Rest, Recharge, Repeat: The Best New Year’s Resolution for Creativity in 2025
Maria and I just returned from a very relaxing and much-needed vacation in Mexico. The last quarter of the year is challenging for most people, but those in the service industry and retail have it the worst. We limped into Mexico, seeking refuge in a small fishing and scuba town we’ve visited before. It’s a place we love—quiet streets, a laid-back rhythm, and the chance to meet new friends we know we’ll see again.
With my small seldom used watercolor kit (no painting took place on this trip although I did bring it to the beach).
Of course, when I got back, I heard the inevitable question: “Did you do any paintings on your trip?” Ugh.
It’s complicated. Maria can tell you—I’m always ready to paint or at least draw. I travel with art supplies ranging from a simple sketchbook and charcoal to my favorite super-mini watercolor kit. (Yes, I paint watercolors—more on that another time.) It’s become a bit of a running joke between us, though, because while I bring my supplies everywhere, and I mean everywhere—just in case inspiration strikes—I can count on one hand how many times I’ve actually unpacked them on a trip.
My girl is hard at work as usual :)
I’ve come to realize it’s not really about getting ready to create. It’s more like Linus’s blanket—my art supplies are my comfort, my security. Just knowing they’re nearby is enough.
Artists need rest and time to recharge like anyone else. But I always get asked if I’ve been productive, as though that’s the measure of a good trip. Do people ask our local NPR hero, and my friend, Tom Bowman, if he wrote anything while vacationing in Croatia last year? Now I’m curious—I should ask him.
I did draw a bit in Budapest.
In Mexico, I was taking a much-needed break. Where else would I have found the time to read a 5,000-word essay on risotto? (New Yorker, December 16, 2024—highly recommended.) I lounged, I read, I people-watched, I drank tequila, and I chatted with my love. And yes, I kept my art supplies close… just in case.
I do sometimes draw on airplanes.
Sure, I probably miss out on some productivity (interpreted as cash), But does anyone really want to see me churn out cheerful Caribbean watercolors? I mean, I probably could sell beach paintings to Eskimos, but that doesn’t mean I should. I’m a brooding tonalist, after all.
For me, this trip wasn’t about creating—it was about recharging. And if that means carrying my supplies without unpacking them, so be it. Sometimes, the best way to nurture creativity is simply to let it rest.