Mental Load and Creative Blocks – Why a Full Mind Leaves Little Room for Inspiration

There are days when I feel like Wile E. Coyote—you know, from Roadrunner & Coyote. He takes off running, his legs spinning wildly, yet he stays in place, as if held back by an invisible force. Or even more fitting: he speeds ahead, completely unaware that he’s already run off a cliff. By the time he realizes it, it’s too late.

That’s exactly how I feel with an overflowing schedule. Not just the frantic running in place, but also that delayed realization: Oh no, I’m about to crash!

The more tasks pile up on my list, the less I know where to start. My thoughts jump from one thing to the next: I really need to get this done. But before that, I should… And wouldn’t it make more sense if I first…

In the end, I just keep going in circles—way too fast, yet getting nowhere. Oh no, I’m about to crash…

When the Thought Carousel Turns into a Creative Block

Art is a space of freedom for me. But how can I think freely when my mind is cluttered with lists? Creativity needs downtime, detours, open spaces—it doesn’t happen on command between two scheduled appointments. Telling yourself, You’ll be inspired from 3 to 4 p.m., just doesn’t work.

Since art is my profession, I make time for it regularly. But even in my line of work, there are plenty of other things to take care of—administrative tasks, communication, paperwork. And I still remember what it was like when art only got a tiny sliver of the day between family, work, and household responsibilities. How much harder must it be when creativity isn’t planned as a priority at all? When it’s not a must like a tax deadline, but instead a want that keeps getting pushed further down the list?

There’s always something important, something urgent, something that needs to get done or remembered. A mind overloaded with tasks is like constant background noise. To-dos keep popping up—an unfinished project, an unanswered message, a vague commitment lingering in the back of my mind. Maybe none of it is truly urgent—yet it’s there. A relentless hum in the background.

And that hum only grows louder—especially when creative time isn’t intentionally scheduled. Other things take priority, just quickly, and in the end, there’s hardly any space left for art. The longer you go without being creative, the harder it becomes. Inspiration can’t be forced—but it can be trained. And it withers if it keeps getting pushed aside.

Mental Load: The Invisible Pressure

Several tabs are open in my browser window. Some I need urgently, others I wanted to check quickly at some point, and some have been open for so long that I don’t even remember why. Everything is there at once, but nothing is truly finished.

When this doesn’t just happen on a computer but in your mind, it’s called Mental Load. Every unfinished task is like a tab running in the background, quietly draining energy—whether it’s an unanswered email, a package that still needs to be returned, or an idea for a project you hope to start someday.

The more that piles up, the harder it is to keep track. At some point, the mental processor overheats. The mind grows tired, and even simple decisions start to feel overwhelming. Constantly juggling so many things is exhausting. No wonder there’s not just no time left for creativity—but no energy either.

How to Clear the Mind

Constant mental or physical overload can lead to serious health issues, including depression. Taking care of yourself, acknowledging your needs, and simply doing something just for you is not selfish. In every flight safety briefing, they tell you to put on your oxygen mask first—because only then can you help others.

Art and creativity ground us, build confidence, improve communication, help process difficult emotions, and reduce stress. When it comes to balance and self-care, creativity is the oxygen mask. The mind won’t empty itself on its own. When Mental Load blocks creativity, intentional countermeasures are needed.

Externalizing Thoughts – The External Brain Principle

My mind is not a good storage space. Everything I try to keep in mind stays open like a browser tab, consuming energy. The simplest solution? Offload it.

That can be anything—a notebook, an app, a simple to-do list. Write it down – get it out. The moment I put something on paper, my brain knows: I don’t have to hold onto this any more.

Creative people often have a hundred ideas at once. And many vanish because they were never captured. I’ve made it a habit to have a place for loose thoughts. I use a sketchbook for ideas, a calendar for appointments, and if inspiration strikes while I’m out, I record a voice memo.

It’s not about acting on everything immediately—it’s about getting it out of my head and into a safe place.

Don’t Put Creativity at the Bottom of the To-Do List

Art is often treated like a reward: “Once I’ve finished everything else, then I can…” But the problem is: Everything else never really gets finished.

Especially when the day is already packed, it helps to schedule creative time intentionally—as a fixed appointment, not just as a filler. Sometimes, even 15 minutes are enough for something that has nothing to do with productivity. A few sketches, playing with colours, jotting down thoughts.

So, is it really such a big deal if the laundry pile sits there for another day? (Maybe it’s not just a cliché that artists' homes look a little different …) Either way, creativity is not a reward—but it rewards. And generously so, if we just give it a little attention.

Being Intentionally Unproductive

Pauses are not stagnation—they are fuel. Creativity often doesn’t come when we actively chase it, but when our mind finally stops searching for a solution. Walks, daydreaming, quietly sitting on a bench—all of these help to reorganize thoughts.

Sometimes, I don’t even realize how loud my mind was until it suddenly becomes quiet. Inspiration can’t be forced, but it needs space to appear. And that’s impossible if your mind is already busy with the next task.

Preventing the Crash Before It Happens

Wile E. Coyote doesn’t fall because he runs too slowly—he falls because he races over the edge without realizing it. And just like that, when we try to keep everything in sight at once, we often fail to notice when it’s simply too much.

But—do I really have to think of everything?

There are tasks that no one else can take on. But often, I hold onto things in my mind that aren’t solely my responsibility. Do I do this because I’m used to it? Because I think it has to be this way? Mental Load isn’t just a matter of organization—it’s also about expectations. The feeling of personal (and entirely unfounded!) inadequacy often leads us to take on more than we can carry.

The mind doesn’t just need breaks—it needs trust. Trust that I don’t have to get everything done immediately. That not everything rests on me. That art, creativity, and free space are not luxuries but essential things that need room—before the crash becomes inevitable.

And trust, too, that inspiration will come—if only you give it the space it needs.

Household, family, finances, appointments—my partner and I share these responsibilities. He can count on me, just as I can count on him. So there’s no real reason for me to shoulder everything alone. I just have to let go.

How do you deal with Mental Load? Do you consciously make space for creativity, or do you still struggle with the feeling that you have to take care of everything else first?
Let me know in the comments.