Your Creative Energy Is Currency. Spend It Wisely.
You only have so much creative energy each day. Here’s how to invest it where it counts most.
Every idea you chase, project you start, and conversation you entertain comes with a cost.
Not just in time, but in creative energy, the currency that fuels everything you make.
Unlike money, you can’t simply “make more” by working longer hours or getting a side gig.
Your energy replenishes with rest, joy, and focus, but it’s still finite.
And once you’ve spent it for the day, you can’t just charge it to tomorrow’s account without paying interest in the form of burnout.
Why Creative Energy Leaks Happen
Energy leaks often show up in sneaky ways. It’s not like you’re out here trying to catch burnout. None of us are!
Be on the lookout for these creativity zappers:
The overcommitment trap: Saying yes to collaborations or projects that sound fun in theory but don’t align with your bigger vision or require too big of a time/energy commitment that will take you away from what you’re already working on.
Shiny object syndrome: Dropping what’s working to chase the newest trend, tool, or tactic before you’ve given your current plan a real shot.
Emotional drainers: People who love picking your brain but never take action, leaving you feeling like you just did unpaid consulting.
Each leak may feel small, but over time, they add up, leaving less in the tank for the work that actually matters.
Making High-Return Creative Investments
When you think of your creative energy like a budget, you start asking better questions before spending it:
Is this worth the hours and focus it will require?
Does it serve my long-term goals or just keep me busy?
If I finish this, will I feel proud or just relieved?
A high-return project doesn’t have to be flashy.
It could be finishing a piece of writing that’s been stuck in drafts for months, finally launching that small digital product, or deepening your connection with your most engaged audience members.
The return is in the momentum it creates.
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Protecting the Creative Bank
Like money, your creative energy needs boundaries and security:
Block off deep work time and treat it as non-negotiable.
Be slow to say yes. Give yourself 24 hours (or more!) before committing to anything new.
Batch low-energy tasks (emails, admin, editing) so they don’t drain your peak creative hours.
Think of yourself as the CFO of your own creative life, making decisions that keep the account healthy and growing.
Your Energy Is Your Edge
You can have all the tools, followers, and ideas in the world, but if your creative energy is scattered across too many half-starts and should-do’s, your best work never gets the focus it deserves.
Protect it. Invest it.
And watch how your creative “wealth” compounds over time.
Further Reading:
30 Days Of Creative Productivity:
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It’s a little two-for-one to help you level up your creative momentum and do your good things louder!
Learn More:
Q For You:
Where in your creative life are you overspending your energy, and where do you want to start investing it instead?
This was such a powerful reminder! Creative energy is a gift, and I’ve learned the hard way that if I don’t protect it, everything else will claim it. Thank you for the encouragement to set boundaries, create on purpose, and give our best energy to what actually matters.
I have done all of these in the past, and have gradually removed them by:
Putting a price on my time when I sense someone is constantly asking for something without taking action themselves.
Creating an environment of efficiency toward one project.
Asking myself the questions you shared.
This is a very valuable post.