Stop Treating Creativity as a Luxury

Category: SPIRIT (Resilience)  Key Concept: Prioritization & Burnout Prevention

There is a dangerous narrative in our work culture that says, "I will do the fun stuff once the real work is done." We treat creative pursuits, such as playing the guitar, gardening, painting, or writing, as luxuries. We view them as rewards for being productive.

Karen E. Todd, a registered dietitian and brain health expert, argues that this is backward. Commenting on recent neuroscience findings, she states: "We should prioritize our creative practices the same way we prioritize sleep."

The Spirit Needs Play

Why is this a spiritual issue? Because a spirit without "play" becomes brittle.

When we eliminate creativity from our lives to focus solely on "productivity," we enter a state of mechanical existence. We become efficient, but we lose our spark. We lose our resilience.

The study showed that experts in their creative fields experienced the greatest brain benefits. This implies that depth matters. Diving deep into a passion feeds the spirit in a way that passive entertainment (watching Netflix) never can.

The Defense Application

A leader without a creative outlet is on the verge of burnout.

• Creativity allows the subconscious mind to decompress.
• It provides a "flow state" that lowers stress hormones.
• It reminds us that we are creators, not just workers.

The Challenge: This week, identify one creative activity you have put on the shelf. Pick up the instrument. Open the sketchbook. Plan the garden. Give it 10 minutes a day.

Do it not because it's fun, but because it is essential maintenance.