
- becoming quick-tempered
- feeling numb and disconnected from their creativity
- avoiding responsibilities
- feeling bodily pain and weakness
- withdrawing from their creative community
Enneagram Type 5
A few symptoms or signs of creative burnout for Type 5s include:
- crying more easily
- suffering from intense self-doubt
- lacking interest in creating and learning new things
- an inability to concentrate and focus
- overworking
- feeling scattered and unfocused
Enneagram Type 6
A few symptoms or signs of creative burnout for Type 6s include:
- suffering from headaches and fatigue
- feeling irritable more than normal
- feeling stuck creatively
- neglecting self-care and paying attention to their own needs
- disconnecting from others
- procrastinating on simple or small tasks
Enneagram Type 7
A few symptoms or signs of creative burnout for Type 7s include:
- feeling like you have an inability to be creatively inspired
- feelings overwhelmingly anxious
- shutting out your friends and creative community
- feeling disengaged
- experiencing a lack of joy
- avoiding starting the day
Enneagram Type 8
A few symptoms or signs of creative burnout for Type 8s include:
- shutting down creatively
- having strong feelings of self-doubt
- struggling with difficulty concentrating
- feeling indifferent about your creative works
- being impatient and having a shorter fuse
- wanting to control most situations
Enneagram Type 9
A few symptoms or signs of creative burnout for Type 9s include:
- having extreme exhaustion
- excessively worrying
- having an inability to sleep or disrupted sleep hygiene
- having mood swings
- isolating from loved ones and friends
- feeling resentful and irritable
The main reason that creative burnout happens is because of one mistake so many creatives make: They try to do ALL. THE. THINGS.
It happened to me, too! We believe that we have to do everything all those so-called “experts” tell us to do to build our dream biz. But trying to do all those things doesn’t work.
If you are experiencing creative burnout, it’s not because you don’t care about your art or work. It’s not because you are lazy or that you aren’t talented.
This burnout you feel is because of the external pressure from all the things people tell you that you need to do, or from your own high expectations and feelings that it has to be perfect to be successful.
Burnout leaves you with no time to do what you love – creating. You feel overwhelmed by all those mundane tasks. Your to-do list stresses you out. So you stop even trying.
But there is a better way, my friend🫶 If you have been experiencing creative burnout and want to learn more, I have a free guide that I created especially for artists and creatives! Click here to sign up to get yours delivered straight to your inbox!
Please remember that if you are noticing several of these symptoms persistently, even just one over an extended period, it could indicate a more serious issue beyond creative burnout. These signs are commonly associated with mental health conditions like depression, anxiety disorders, and seasonal affective disorder, or could be linked to sleep disturbances. When in doubt, seeking advice from a professional is always advisable.
