How to Reconnect With Creativity After a Busy Summer
You know that feeling when September rolls around and suddenly everything is quieter?
The kids go back to school, the garden looks a bit crispy around the edges, and we all collectively take a long, slow exhale.
For me, September is that delicious pause between seasons, a kind of gentle reset button. But for me it can also come with this odd mix of burnout and “What even is my routine anymore?” vibes. If summer was full of activity (or chaos, or both), it’s completely normal to feel a bit lost creatively right now.
So if you’ve spent the last month like me, running around beaches, parks, airports, barbecues, or just generally keeping tiny humans alive… and now you're wondering, “How do I get back to myself again?”
This is for you.
Creativity Takes a Holiday Too
Here’s the thing: creativity doesn’t vanish just because we’ve been busy. It just gets a bit quiet. A bit shy and September is the perfect moment to coax it back.
Not just in painting, I think creativity is in anything that makes you feel more like yourself:
- baking that loaf you’ve been dreaming about
- writing messy little poems
- planting something in the garden even if you have no idea if it’s the right season (no judgement)
- making music
- taking photos
- rearranging your furniture because “the energy felt off”
Creativity is not about being “good.” It’s about connection, with yourself, your energy and your inner spark.
Why September Is the Creative New Year
Forget January. January is cold and grumpy and wants everyone to join a gym.
September, though?
Oh, September is basically whispering:
“Come on… let’s begin again.”
Nature is shifting gears. The light changes, life slows and there’s a softness to the air that makes reflection feel easier.
It’s a brilliant time to take stock:
- What do you need?
- What have you forgotten you love?
- What tiny creative habit can bring you back to yourself?
Start Small
If you’re feeling creatively burnt out, the solution is not to declare that you’re now going to write a novel, paint a mural, and finally start that pottery business by Friday.
Start with ten minutes, five minutes, two minutes, even.
A doodle on a post-it.
A photo of a leaf on your walk.
A quick scribble of a poem that might never see daylight.
Chopping vegetables slowly and calling it "cooking creatively". (It counts.)
Creativity grows from presence, not pressure.
Let Yourself “Make Bad Art”
Or bad cakes, or slightly wonky plant arrangements, or music that only your dog appreciates. September is the time for letting yourself play again after a busy season. Because when you take the pressure off, the magic quietly finds its way back in.
Refill Your Cup Before You Expect It to Overflow
If summer was full-on, then your creative energy might need rest more than productivity.
A walk.
A quiet morning.
A cup of tea that you actually drink while it’s hot!
A moment of nothing.
These are not luxuries, they are fuel.
When you look after yourself, your creativity stands up, stretches, and says,
“Oh hello, I remember you!”
Try This Gentle September Reset
Here’s a simple way to welcome your creativity home:
- Go for a walk or sit somewhere peaceful.
- Ask yourself, “What am I craving creatively right now?”
- Whatever pops into your mind follow it, even if it feels tiny or strange.
That’s the spark. And sparks matter.
It’s OK If You’re Still Coming Back to Yourself
September is a transition month. A bridge. A deep breath.
You don’t have to be fully “back” yet.
You don’t have to suddenly be productive.
You don’t need to have a grand creative plan.
Just begin again, gently.
Reconnect with the things that light you up.
Let creativity be a way of caring for yourself, not another thing on the to-do list.
Because after a busy summer, the most powerful thing you can do is listen inward and follow the quiet pull back to yourself.
P.S. This may or may not have been written for myself as much as anyone else. September arrives and suddenly I remember I’m an actual human being with creative needs… so if you needed the reminder too, you’re in good company.