Releasing the Pressure to Be Productive & Reclaiming My Joy Spark
I used to create art just for the joy of it. It was my escape, my connection to myself, and a way to express things words couldn’t quite capture. But somewhere along the way, I stopped.
Not because I didn’t love it. Not because I lost inspiration. But because I convinced myself that if something wasn’t productive, if it wasn’t leading somewhere, then it wasn’t worth my time.
Motherhood and business can do that to you. We’re constantly measuring our days by how much we get done—checking things off lists, keeping up with everyone’s needs, making sure we’re staying ahead. And in the process, the things that bring us joy? They start to feel… unnecessary. Indulgent. Even selfish.
How Productivity Took Over My Joy
At first, it wasn’t a conscious decision. I’d tell myself, I’ll paint later. I’ll sit and create when I have extra time. But there was never extra time. There was always something more urgent, more productive to do. And slowly, without even realizing it, I let go of something that had once made me feel alive.
I started seeing time differently. Every minute had to be accounted for, moving me closer to a goal—business growth, household tasks, parenting responsibilities. If I couldn’t see a tangible result from something, then why bother?
But what I didn’t realize was that I was handing my power over to this endless cycle of doing. The pressure to be productive wasn’t just stealing my creativity—it was stealing my sense of self.
Why We Need Space for Our Joy Spark
It took me a long time to see what was happening. I kept feeling this nagging sense of depletion, like something was missing, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. I was doing all the things—showing up in my business, taking care of my family, planning, executing, working.
And yet, I felt disconnected.
I had lost my joy spark.
I started to understand that productivity is a tool, not a measurement of my worth. That constantly trying to optimize every moment wasn’t actually making me happier or more successful—it was just making me exhausted.
Joy isn’t a reward for getting everything done. It’s a necessity.
Reclaiming Joy as a Form of Personal Power
When I finally picked up a paintbrush again, something clicked. I had been telling myself that creativity didn’t have a purpose—but the purpose was the feeling it gave me.
And that feeling? That’s what keeps us aligned, fulfilled, and in our power.
Reclaiming joy means choosing to do things that don’t have an immediate payoff. It means making space for things just because they light you up. Because when we allow joy back in, we step out of survival mode and into alignment.
Here’s what I’m practicing now:
✨ Doing things for the sake of joy, not just results—creating art, dancing in the kitchen, taking long walks with no agenda.
✨ Letting go of the guilt around rest & play—understanding that I don’t have to earn these things.
✨ Protecting my energy from the pressure to always be productive—reminding myself that my worth isn’t tied to my output.
You Deserve Joy, Too
If you’ve been feeling stuck, uninspired, or disconnected from yourself, ask: What brings me joy? And when was the last time I let myself do it?
You are not meant to be a machine. You are meant to feel alive.
So here’s your invitation: Go do something that sparks joy, with zero expectations. Let it be unproductive. Let it be messy. Let it be yours.
Your joy is your power. And you are worthy of both. 💛
