If you’re going to make it through the year with your spark intact, now’s the time to take a moment to recharge.
If you’re an Australian maker, designer, artist or creative in business for yourself, you’ve probably already noticed that winter can hit a little harder than the calendar suggests. It’s not just the shorter days, sniffly noses or the heating bills, it’s also the sluggishness, the lack of routine, the kids climbing the walls, and the creeping guilt when you’re not “making the most of your time.”
You’re not a machine. You’re a human being and a creative one at that! Winter tends to test even the most energetic among us. Taking care of yourself isn’t a luxury or a soft option. It’s what keeps your creative well from drying up.
Here are a few simple ways to look after yourself through the cooler months:
1. Schedule Rest Like You Schedule Work
This one’s not glamorous, but it’s game-changing. If you’re the type to block out time for making, marketing, or admin, then you can block out rest, too. Whether that’s a quiet hour with a book, a mid-week sleep-in or simply doing nothing on purpose, it counts. Putting rest in the diary makes it real, and protects it from being eaten alive by “just one more task.”
2. Move, But Don’t Make It a Chore
You don’t have to train for a half-marathon or join a boot camp. A 20-minute walk around the block, a stretch session in your studio, or dancing to your favourite playlist can shake off the cold (and the cobwebs). The point is to get your body moving a little every day, not because you “should,” but because it really does help clear the head.
3. Make Something Just for You
When everything you create is tied to income, it’s easy to forget why you started making in the first place. Take a break from business-thinking and make something with no outcome attached. A sketch, a ceramic wonky mug, a weird collage, it doesn’t matter. What matters is tapping back into joy without a brief or deadline attached.
4. Connect with Your People
Winter can feel isolating, especially when you work solo. It doesn’t have to be a big social occasion, even a cuppa with another creative, an online chat, or a voice note exchange can remind you that you’re not alone. Sometimes a quick rant or laugh with someone who gets it is the best medicine. Are you a Honeyeater member? Join us for a Workshop or a Tutorial.
5. Eat Something Warm and Nourishing
No, this isn’t a wellness mantra it’s just a reminder that toast three times a day doesn’t cut it when you’re trying to run a business. Winter is soup season for a reason. Batch something comforting and wholesome so you’ve got fuel ready to go when things get busy. You’ll thank yourself later.
6. Let the Guilt Go
Rest is productive. Bingeing a series, taking a nap, staring at the wall while sipping tea — these aren’t signs of laziness. They’re necessary pauses. Burnout doesn’t announce itself with a trumpet, it sneaks in quietly and takes your creative energy with it. The best way to sustain yourself (and your business) is to work with your body and mind, not against them.
So as winter settles in, take a moment to check in with yourself. The work will always be there but your energy, creativity and motivation? Those need care and feeding.
A rested maker is a resilient one. And when spring arrives, you’ll be glad you took the time.
