Burnout is about exhaustion, but it’s also about losing the ability to be energized by the things that once fueled you. Stephanie Pruitt-Gaines, a poet-turned-entrepreneur, knows this firsthand.
After years of working as a professional artist—traveling for speaking engagements, creating interactive poetry installations, and consulting on the power of creativity—Pruitt-Gaines found herself at a crossroads. Caregiving for her in-laws, managing the emotional toll of midlife, and reassessing the sustainability of her career forced her to hit pause.
“I wasn’t going to just jump back into the public speaking and writing poems the same way,” she says. “I felt very different, and that always comes through in my work.”
Rather than force herself back into the familiar pace of overworking, she leaned into creativity in a new way by building The Creativity Bar, a playroom, makers space, and co-working space where adults can indulge their creativity. Located in Donelson, TN, just outside Nashville, it’s designed to help people reconnect with joy, curiosity, and a sense of possibility.
“Burnout tricks us into thinking we can’t be energized again,” Pruitt-Gaines explains. “Play surprises us with a jolt of energy that doesn’t have to go through our logical mind—it just is.”
For Brittney Oliver, founder of Lemons 2 Lemonade, the space was the perfect backdrop for a recent event. She says the space was a refreshing departure from the many local bars, lounges, clothing stores, coffee shops, and restaurants in the city.
“There are not a lot of Black-owned spaces for hosting events in Nashville,” Oliver says. “It’s nice to have a Black-owned space centered on creativity.”
Oliver hosted a Galentine’s-themed cake decorating class at The Creativity Bar and says the space helped spark the creative process for attendees to decorate their cakes and make new connections.
“Using your hands and doing activities can reduce anxiety,” Oliver says. As an event host, I’m anxious because I want everything to go well and for everyone to have what they need and feel good. Doing a workshop in that space calmed me and opened me up as I sat with attendees and worked on the cakes.”
Aside from fun, play and creativity can be tools for stress relief, creative reconnection, and even healing.
Here’s how Pruitt-Gaines recommends using play and creativity to recover from burnout and reconnect with yourself.
1. Decide That You Deserve Joy
One of the biggest barriers to play is feeling like you don’t have time for it. Many high achievers have internalized the idea that productivity is the ultimate goal, leaving little room for activities that serve no purpose other than to provide joy.
“We’ve convinced ourselves that we do not deserve delight and joy,” Pruitt-Gaines says. “So the first step is deciding that play isn’t frivolous.”
If you’re feeling burned out, ask yourself how long it has been since you did something simply because it made you happy. Then reflect on what’s stopping you from doing more of it.
2. Find a Low-Stakes, No-Pressure Activity
Burnout often strips away creative energy, making it difficult to start something new. Pruitt-Gaines suggests choosing a small, accessible activity that doesn’t require mastery or deep focus.
“Find something that lets you ‘look away’ while still being engaged,” she says. “It’s like how we mindlessly scroll—except this actually fuels you.”
At The Creativity Bar, people often start with simple, hands-on activities like adult coloring books, puzzles, or sensory play objects. The key is choosing something that allows for exploration without expectation.
3. Give Yourself Permission to Be a Beginner
Many adults avoid creative activities because they fear being bad at them. But Pruitt-Gaines argues that embracing a ‘messy first draft’ mindset is essential to recovering from burnout.
“Burnout is sneaky because it makes us feel like we have to figure it all out before we even start,” she says. “But play reminds us that we don’t have to be perfect to enjoy something.”
Try a new creative hobby without pressure. Doodle in a notebook, write in a journal, take a low-stakes class, or experiment with a craft you loved as a child.
4. Notice What You Notice
Part of burnout recovery is reconnecting with your own interests and desires—something that can feel foreign if you’ve been in survival mode. Pruitt-Gaines suggests paying attention to small moments of joy.
“Your body often knows before your mind does,” she says. “If something sparks a little joy or curiosity, follow it.”
Keep a mental or written list of things that make you smile. Maybe it’s the feeling of clay between your fingers, the sound of a certain type of music, or the act of arranging flowers. These little signals can guide you back to yourself.
5. Create a Play Ritual
Building a habit of play even in small doses can help reset your nervous system. Pruitt-Gaines found creative ways to integrate play into her caregiving routine.
“I kept paper and coloring pencils on the counter while I cooked dinner, just for the sake of it,” she shares. “And I turned stressful moments into games. Getting my mother-in-law dressed was hard, so I’d say, ‘Let’s play like we work in a store and dress the mannequin!’”
Whether it’s a five-minute doodle, a short dance break, or a weekly creative date with yourself, incorporating play into your routine can add levity to difficult moments, help restore your energy, and shift your perspective.
At The Creativity Bar, Pruitt-Gaines has designed an environment that encourages creativity from the moment you walk in. The entire space is outlined in black and white, making it feel like stepping inside a giant coloring book.
“I nerded out on black-and-white patterns and how they impact the brain,” she explains. “When your eye sees black space, white space, and then black space again, it creates a neurological space where your brain starts to fill in the blanks. It makes you want to create.”
This simple visual trick taps into an innate human desire to participate, to engage, and to leave a mark. That can be deeply healing for those in burnout.
For Pruitt-Gaines, play has been a way to cope with burnout and a path to rebuild after it. The Creativity Bar, which started as a personal exploration, has now become a space for others to find their way back to joy.
“Healing often feels heavy,” she says. “But play is a way to reset, to remind yourself that you’re still here, still capable, and still creative.”