Have you gone through periods where writing feels exhausting?
Maybe you wrote a deeply personal essay, tackled a brutal scene, or spent an hour second-guessing every word you typed. You might be proud of what you accomplished but walked away feeling wiped out.
It is common for writing to leave us emotionally depleted, at least some of the time. Writing is more than just putting words on a page; it requires energy, vulnerability, and intense focus.
The problem is that we can run ourselves down too much and then struggle to stick with our writing routines, causing our projects to lag. Without scheduling activities that regularly replenish our creative energy, we can risk full-blown burnout over time.
Let’s talk about why writing takes so much out of you and, more importantly, how you can restore your creative energy so you can keep going.
Why Writing Feels Exhausting
1. Writing Requires Deep Emotional Energy
Even if you’re writing fiction, your words come from somewhere inside you. Every scene, every sentence, every piece of dialogue is infused with emotion—yours or your characters’. Writing often requires you to relive memories, process complex emotions, or step into the shoes of someone going through something intense.
That kind of emotional engagement is tiring. In a way, you’re going through everything your characters are going through, and not just your main character—the others, too. So it’s no surprise you can emerge from a writing session feeling drained.
2. Writing Involves Constant Decision-Making
A study published in the National Library of Medicine (PMC6119549) explains that decision fatigue occurs when repeated decision-making depletes mental energy, leading to lower-quality decisions and reduced willpower.
Writers constantly make micro-decisions about word choice, tone, structure, and pacing. This ongoing mental effort adds up. Decision fatigue is real, and when you’re constantly evaluating your work, it drains your cognitive resources.
When writing feels harder the longer you do it, decision fatigue may be to blame.
3. Writing Exposes Your Vulnerabilities
Putting your thoughts into words is an act of bravery. Whether you’re sharing your work with an audience or writing for yourself, there’s always an underlying fear: What if it’s not good enough? What if no one cares? What if I’m wasting my time? That kind of emotional pressure takes a toll.
4. Writing Activates Perfectionism & Self-Doubt
If you’re constantly editing as you go, second-guessing yourself, or comparing your work to others, you’re making writing even harder than it needs to be. The more pressure you put on yourself to be “good,” the more emotionally draining writing becomes.
When Writing Feels Exhausting: Your Energy Refill Plan
If writing feels like it’s taking more from you than it’s giving back, try this simple 3-step plan:
Step 1: Identify what part of writing drains you the most. Is it emotional vulnerability? Perfectionism? Decision fatigue? Understanding what exhausts you is the first step to fixing it.
Step 2: Schedule one replenishment habit after writing. Whether it’s a creative hobby, movement, stepping away for a break, or one of the ideas below, make sure you’re refilling your energy.
Step 3: Experiment with writing in cycles. Alternate between emotionally intense writing and fun, lighthearted projects. If every writing session feels like an uphill battle, you’re more likely to burn out. Balance is key.
When Writing Feels Exhausting: How to Replenish Your Creative Energy
If writing is taking more from you than it’s giving back, it’s time to refuel. Here are a few ideas for how you might go about this.
1. Create Emotional Boundaries with Your Writing
Just because your writing is personal doesn’t mean it has to consume you. If a scene or topic is emotionally heavy, treat it like deep therapy work—set an intention before you write: “I will write, but I will also take care of myself.”
Try this: After writing something emotionally draining, do a transition ritual. Step away from your desk, take a walk, journal about how you feel, or listen to uplifting music. Give yourself time to recover.
2. Schedule “Creative Recovery” Time
If writing takes energy, you need intentional refueling habits to restore it. Creativity isn’t just about output; it needs input, too.
Try this: After a writing session, instead of jumping into another demanding task, schedule a “creative break.” Do something that refills your emotional well, like:
- Reading something inspiring
- Spending time in nature
- Taking a quick walk outside
- Engaging in a low-stakes creative hobby (painting, music, photography)
- Watching a funny video or listening to a playlist that lifts you up
3. Write Without Judgment
One of the biggest emotional drains comes from judging your own work too harshly.
Try this: Give yourself permission to write badly. Set a timer for 10 minutes and freewrite with zero expectations. Let go of the need for perfection; you’ll find writing feels lighter. If this works for you, try to establish a habit of doing a little freewriting several times a week. The goal is to build a habit of writing with less judgment.
4. Recognize and Honor Your Emotional Limits
Not every writing session has to push you to the edge of exhaustion. If you’re writing something that requires a lot of emotional depth, pace yourself.
Try this: Break emotionally heavy writing into smaller sessions. Instead of pushing through a difficult chapter in one sitting, work on it in sections and balance it with lighter writing days.
5. Engage in a Different Form of Creativity
Give your brain a creative workout that isn’t writing.
Try this: Any fun, stress-relieving activity will work. You could doodle, sculpt with clay, or experiment with photography. Play a musical instrument or redecorate. Activities like this can refresh your mind and make returning to words feel more exciting.
When Writing Feels Exhausting: Final Thoughts
Writing is one of the most rewarding things we can do, but it’s also mentally and emotionally demanding. The key to sustaining a writing practice isn’t always about pushing through—it’s about restoring yourself so you can keep creating for the long haul.
Your words matter, but so does your well-being. Take care of yourself so you can keep telling the stories only you can tell.