The Real Reason You're Bored at Work (And What Everyone Misses)
How adding one creative pursuit can transform your energy and prevent burnout
Hey there,
Creative pursuits aren't luxury hobbies. They're the missing fuel that keeps smart people energized and engaged in their work.
You might be rolling your eyes right now. "I'm not creative. I'm logical, analytical, practical."
Sound like you? Keep on reading.
The Burnout Pattern Nobody Talks About
You've probably felt this cycle:
Start a new job excited → Get good at it → Feel bored after a year or two → Wonder what's wrong with you → Repeat.
Most people blame the job. Or think they need a promotion. Or more money.
But here's what I've discovered after working with dozens of smart, analytical people: You're not bored because your job is bad. You're bored because you're only using half your brain.
What "Creativity" Actually Means
Forget paintbrushes and pottery classes for a second.
Teaching is creative. That person who wants to write a book or create educational content? They're channeling years of knowledge into something useful for others. Pure creativity.
Building your own product is creative. After years of implementing other people's visions, designing something that reflects your own judgment feels incredible.
Organizing communities is creative. Whether that's a local meetup, an online group, or even dinner discussions with friends about topics you care about.
Writing is creative. Newsletters, blog posts, books, how-tos. You're taking ideas from your head and putting them into words that help others understand something better.
Learning new skills and applying them is creative. Picking up marketing, design, or sales skills and then using them on your own projects? That pursuit of mastery and real-world application creates something new every time.
The common thread: You're creating something that didn't exist before.
My Own Creative Journey
During lockdown, I felt that familiar restlessness. I started producing music. Had no idea what I was doing, but it felt alive in a way my day job didn't.
Then I organized dinner discussions. Eight to ten people sharing experiences about health, relationships, family. We'd learn from each other over good food.
Later, I started writing online. First on Medium, then newsletters, now on Substack. My goal was simple: develop my ideas and have an outlet for expression.
Each creative project taught me something about myself. Music showed me I loved experimenting. The dinners revealed I enjoyed bringing people together. Writing helped me process and share what I was learning.
None of these needed to be perfect. They just needed to exist.
The Energy Effect
Here's what happens when you add creativity to your life:
Monday mornings feel different.
Work challenges become more interesting (creative thinking spills over)
You have something to look forward to besides weekends (that project you're building, the skill you're learning)
Having a creative project in progress gives you energy even when work feels draining
Life become richer because you're developing new parts of yourself
Start Small, Experiment Often
You don't need to quit your job and become an artist.
Try one small creative experiment this month:
If you love teaching: Record a 5-minute video explaining something you know well
If you're entrepreneurial: Build a tiny tool that solves a problem you have If you enjoy writing: Start a weekly newsletter or blog about something you're learning
If you want new skills: Pick one area (marketing, design, sales) and apply it to a small project
If you miss making things: Pick up any physical hobby for 30 minutes a week
If you're social: Start a small group around something you're curious about
The goal isn't to become a creative genius overnight. It's to discover what energizes you.
Your Creative Side is Waiting
Most smart, analytical people I talk to have this spark hiding underneath their logical exterior. They just need permission to explore it.
What would you try if you knew you couldn't fail?
Until next week, Alex
P.S. What creative project have you been putting off? Hit reply and tell me. I read every message.
P.P.S. If you're a remote software developer feeling that familiar burnout creeping in, I help people unlock their creative side in ways that energize them. Whether that's music, writing, teaching, or passion projects, we figure out what transforms those Monday morning blues into genuine excitement about what you're building. Just something to consider if this resonates
.