Entrepreneur Advice: Recovering From a ‘Creative Hangover’

Creativity is an essential trait for small business owners. It’s what inspired your business in the first place and what drives you to continue innovating.

A study, recently published in The Journal of Positive Psychology, suggests that while being creative can improve one’s well-being, it can also lead to a “creative hangover,” or feeling negative emotions, the following day. Here’s what to know.

Creative bursts may lead to negative feelings the next day

The research tracked 355 adults — 202 creative practitioners and 153 "comparison participants” with “lower creative engagement,” according to the study’s authors — across baseline measures and 13 daily surveys to assess creativity and well-being.

The creative practitioners reported higher baseline well-being in engagement, relationships, and meaning. They reported enhanced well-being (including engagement and accomplishment) on days with heightened creativity.

When analyzing multiple days, the comparison participants had “positive carry-over effects of creativity” on their emotions and relationships the next day, wrote the study’s authors. However, creative practitioners experienced higher negative emotions the day after creative engagement, which researchers called a “creative hangover.” In the comparison group, lower well-being was associated with creativity the following day, but not for creative practitioners.

Researchers noted that “while immediate benefits of creativity may be somewhat universal, temporal dynamics between creativity and well-being differ based on the level of creative engagement, highlighting the importance of tailoring interventions.”

How to recover from a ‘creative hangover’

Previous research shows that creativity and well-being go hand in hand. Positive well-being can enhance creativity, and being creative can enhance well-being. Here’s how to ensure this reciprocal relationship stays intact so you avoid the “creative hangover.”

Understand the effects of creativity 

Creativity can be rewarding, but some studies suggest that it can lead to burnout, which negatively impacts well-being. People working in creative fields are particularly at risk. So it’s important to understand how heightened creativity affects you.

This latest study examined well-being related to positive emotions, engagement, meaning, accomplishment, and experiencing positive relationships. If you struggle in these areas after engaging in creative work, it’s a good idea to rethink how you expend your creative energy — or seek guidance from a mental health professional. Doing the latter is especially important if your sleep is disrupted or if you’re feeling burned out.

Spread out your creative energy

Instead of spending several hours a day on super-focused creative work, think about how you can spread it out. Break up long-term creative projects into smaller, more manageable tasks to preserve your creative energy. Or, alternate between heavy and light creative days.

Studies also suggest that U-shaped pacing (where you work quickly, then slowly, then quickly again) and staggering deadlines can improve creative project outcomes. A 2020 study suggested that planned breaks and other expected work interruptions positively impacted one’s creative performance.

Develop healthy recovery habits

Like physical activity, your creative muscles need time to recover. So take breaks. A 2022 study found that short breaks can be helpful, but “the longer the break, the greater the boost” on work performance. Letting your mind rest and wander has also been shown to increase creative performance.

Generally taking care of yourself is crucial too. You can lower your risk of burnout by setting boundaries, managing stress, getting adequate sleep, eating healthy, exercising, spending time with family and friends, and asking for help when you need it, according to the American Psychiatric Association.

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