Writing is a cyclical process. When you ignore the need for rest and try to push through all the time, it’s like over-farming your land. The soil becomes depleted, and soon, nothing will grow.

Written by Leah Byrd

In a world that glorifies hustle and nonstop productivity, it’s easy to believe that good writers are the ones who show up every day, crank out thousands of words, and never run out of steam. But here’s the thing: humans aren’t machines. And creativity isn’t a tap you can leave running forever.

The truth? Writing is a cyclical process. Like the seasons, our energy, focus, and creativity ebb and flow. Some days you’re in full bloom, and the words pour out effortlessly. Other days, it feels like you’re trudging through a creative wasteland.

The Myth of Consistency

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: consistency.

Every productivity book will tell you that consistency is king. Write every day, they say, even if it’s just a little. And while this advice has its merits—habit-building is important—it often ignores the realities of human energy and the cyclical nature of creativity.

Because here’s the dirty little secret: trying to write all the time, without breaks, can actually hurt your creativity.

The Seasonal Nature of Creativity

Think of creativity like a garden. You can’t harvest every day. There are seasons when you plant seeds (ideation), seasons when you nurture growth (drafting), and seasons when you let the soil rest (reflection and rest). Each phase is vital to the health of the whole system.

When you ignore the need for rest and try to push through all the time, it’s like over-farming your land. The soil becomes depleted, and soon, nothing will grow.

Why Resting Isn’t Lazy

One of the biggest barriers to embracing creative rest is guilt.

Maybe you’ve caught yourself thinking:

“I’m wasting time by not writing.”
“If I take a break, I’ll lose my momentum.”
“Real writers don’t rest—they work through it.”

But the reality is, rest isn’t the absence of productivity—it’s a critical part of it. Creativity needs space. It needs quiet moments to regenerate. The best ideas often come when we’re not actively trying to “be creative.”

Think about it: How many times have you had a breakthrough idea in the shower, on a walk, or while doing something completely unrelated to writing?

Embracing Seasonal Rhythms Over Balance

A lot of advice talks about achieving “balance.” But balance implies a perfect, static equilibrium—a mythical state where everything gets equal attention all the time.

The problem? Life doesn’t work that way.

Instead of chasing balance, consider embracing seasonal rhythms. Some seasons of your life will be creatively rich, filled with drafting, editing, or brainstorming new ideas. Others will be quieter—a time to rest, recharge, or focus on other aspects of your life.

Neither season is more “productive” than the other. Both are necessary.

Practical Ways to Honor Your Writing Seasons

Identify Your Current Season:
Take a moment to reflect on where you are right now:

○ Are you in a season of growth, filled with new ideas and creative energy?

○ Or are you in a season of rest, needing space to reflect and recharge?

Give Yourself Permission to Pause:
Rest isn’t just okay—it’s essential. If you’re in a low-energy phase, don’t force yourself to write. Instead, focus on activities that refill your creative well, like reading, journaling, or exploring other art forms.

Plan Around Energy Peaks and Valleys:
Recognize that even within a single day, your energy and focus fluctuate. Align your writing sessions with your natural energy peaks, and don’t feel guilty for taking breaks during low-energy times.

Celebrate the Season You’re In:
Every season has its value. Inner Winter (rest) is just as vital as Inner Summer (creation). Celebrate what each season brings to your writing life.

Join Our “Map Your Energy” Workshop

If you’d like to explore these ideas, join us in-person at our upcoming ‘Mapping Your Energy to do More Meaningful Work’ workshop on Saturday, Feb. 8 at The Studios @ Mesa. It starts at 9am, ends at 11am, and we’ll bring some coffee and donuts. Learn more about the workshop and RSVP on our Meetup. You’ll learn how to:

Review your life through a lens of energy versus time
Understand guilt from ‘not doing enough’ or resting
Build more energy for your writing
Say “no” to good things to say “yes” to great things
Recognize toxic symptoms of unused creativity

If you host an area writing or critique group, or you have access to a message board at a local library, coffee shop, or writerly hangout, click the image at left to download a printable version of our event flyer to share.
*Thank you so much for helping us get word out about our free programming for area authors!*

The Beauty of Letting Go

When we stop fighting the natural rhythms of our energy and creativity, something magical happens. We stop feeling guilty for needing rest. We stop judging ourselves for not writing every day. And we start creating with greater joy and freedom.

So no, you can’t write all the time. And you know what? That’s not just okay—it’s necessary.

Find all of POP’s events on our Meetup page!

ABOUT LEAH BYRD

ARIZONA AUTHOR AND CURIOSITY ADVOCATE, LEAH IS ALSO A RECOVERING PRODUCTIVITY JUNKIE. THE CREATOR OF ‘RHYTHM DESIGN,’ HER EMPATHETIC AND EMPOWERING APPROACH GUIDES WRITERS TO DESIGN LIVES THAT FLOW—BALANCING THEIR UNIQUE WRITER’S JOURNEY WITH REST, AND GROWTH WITH PURPOSE AND INTENTION. SHE LIVES IN GILBERT WITH HER FAMILY, AND IS MOST OFTEN FOUND WITH COFFEE AND A NOTEBOOK IN HAND.

Why you can’t write all the time & that’s ok