Does being creative wear you out?

[SunnyD]

I'm a software developer. My job is to come up with new, efficient and in my particular case "unbreakable" ways to do things.

My wife jokes and says I sit around on my ass all day... but I tell you, at the end of the day I'm damn tired!

 

[TecHNooB]

Being creative is easy. Actually turning your creativity into something.. very difficult

 

[nakedfrog]

Yeah, I come home mentally fatigued a lot of days (also a developer).

 

[SonnyDaze]

You're mentally drained/tired. I know that feeling.

I was an instructor in the military for a few years and stood on the platform for several hours a day, days at a time. I would get home and my mind would just be mush from talking and answering questions.

 

[InflatableBuddha]

Yep. It's tough coming up with ideas for new threads and witty responses on here. I thought it would be second nature by now.

 

[Crusty]

Totally know what you are saying, especially after a day like today! Nothing like being further behind then I was at the start of the day

 

[Snapster]

Intensive programming always drains me to the point I need to do something completely different to snap out of it, ie gym, play some sport, going out with friends, play games or even just chill. Did you know you also burn more calories the harder you use your brain.... :Q

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: TecHNooB
Being creative is easy. Actually turning your creativity into something.. very difficult

And that's where creativity wears you out. Creativity, for those who are creative in general, is an easy thing. But creating ways to turn creativity into success can really stress the mind if constantly pinging your mind is unsuccessful for long periods.

That's the result of how the mind works. Doing essentially non-creative work isn't as stressful on the mind as is creativity, which is constantly working the mind.

 

[EGGO]

Yes, especially when I stay past work hours just to meet a deadline.

 

[Gibson486]

I do not care what you do, but if you just sit at a computer and go click click, tap tap all day you are gonna be exhausted whether you use your brain or not.

 

[Titan]

It's not the programming, it's the 8 straight hours of it a day that is draining.

I recommend: going to the gym after even if your brain is goo. It will in fact help your brain. Also, get plenty of omega-3's and fish oil, and some B-vitamins, help the brain out.

Caffeine is the devil. But I can say from experience that Mountain Dew is the lifeblood of the programmer!

On thing that sucks about coding is that you often feel unappreciated for it. It helps if you work with programmers at or near your level to share in the glory.

 

[TecHNooB]

Originally posted by: Gibson486
I do not care what you do, but if you just sit at a computer and go click click, tap tap all day you are gonna be exhausted whether you use your brain or not.

Nope. Example: WoW addicts.

 

[nerp]

I write for a living. Some days it's easier digging a 30-year-old maple out of the ground than producing work. And in my business, you can't just show up and go through the motions. You have to be creative or you'll be looking for a new job soon enough.

 

[Train]

Originally posted by: SunnyD
I'm a software developer. My job is to come up with new, efficient and in my particular case "unbreakable" ways to do things.

My wife jokes and says I sit around on my ass all day... but I tell you, at the end of the day I'm damn tired!

Same here, 8 hours trying to write good code fries my brain.

When I did more physical/outdoor jobs I had much more energy.

You can combat this by forcing yourself to workout before work.

 

[Modelworks]

Just the opposite. Usually once I get started I don't want to stop. I am bringing characters to life on the screen which I think is more fun than staring at text all day. I can tell when it is time to stop for the day though, I start doing silly things with the characters like moving their mouths to say things I hear on the radio or start dancing them around in lord of the flies fashion

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: Modelworks
Just the opposite. Usually once I get started I don't want to stop. I am bringing characters to life on the screen which I think is more fun than staring at text all day. I can tell when it is time to stop for the day though, I start doing silly things with the characters like moving their mouths to say things I hear on the radio or start dancing them around in lord of the flies fashion

Never mind, I was thinking Lord of the Dance.

 

[Train]

Originally posted by: Gibson486
I do not care what you do, but if you just sit at a computer and go click click, tap tap all day you are gonna be exhausted whether you use your brain or not.

There is some truth to this. But if I were to sit there and do mindless tasks all week vs designing/writting code... theres a noticeable difference in the exhaustion.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: SunnyD
I'm a software developer. My job is to come up with new, efficient and in my particular case "unbreakable" ways to do things.

My wife jokes and says I sit around on my ass all day... but I tell you, at the end of the day I'm damn tired!

I only get tired if I'm bored. Which if I'm letting the creative juices flow, I'm usually not bored.

 

[Redfraggle]

Being creative comes easily to me. However, if I had to productively be creative at the things I loved most, it would be draining and take all the fun out. This is why I am not any sort of professional chef. I am a fantastic cook, but can't imagine always trying to come up with new dishes and new techniques to keep the clientele coming. I am not sure about being creative behind a computer all day, I've never tried it. I imagine it would potentially wipe me out too.

 

[Fritzo]

Are you kidding me? Of course it does. There are days when I come to work and stare at the screen, having no idea what I'm going to do or where I'm going to go with an idea.

 

[coldmeat]

It's because you're fat.

 

[pontifex]

i definitely know the mentally drained/tired feeling.

 

[Kirby]

I used to program in my free time. Now that I do it 9 hours a day, the last thing I want to look at when I get home is code.

 

[Regs]

Are you at least rewarded with a new idea? I'm usually castrated for trying to take someone elses job.

 

[OhSnap688]

Some people just have the natural talent of creativity. I for one just sit on my butt and things just come to me. Some people need to actually think things through which can wear a person out.