Holding Space for Yourself: Mental Health Tips for Artists

Jennifer Boyer
Jun 19
3 min read

Because being creative doesn’t mean you have to burn out to make something beautiful.

In a world that often demands output, speed, and perfection, artists are left navigating a strange and tender space—making meaning from emotion while still being expected to “produce.”

But creativity isn't just about making things—it's about holding space for your own aliveness, your mind, your emotions, your inner world.

If you’ve been feeling drained, numb, scattered, or like your art is slipping through your fingers, this one’s for you.

Here are gentle, real-world tips for protecting your mental health while still honoring your creative self.

1. Take Breaks Without Guilt

Sometimes you need to stop. Not forever. Just long enough to breathe, feel, and reconnect.

Rest isn’t a reward. It’s a requirement.

Try:

Taking one “no output” day per week
Logging off social media for the weekend
Giving yourself permission to do nothing creative for a day or two

Your imagination will wait for you.

2. Set Creative Boundaries

You don’t have to say yes to every gig, collab, request, or opportunity.

Boundaries protect your time, your energy, and your nervous system.

You can say:

“I’m not available for that right now.”
“I need a slower timeline.”
“That’s not in alignment with my work at the moment.”

Boundaries aren’t blocks—they’re bridges to sustainability.

3. Normalize Feeling Stuck

Creative blocks are not failures. They’re signals.

Sometimes they mean you're tired.Sometimes they mean your project needs to shift.Sometimes they just mean you're human.

Instead of pushing through with force, try asking:

What am I needing right now?
What would feel nourishing to create today?
What if I made something just for me?

Even stuckness has wisdom.

4. Make Your Creative Space a Safe One

Your studio, desk, laptop, or sketchpad shouldn’t be a place of stress. Make it feel like a refuge, not a deadline.

Light a candle.
Add calming music.
Keep something nearby that reminds you why you create.

Your space should hold you while you hold your art.

5. Befriend Your Inner Critic

Your inner critic isn't the enemy. It's just a scared voice trying to keep you “safe” from judgment or failure.

Instead of silencing it, try getting curious:

What is this voice trying to protect me from?
Is there a gentler truth underneath this fear?
Can I make space for both the fear and the creative urge?

Compassion is often the most powerful tool in your mental health toolkit.

6. Don’t Create Alone

Isolation can be brutal for artists—especially if you're struggling mentally.

Find your people:

Join a local or online creative support group
Schedule regular check-ins with a fellow artist
Talk to a therapist who understands creatives

You don’t have to carry your art or your emotions alone.

7. Let Slowness Be Part of the Process

Sometimes the healthiest thing you can do for your creativity is to go slower.

Slowness can mean:

Taking longer to finish a project
Building in more rest between sprints
Allowing ideas to simmer instead of sprinting to the finish

Your nervous system will thank you. And often, your work will deepen.

8. Celebrate the Small Stuff

Mental health thrives on recognition and reflection. Every tiny creative act matters.

Did you journal today? Sketch something? Say no to an energy-draining ask?

Celebrate it. You’re showing up for yourself, and that matters.

9. Get Support If You Need It

If things feel heavier than you can hold, you’re not alone.

There’s no shame in seeking help—from a therapist, a coach, a mentor, or a friend.

Your art needs you well. You are not your productivity. You deserve space to heal, feel, and just be.

Holding Space = Honoring Your Humanity

To “hold space” means to allow, witness, and support without judgment. Can you offer that to yourself? Even on the messy days?

Because mental health isn’t the opposite of creativity. It’s what allows you to come home to it again and again.

You’re allowed to pause. You’re allowed to be soft. You’re allowed to be a whole human—not just a maker of things. Check out the Creating With Impact YouTube channel here for yoga classes and more resources to help support you!