I’ve been overthinking a lot lately. I have also been thinking a lot about how overthinking can drain my creativity.
The other day, I posted this on Instagram—partly for me. You see, this lovely illustration took me a few weeks to get to. Not because it physically took that long to draw, but because I couldn’t get out of my head to make it.
It’s ironic, really—spending so much time thinking about making art instead of actually making it. Even more ironic when I’ve spent months creating and now finally sharing my book, Everyday Creativity, which is literally about showing up to create, (even when you don’t have an ounce of motivation to do it)— and my not being able to follow my own advice. Ha!
I’ve learned that the longer I take to move forward with something, the more I overthink my next step.
And when I overthink, I tend to spiral. I get overwhelmed. I get stuck. And then? I do nothing. Procrastination becomes my friend. The creative energy I want to tap into gets buried under a pile of distractions, perfectionism, and the never-ending list of OTHER things that need to get done.
So, on Thursday, I got honest with myself. Jena, are you afraid you’ll get it wrong? Are you afraid you’ll say the wrong thing? What is holding you back?
I let the overwhelm settle for just a moment. And I heard it—that quiet whisper in my heart:
"Just create."
I wish I could tell you that the heavens opened and the ideas came swirling in my mind. It’s never been simple. I wanted to paint by hand, to spread pigments across a page, to get lost in something outside of my head. I saw myself doing it.
But I physically could not get myself to move toward my paints. The resistance was real.
And then, in the midst of my resistance, I felt another nudge—one I knew was from God:
"Daughter, you don’t have to do all that."
I sat there in agreement. And I decided instead of forcing myself into some grand, immersive art session — I’d just use what was convenient. No rules, no expectations—just create.
I battled myself every step of the way.
I battled to get my iPad from the other room. I battled to open it up.
I battled not to be distracted by something easier to accomplish in that moment.
I battled not to jump on Instagram and scroll to “get inspired”.
I battled with the blank page, and then remembered - just to make it easy. I turned it open to one of the sketches I made from my coloring book. I chose random colors. And I just started with one part at a time.
I fought my way through that hour or so and finished the page. The more I focused on just being present and making art, the more I was able to feel some release. Some of those same walls I was building up about it being hard, or me being stuck, or me not having the right words or the right art - started falling down again.
Here’s what all of that is teaching me:
Creativity doesn’t just happen when it feels easy. Sometimes, you have to fight for it.
I’ve subconsciously believed that one day, life will slow down. That there will be a perfect moment when I feel rested, the sun will be shining, and inspiration will flow effortlessly. That on that day I will be a better artist, a better writer, and have the perfect words and art to share.
But that’s not how life presents itself. We are always holding the good and the bad, the busyness and the stillness. We are often given the choice of what matters most for us in the moment.
And while I no longer crave the high strung level of hustle I had 10 years ago, or #teamnosleep — I am remembering something important:
I force myself to do all kinds of things I don’t feel like doing—laundry, dishes, eating an apple when I’d rather have cake (and trust me I fumble that often). So why, when it comes to something that actually fills me, do I let resistance win? (You can probably apply this to so much if you think about it, but we will keep it to creativity for today)
That’s the thing about creativity (or honestly, any habit we know is good for us). Sometimes, the only way is to fight to just start—even when you don’t want to.
But I also know this: fighting for it doesn’t mean burning yourself out. It doesn’t mean forcing yourself into some rigid routine that doesn’t fit your life.
Sometimes, it’s just about the next step.
And maybe that’s why this video from my friend Kathy really struck a cord. She had no idea what I had been struggling with, but I came to mind for her and she sent it to me. (Mind you I hadn’t talked to her in months, love Godwinks1 like that)
Take a watch for yourself, but if you’d like the cliff notes - it was a clip of an artist’s grandmother—a video that went viral because of how much her words resonated with people. Her granddaughter had recorded her Grandma’s response to her in a moment of life where she was down about her artwork, feeling depressed, unsure of her way forward. And this was the grandmother’s advice in the video:
“Look at yourself in the mirror,
Wash your face.
Put your makeup on.
Put your clothes on.
Then say: What must I do next?
I must have a little breakfast,
Or I must have a cup of tea,
And then I will start this little thing that needs doing.
You’re not going to worry about anything else at that moment.
And when you’re done with that,
You think: I need a cup of tea in the café or gallery,
I’ll go there and have it.
That’s my reward and I deserve it, because I’ve done those things.”
I watched that video a handful of times.
It’s so simple. But isn’t that what we need most when we’re stuck? Not some grand plan, not an overhaul of our life—just the next thing.
Because on the other side? There’s life. There’s still struggle, sure. But there’s also a flicker of hope, of momentum, of you coming back to using all the pieces of you again.
Your Gentle Nudge: Try This…
If you’ve been feeling stuck—whether in your creativity, your work, or just your daily routines—consider this your nudge.
Try this the next time resistance is keeping you from the thing you know you need:
Take one deep breath. Let the tension in your body settle, just for a second.
Use what’s in front of you. A sticky note, your phone’s Notes app, an iPad, a sketchbook, a journal—whatever is easiest.
Set a timer for five minutes. Your only goal? Begin.
Ask yourself: What must I do next? Borrowing wisdom from a now-viral grandmother’s advice:
Wash your face.
Sit down.
Make a mark.
Just do the next thing—not the whole thing.
Celebrate the fact that you showed up. Even if it was messy, even if it was tiny—honor the effort, not just the outcome.
That’s what Everyday Creativity is really about. Not perfect routines, but gentle nudges. Small moments of showing up.
And maybe, just maybe, those small moments are enough.
A Gift for You
If you’ve made it this far, I’ve got a little gift. Because I know I’m not the only one who needs this reminder, I created something for you—something small but powerful to keep in front of you when you need a nudge.
I made a set of screen savers from the illustrations I created the other day —words I need to see and some many of my IG friends connected with. Maybe you need them too.
📲 Download them here: Phone Screensavers
Save them to your phone, set one as your background, and let it be your gentle reminder: We need what you create, you need it, too. You don’t have to do it all. Just take the next step.
How can we shift our mindsets from "finishing" to simply taking the next step? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic or anything that helps you when you find yourself in these spaces.
those little serendipitous things that make you know something divine is at work behind the scenes.