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You’d never let your phone die before a big client call. Right? You’d charge it overnight, double-check the Wi-Fi, maybe even close all the apps for good measure.
But your mind? Your nervous system? Your creativity?
We let that run on 2% battery for days—sometimes weeks—before we even notice something’s wrong.
And honestly… it shows. Not in big dramatic ways. But in the quiet moments where everything starts to feel like too much. Where the work that once lit you up now just… drains you.
And yet—because we’re creatives—we keep going. Because there’s always something due. Always someone waiting. Always that one email with the “quick change.”
But here’s the truth I want to sit with today: Mental health doesn’t live in the background of your life. It is your life. And as creatives—designers, writers, makers, thinkers—we feel it deeper than most.
The design isn’t the problem. It’s everything behind it.
There’s this quiet pressure in the creative world. To show up. To smile. To “be professional.” To not let the client see the overwhelm behind your neatly packaged design system.
But just because your files are organised doesn’t mean you are okay.
I’ve had seasons where everything looked fine from the outside—clients were happy, invoices were going out, deadlines were met. But inside?
My mind was cluttered. My body was tired. My joy… missing.
And that’s the thing about mental health. It doesn’t always scream. Sometimes it just slowly dims the light.
Growing up with emotional intelligence (and still burning out anyway)
Now, I should mention—mental health isn’t a new topic for me.
My mom was a social worker for most of her life. A really good one. She’s now retired, but still serves on the Mental Health Board of Namibia (they’re rewriting the Mental Health Act as we speak—go Mum 💛).
So, let’s just say I grew up in a house where talking about emotions wasn’t weird. Boundaries? Big thing. Communication? Expected.
And yet… I’ve still had to learn the hard way that mental wellness isn’t about what you know. It’s about how you live. How you speak to yourself. How you move through a Monday when your soul’s already tired. How you set your pace when the world tells you to sprint.
What mental health looks like for creatives
Let’s make this real. Here’s how mental overload often shows up for us in the creative world:
- You’re always tired—no matter how much you sleep.
- You stop enjoying your work, even though it’s technically what you love.
- Your mind spins with to-do’s, but your body feels frozen.
- You second-guess yourself constantly.
- You keep pushing because you’re afraid to slow down.
It’s sneaky. And it’s so common.
But just because it’s normalised doesn’t mean it’s okay.
Gentle tools for real creatives
(when the mind spirals, the inbox screams, and your body says “enough”)
Let me say this before anything else:
When things get too loud for me—mentally, emotionally, spiritually—I start with prayer.
Simple. Honest. Not always poetic.
Sometimes it’s just: “God, I don’t know what I need right now, but please hold me in this moment.”
Prayer has become a lifeline, not a last resort.
A place to return to when I feel disconnected from myself—and from the bigger picture.
And if you don’t know where to start?
The Bible App has been one of the most helpful tools on my phone.
There are beautiful short devotionals for anxiety, overthinking, even burnout.
And sometimes the verse of the day is exactly what I didn’t know I needed.
Here are few of my favourites:
All About Releasing Creativity
The Ruthless Elimination Of Hurry
Pray Big Things
From that anchor point, I also lean on a few other tools that support my nervous system, body, and creativity:
It might look strange at first—but I promise it works.
You tap on specific points on your body while speaking truth over what you’re feeling.
It’s a powerful way to tell your brain: “You’re safe now.”
I do it when my thoughts are spiralling, or when I feel that familiar stress rising before a deadline.
This is one of those beautiful, almost spiritual tools.
It works with the idea that unprocessed emotions get stuck in our body—and can be gently released.
Think: emotional spring cleaning for the soul.
Dr. Caroline Leaf’s Thought Management
She’s South African (which I love).
Her work teaches us that thoughts are physical, and we can learn to rewire the toxic ones.
If your brain tends to tell you you’re “not good enough” or “behind,” this is a powerful way to take back your mental territory.
Dr. Kim D’Eramo – Mind-Body Connection
She’s all about the science behind emotion + the body.
Stress doesn’t just sit in your brain. It shows up in your gut, your jaw, your breathing.
Her work helps me reconnect with my body, soften my nervous system, and breathe again—literally.
These are deep—don’t expect a quick 5-minute pick-me-up.
They’re more like energetic resets.
When I feel creatively blocked or mentally stuck, I put on one of his longer meditations and let myself be led back into alignment.
My favourite? The Morning and Evening Meditations – free on iTunes
What I want you to know
You don’t have to crash before you care. You don’t have to be diagnosed before you rest. You don’t have to be burnt out before you slow down.
Mental health isn’t just about surviving— It’s about creating a life where you can thrive.
Yes, design is part of your identity. But it’s not all of you.
You are more than your output. More than your performance. More than your productivity graph.
You are a human with a mind that needs rest, a body that needs safety, and a heart that needs softness.
And if the world won’t give it to you… give it to yourself.
One small step today?
Take 10 minutes. Close the laptop. Breathe. Put your phone on charge—and imagine you’re doing the same for you.
Not because something’s wrong. But because you’re worth it.
Your creativity comes from you—so you need to protect the vessel.
You’re allowed to feel. You’re allowed to pause. You’re allowed to not be okay, and still be a brilliant designer.
💬 DM me if any part of this resonated. Let’s keep the conversation going. Because you’re never alone in this.
Design your life, wherever you are.
