Creatives have a bad habit of burning themselves out. They stress over every single project, force themselves to work long hours, and constantly forget to take breaks. As admirable as their dedication to their craft is, that kind of lifestyle is completely unhealthy. It’s not going to end well, which is why every artist out there needs to make some adjustments.

In order to jumpstart your creative energy and redefine your work/life balance, you should take a breather every once in a while. Here are a few activities that can help you align and better your working state of mind:

1. Add social interaction into each day. When you’re a creative, your biggest fear is being unproductive – but sometimes, taking time away from your work is exactly what you need in order to do your best work. Make sure you don’t spend your entire day on your own. Work some social interaction into your schedule. Grab coffee with a friend. Go out for drinks with your person. Don’t hide yourself away. Give yourself permission to relax.

2. Meditate. When you work in a creative field, your mind is always buzzing with ideas. Even when you’ve physically stepped away from the location where you work, you’re still mentally there. It’s hard to shut off your creativity. It’s hard to silence the voice in the back of your mind. That’s why you should take at least a few minutes per day to meditate. It will give you a chance to truly relax, to clear your mind, to have a break from all the chaos.

3. Take up a new hobby. Even though you love your job more than anything, it’s still a job. It’s how you pay the bills. It’s a source of stress. That’s why you should search for other creative activities you can enjoy without the pressure. Just like you would never want to make a relationship your entire world, you also don’t want to make your work your entire world. There should be other things that take up your time, other things that bring you joy.

4. Create a schedule with solid break times. Don’t work from the moment you wake up until the moment your head hits the pillow at night. Even though you work for yourself, you should still set hours for yourself. Have a set time when you must be working and a set time when you must be relaxing. Otherwise, it will be difficult to figure out when you’ve done enough for the day.

5. Exercise. Your physical health has a direct impact on your mental health. When you exercise, you end up reducing your stress, increasing your energy levels, and improving your memory. That means, if you start your mornings off with a little bit of exercise, you will have an easier time staying focused and coming up with new ideas for projects.

6. Spend time in nature. When you’re working on a project, it’s hard to think about anything else. You’re existing more in your head than in the real world. That’s why you should take some time to walk outside, explore your neighborhood, and really look at the scenery. Pay attention to the details. Live in the moment instead of counting down until you can resume your work again.

7. Pamper yourself. Have a spa day. Take a long, hot bath. Visit a salon for a manicure and pedicure. Give yourself the chance to de-stress, because it’s easy to get consumed by your passion. It’s easy to sacrifice your mental health in the name of your art. But it doesn’t have to be that way.