How I Protect My Creative Energy

Creativity needs silence, not chaos

There was a time when I felt drained before the day even began.

I’d open Instagram to “just scroll a bit,” check 3 emails, 5 WhatsApp messages, see a few reels, and boom — my head’s already filled with other people’s thoughts before I’ve had one of my own.

That's when I realised — I wasn’t tired.

I was just leaking energy.

What does protecting creative energy even mean?

For me, it’s not about being productive 24x7.

It’s about having space in my mind to think. To make something.

Even if it's a small blog post like this, or just scribbling in my notebook — I want that space.

And if I don’t protect it, everything else will steal it. Especially my phone.

Here’s what I started doing

1. I stopped checking things first thing in the morning.
   I made it a rule. No phone till I’ve done 1 creative thing — even if it’s just journaling one messy thought.
2. I keep my phone away while working.
   Out of sight. I mean literally. I put it behind a book or in the other room. The difference is crazy.
3. I say no to things that drain me.
   You know those WhatsApp groups where nobody listens but everybody talks? Yeah, I left them. No guilt.
4. I protect boredom.
   Boredom is underrated. That silent space when you’re not scrolling, not doing anything — that’s when ideas come crawling back.
5. I don’t try to be available all the time.
   I used to reply instantly to everyone. Now? If it’s not urgent, I reply when I’m ready.

Creativity needs silence

I learnt this the hard way.

When you’re constantly consuming, you stop creating.

When your mind is filled with noise, there’s no room for your own voice.

So now, I treat my creative energy like something precious.

Because it is.

If you’re reading this and feeling drained lately… maybe it’s time to build a small fence around your mind too. Just enough space for your thoughts to breathe again.