The Sacred Meh

You know that feeling when you've just come back from a break, your brain’s bubbling with ideas, your heart’s full of fire, and you swear you’re going to hit the ground running?

But instead? You find yourself doomscrolling. Procrastinating. Wandering the kitchen. Feeling fuzzy and inexplicably tired. And all those creative ideas? They swirl, but don’t land.

Welcome to what I call the Great Creative Come-Down - that weird, foggy space between dreaming and doing. And friend? You’re not alone in here. I'm reframing this as a space of gestation; of peace and comfort; a place where you don't have to do the thing - that just letting the thing swirl and fly before it lands. The Sacred Meh.

Let’s talk about it.

Why Am I Not Motivated to Do Things I Actually Want to Do?

This question has been gently haunting my evenings lately - especially after coming home from a break. I want to work on my Ko-fi products. I want to write. I want to build my UGC portfolio. These are my own ideas, my own dreams. So why am I flopped on the sofa again instead?

Here’s what I’ve learned, what I'm doing (or not doing) - and maybe it will speak to you, too.

1. Reentry Whiplash is Real

When you’ve been away from structure, surrounded by sunshine, newness, or rest, your nervous system slows down. Coming home - especially to a world of to-do lists and emails and obligations - can feel like slamming on the accelerator without warming up the engine.

Tip: Don’t rush to be “productive.” Focus on reacclimating, like gently waking your creative self up with soft rituals, walks, or tiny tasks.

2. Creative Overload Feels Like a Block

Having too many ideas can feel just as paralysing as having none. It’s like standing in front of a wardrobe stuffed with clothes and thinking, “I have nothing to wear.” Your brain is holding all those open loops - but without a starting point, it freezes.

Tip: Do a brain-emptying download. No pressure to organise or act. Just let the ideas spill out onto paper or into a notes app. Free them from the bottleneck.

3. The Sofa is Seductive (And Not a Moral Failing)

In the evenings, your body craves ease. And there’s nothing wrong with rest. But creativity needs frictionless access. If getting started requires too much energy (like dragging yourself upstairs to a workspace), you’ll subconsciously avoid it.

Tip: Set up a soft “creative landing pad” where you rest. Bring your laptop into a comfy space. Light a candle. Keep a “Quick Wins” list nearby - just one tiny task you could do if the spark hits.

4. Doomscrolling Is a Nervous System Strategy

Yep - it’s not laziness, it’s coping. When your brain is overwhelmed or emotionally drained, it’ll reach for the easiest numbing tool it knows. No shame here.

Tip: Try a 5-minute Joyscroll. Scroll only to collect images, quotes, or posts that inspire you creatively. Pin them. Save them. Then close the tab. You’ve just foraged for future inspiration.

And Why Do I Feel So Inspired... After a Couple of Drinks?

That moment when you’ve had a glass of wine, and suddenly your inner fire roars to life - you’re filled with clarity, motivation, purpose. You’re ready to change your whole life. But you can’t act on it… because you’re a little tipsy and it’s 10:47pm.

Sound familiar? It happens to me every time I have a little wind-down tipple.

Here’s why it happens:

Alcohol turns down the volume on your inner critic.

That voice that says, “You’ll never stick to this,” or “Don’t bother.” After a drink or two, she takes a nap. And your real self - the one full of vision and desire - finally gets to speak.

It’s not fake. It’s not meaningless. It’s just you, unfiltered.

Tip: Keep a “Tipsy Truths” note in your phone. Jot down those realisations. Revisit them when sober. Those are your soul-whispers, not nonsense.

Tiny Ritual for the Creative Comeback

If you’re gently trying to reawaken your motivation after a break, here’s a ritual to try this week:

1. Make a warm drink (yes, wine counts too if a mulled-wine is on the menu).

2. Sit somewhere comfy - no fancy workspace needed.

3. Open a notebook or your notes app.

4. Ask yourself: “What’s one tiny thing I could do tonight to honour the creative self inside me?”

5. Do that one thing. Or don’t. Even asking the question is a sacred act.

   
   

What if you’re not blocked, or lazy, or unfocused? What if you’re just gestating something precious?

Let it be okay to move slowly. Let it be okay to start again gently. Let it be okay to want your dreams and still struggle to act on them.

There is no rush. You’re allowed to be a slow-burning fire.

Want to Explore This More?

If this post resonated with you, you might love The Intentional Joy Project - my gentle, self-guided coaching method designed to help you reconnect with joy, purpose, and that dreamy, fuzzy fire inside. Come explore.