Tired by 28, Burned Out by 30

The Creative Hustle Aged Like Milk

In your 20s, you’re the ambitious creative who says yes to every project. By 30, you’re the creative who’s googling, ‘Is it normal to feel this tired?’.

I know, because I’m living it. I’m 28 years old, a mom, and 2024 was supposed to be the year I finally pursued the creative career I’d always dreamed of. No more playing it safe. No more putting it off. With no formal education in a creative field and a background in sales and customer care, I knew I’d have to work twice as hard to prove I deserved my place. The pressure was intense, and the stakes felt even higher.

I’ve always loved creating—it’s what kept me up at night, filled every corner in my countless notebooks, and helped me escape the grind of corporate jobs. So why not make it my career? I said yes to every opportunity—late-night brainstorms, extra tasks, even side projects that seemed exciting at the time. My calendar overflowed with commitments, and for a while, I believed I was making real progress. But eventually, it all caught up to me.

I remember sitting at my desk, staring at a blank screen. A project I had been so excited about just a few weeks ago was in front of me, and I felt… nothing. No enthusiasm. My body was tired. My brain was tired. My soul was tired. Just a deep sense of dread. It wasn’t just one bad day; it was months of feeling like I was running on fumes. Burnout had arrived, and it didn’t knock politely—it kicked the door down.

Why Burnout Hits Creatives Hard (and Fast)

Burnout doesn’t just appear overnight. It creeps in as a result of the pressure we place on ourselves and the expectations the creative world throws at us. If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Creative burnout isn’t just about overworking—it’s about the unique pressure that come with needing to create on the daily to make a living.

1. Passion Meets Productivity Culture

We’re told to find what we love and make it our job. And for creatives, that’s the dream, right? But the problem is, when your passion becomes your pay-check, it’s dangerously easy to overdo it.

You don’t clock out at 5 PM because your ideas don’t clock out at 5 PM. You say yes to everything because ‘what if this is the opportunity?’ You’re not just creating—you’re also networking, touring, marketing, and building a personal brand. Work and life blurred together until there was no separation. I was constantly ‘on’, occasionally running on painkillers and caffeine, unable to ever fully step away and recharge.

2. The Pressure to Be Constantly Creative

When you meet up with an old friend and they ask, “What are you working on these days?” it feels like the weight of the question could crush you. You try to come up with something impressive, but deep down, you’re barely holding it all together. Being ‘the creative one’ becomes part of your identity, and it feels like you’re always on stage, performing creativity.

3. Misaligned Expectations

The reality is: Many of us thought ‘success’ would mean more freedom. Instead, it can feel like endless deadlines, administrative tasks, and less time for the creative work that made us start this journey in the first place. Moments like that make you question everything: Is this really what I wanted?

4. Neglecting Rest and Recharging

I kept promising myself, ‘Just one more project, and then I’ll take a break.’ But that break never came—there was always another deadline waiting, another opportunity, another idea. I thought resting would make me fall behind, but the truth is, never resting made me hit a wall. Creativity thrives on rest, but burnout culture doesn’t leave much room for it.

How I’m Turning Things Around

Burnout wasn’t just a sign that I was overworking; it was a flashing red light screaming I needed to change. It made me question how I was living and what I was working toward. While it’s still a journey, here’s what has helped me start to climb out:

1. Redefining Success

For most of my life, I’ve measured success by how much I was creating, how busy I was, and how impressed people seemed. But that’s not sustainable. Now, I’ve started asking myself: What does success look like if it’s not tied to productivity? For me, it’s about feeling energised by my work, not drained. It’s about having time for hobbies that have nothing to do with my career.

2. Setting Boundaries

This one is tough. As a mom and a creative, it’s easy to feel like I have to be available to everyone, all the time. I’ve had to learn to say no—to clients, to projects, even to friends. I started protecting my evenings and weekends. I set a ‘no answering any messages or calls after 8 PM’ rule. At first, it felt weird—like I was missing out. But boundaries don’t limit your creativity; they protect it.

3. Embracing Imperfection

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that done is better than perfect. I used to obsess over every detail, every edit, every email. Now, I try to let go of the need for perfection and focus on getting things out into the world. Imperfection is where growth happens.

4. Finding Joy Outside My Craft

I’ve started carving out time for hobbies that have nothing to do with my career. I’ll bake something new with my kid. I’ll paint a silly picture with no intention of sharing it. I’ll take a walk and leave my phone behind. Doing something purely for fun reminds me what real joy feels like—and that it eventually finds its way back into my creative work.

Let’s Talk About It

Burnout isn’t a sign of failure as a creative. It’s a sign you’ve been giving too much of yourself for too long. Now, it’s about learning to protect your time and energy.

Your late 20s or 30s can be the time you finally create on your own terms. A phase where rest becomes a form of strength, not a weakness. Where you reconnect with the excitement that made you start this journey.

What would it look like to build a creative life that works for you? Let’s share ideas—your insight might inspire someone else to take their first step toward recovery.

Catch you next time,

Paula