Swapping burnout and stress for creative fulfilment and joy for a better 2025.

A quick note from me about by switching your focus from what to why with just 6 questions.

Jan 02, 2025

A quick note from me about swapping burnout and stress for creative fulfilment and joy by switching your focus from what to why with just 6 questions.

The start of a new year is ✨ magnetic✨. A blank slate, fresh energy, and bold goals for what’s ahead. Maybe you’ve already stolen my process for reviewing and reflecting on 2024 and setting goals for 2025 and you are feeling GOOD!!! Anddd no you haven’t just got caught up in the whirlwind, it’s a psychological phenomena that temporal landmarks, aka big changes in seasons or years, flick a switch in our brain and help us find distance, clarity, and new energy.

Whether you’re a creative, practicing artist, or an entrepreneur with a vision, you might be dreaming about:

Building a business or creative practice that aligns with your values.
Expanding your audience and connecting with the people who truly get you and your work.
Selling more of your art, products, commissions, or launches than ever before.
Getting awards, residencies, or collaborations that feel great.
Creating work that pushes boundaries, inspires change, and leaves a lasting impact.

But if you’re feeling stressed, unfulfilled, or overwhelmed—even while chasing these goals—it’s time to rethink how and why you’re working.

We’re often taught to focus on the what—the milestones, the recognition, the growth. But here’s the truth:

if the why isn’t aligned and the how isn’t sustainable or fulfilling, even the biggest wins can feel hollow (and they might not have been the right wins for you anyway).

So, instead of sprinting toward another year of hustle, ask yourself:

Why am I fixated on this marker of success? Is it mine or someone else’s? (Don’t play games for prizes that you don’t even want to win…)
How can I fall in love with the process of what I do?
Why do I want to be this kind of creator, leader, or collaborator? If it’s the right thing, how do I make that happen?
How will I integrate systems and habits into my life to support my energy, creativity, and well-being?
How can I make space and time to fill up my cup? How is the ✨ big magic✨ of art and creativity being nurtured in my life?
How can I create work that feels deeply aligned with my purpose and values?

Because when you focus only on the outcomes—more sales, followers, awards—you risk losing touch with the reason you started. The work you once loved begins to feel like a burden, and the joy of creating gets replaced by pressure, doubt, or burnout.

This is where many creatives and entrepreneurs get stuck. We push harder, buy new tools, or chase quick fixes, but they don’t address the root of the problem:

Constantly feeling like you’re not doing enough.
Fear of failure or being “found out” as not good enough.
Anxiety about whether your work will resonate or succeed.
Struggling to balance creativity with the demands of running a business.
Perfectionism keeping you from taking bold, experimental steps.
A lack of boundaries that leaves you drained and disconnected.

Because let’s be honest: being a creative is tough.

I know because I’ve been there—and because I’ve had the privilege of working with painters, fashion designers, illustrators, digital creators, influencers, and small business owners, helping them navigate the unique challenges of the creative landscape.

It all began over three years ago, entirely by accident. A painter reached out with questions about the art market, showing up online, and pitching for his first exhibition. What started as a few hours of guidance turned into a coaching journey that led to his work being exhibited internationally. Since then, I’ve supported countless creatives in building careers and practices they can feel proud of—professionally and personally.

My coaching approach is deeply personalised. With a CPD-accredited diploma, a BA in Fine Art, and an insatiable curiosity for continuous learning, I bring dedication, insight, and a healthy dose of obsession to every client relationship… and I’m lucky to have now worked with many, many wonderful people.

This Substack is going to become an extension of that work (to help more people with some of the genuinely helpful and super specific good stuff, starting with a breakdown of what you need to know if you’re an artist about social media in 2025! Scheduled for tomorrow eeek!) So if that’s all you want right now, stay tuned for more details of how to get the most out of what I write, and you can stop reading now!! ✋

BUT, I wanted to let you know

(and this doesn’t happen often!) that a few 121 coaching spaces (I only ever have a small number on my books because I have a full time job which I prioritise and love!!) have opened for the first few months of the new year (because I have clients who take January et al off to go on adventures to sunny places… can you believe it??!).

When we work together, you’ll get more than just a set of sessions:

Tailored strategies to help you integrate creativity into your life sustainably
Research and insights to guide your decisions, including curated reading lists and summaries of the latest data
Day-to-day support as your sounding board, creative champion, critical friend, and advocate

Imagine waking up each day with clarity and excitement about your work. Feeling deeply connected to your vision and purpose, not just the results. Building habits and systems that allow you to thrive while hitting those big milestones.

That’s what I help creative visionaries and entrepreneurs like you achieve. Whether you’re working toward your next big launch, expanding your impact, or rediscovering joy in your work, it’s my joy to help you build systems, strategies, and processes of thinking and making that feel as good as the results they deliver.

Success isn’t just about reaching the next goal. It’s about creating a life and legacy that energises, inspires, and fulfils you every step of the way.

This year can be different.

If you’re ready to stop the cycle of stress and start creating with purpose, let’s make this your most aligned, exciting, and fulfilling year yet. ✨ Reply to this email with your big goals for the year (because I’m nosey!!) and if you’re curious then let me know by replying or emailing me directly pminson@icloud.com and let’s jump on a free 20 minute call to chat about some options for working together this year.

(Or you can check out more info here: https://phoebeminson.com/creative-coaching)

Ok fab!! And like I said, this blog is about to expand to include more than what I’m reading, watching and thinking, and essays about visiting prisons (although expect more just like that one! Currently caught up in writing about (to get my own thoughts in a line) lying for a nude portrait, the person who paid thousands of pounds for it, the myth of empowerment, all the complexities of violence towards women, Blake Lively, Sabrina Carpenter, and Black women serving in WW2. It’s a bit of a jumble…) so thank you for opening, reading, and continuing the conversations with me! It’s really lovely.

Have a delightful day, we’ll catch up soon!

Ps. This is what others have said about working with me…

"To any artists/creatives out there I would actively encourage you to book a meeting with Phoebe, even if you think you don't need one, she will bring out of you something you didn't know you had or needed!"

“I booked three one-hour sessions with Phoebe and I can say that they have completely changed my outlook on what I am capable of achieving. I no longer worry about reaching out to people for fear of rejection, I have more confidence in my practice and my power as an artist. This is all down to Phoebe’s wonderful way of working, her pure energy and genuine interest in my practice and her ability to give sound advice without dictating what route you should be taking. She is wise beyond her years and if you get the chance to work with her you should absolutely jump at the chance.”

“Phoebe is a miraculous and unusual being capable of much! She's an artist herself, and she also has the insight, knowledge and experience within other aspects of the art world that you might expect from a curator/advisor decades into their career.”

“It gave me a new understanding of my social media and lots of clear, actionable items to follow. Even a few months later the conversations we had are still helping to guide my actions with my communications. I would highly recommend having a 1:1 session to any artist looking to level up their Instagram.”

"Since our first meeting, I felt at ease and comfortable sharing what I needed from the sessions. We decided where to meet that worked for us both, normally a cute cafe or interesting bookshop, grabbed a coffee and had what seemed like a chat between friends, an informal conversation, except it was full of brilliant ideas, advice and amazing content I could take with me and put into action.”

“One of the best things is that Phoebe always followed up with detailed emails and checked in on me between sessions, giving me little inspirational emails or encouragement to work towards my goals."

All the Art We Cannot See

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