One of depression’s great tragedies is its tendency to blunt creativity.
(I know there are counterexamples. But the general trend is toward stagnation.)
Too many talented people lose their spark during depressive episodes.
This problem applies to everyone—not just the people we traditionally call “creatives.” Dark periods can throttle ingenuity in even the most “predictable” careers.
I never believe people when they say they aren’t creative. Creativity is much broader than most people imagine. It’s the driving force behind great work—the flexibility to blend old and new as we solve problems. Creative output can be as lush as a painting or as sterile as a grant application. Creativity connects us to our work.
As we build antidepressant lives, nurturing creativity reconnects us with the generative side of being human.
There’s no need to create something you don’t care about. You (like me) may not want to pick up drawing or photography, but you can absolutely lean into the creative pursuits you’ve previously enjoyed [1].
A small creative step is usually better than a big project. Splatter a little paint on a cheap canvas. Cook a simple recipe. Write a few lines of prose. Play a small prank on a friend. Brainstorm one outlandish solution for a problem at work. Create one new meme. Throw together a few chords. Set aside the need to monetize everything you do [2].
Succeed with simplicity; you can’t create your magnum opus in an afternoon. And trying to take on too much can lead to failure, pulling you back toward depression.
Footnotes
[1] I write every week because it forces me to think broadly and edit tightly. Is it great? No. Will it produce some grand new outcome? Also no. But the creative challenge is good for me.
[2] Most of us can’t make a living with our preferred form of creativity. That’s OK. But don’t let your life fall by the wayside while you develop your career.