Midlife isn’t the problem.
Creativity is oxygen. You might be holding your breath?
MONOTONY is.
“I wasn’t exhausted. I was underfed — creatively, emotionally, spiritually. It took me a litle while to realise the difference.”
creator of maison 1973, Nic Tierney
Where Has Our CREATIVITY Gone?
There’s a particular kind of fatigue that doesn’t come from overwork. It comes from underfeeling. Underimagining. Undercreating.
And if you’re a Gen X woman waking up each day wondering why the spark is gone, wondering why a full night’s sleep still leaves you feeling flat—you might not be burnt out. We spend so much of our time reading, talking thinking and worrying about navigating through all of our midlife hormonal and ‘life shifts’ – but sometimes it’s not about any of that.
You might just be creatively underfed.
Let’s dive into this interesting space a little more.
The Myth of BURNOUT (And Why It’s Not Always True)
We’ve been sold the idea that burnout means we’ve worked too hard, too long, for too little reward. And sure—that’s part of it. But many women in midlife are doing less than they did ten years ago, and yet feel more emotionally depleted than ever.
Why? Because what’s missing isn’t capacity. It’s creative nourishment.
Burnout is collapse. It’s the body saying no. But creative starvation is subtler. It shows up as:
- Restlessness in rest.
- Mindless scrolling that leaves you hollow.
- Emotional flatness.
- A longing you can’t quite name.
We’re not broken. Our inner world is hungry. We know the feeling all too well.
“Midlife didn’t dull my ambition. It just redirected it. Now I crave doing what I do best – creating. Not busyness.”
creator of maison 1973, Nic Tierney
Competence Isn’t CREATIVITY
If you’re a Gen X woman, you were more than likely raised on grit, efficiency, and survival. You’ve spent decades holding everything together, knowing what to do, and doing it well. You’re probably damn good at your job, your calendar, your life…and everything in between.
But somewhere along the way, being competent became the enemy of being curious. Of being lit up. Of not knowing, and playing anyway.
And here’s the kicker: a life full of function without imagination becomes… beige. Not bad. Just blunted.
This isn’t about quitting your job to become an artist (or absolutely it could be if that’s what lights your fire). This is about asking yourself: Where am I letting the spark go dim, because I’ve convinced myself I don’t have time to feel it?
Whatever it is—your spark can re-ignite.
maison 1973
How to Tell if You’re Creatively UNDERFED
You might not be aware it’s happening. But here are some signs:
- You’re consuming more than you’re creating (even if creating just means journaling or arranging flowers).
- You feel uninspired by the things that used to excite you.
- You crave depth but settle for distraction.
- You’re always ‘tired’ but rest doesn’t work.
- You long for something…but can’t name what.
If any of these sound familiar, you’re not alone. And you’re not failing. You’re just a little creatively underfed.
What Creative NOURISHMENT Actually Looks Like
Let’s be clear: this isn’t about being productive. This isn’t about monetising your hobby or learning to paint so you can open an Etsy shop.
Creative nourishment is about doing something for the sheer joy of it. It’s doing something you don’t need to be good at. It’s about creating energy, not output.
Here’s what that might look like:
- Putting on music and dancing alone in the kitchen.
- Re-reading a novel you loved at 22.
- Drawing.
- Doodling
- Art – in all forms. Admiring it.
- Start a blog
- Take beautiful pictures
- Wander without intent.
- Daydreaming.
- Making something – anything.
- Cooking something new. Or something old and comforting.
- Wandering in nature.
- Writing a letter
- Creating a mood board
- Playing – with a guitar, an instrument, a new gadget.
- Rearranging your shelves by colour.
- Lighting a candle at 3pm, just because.
Creativity isn’t always grand. Sometimes it’s just giving yourself permission to care and be playful and letting your mind just wander. Get lost in our thoughts.
Why Midlife Is a Creative PORTAL
Most people think of creativity as youthful: the domain of 20-somethings and start-ups. But midlife? Midlife is actually one of the richest, most potent portals for creative reinvention—if we choose to walk through it.
Here’s why:
- You care less about other people’s opinions.
- You know yourself better than you ever have.
- You have been through all life has offered so far – good and bad.
- You’ve survived enough to know what matters.
- You’re not here to prove. You’re here to express.
And creative expression is the exact antidote to the ‘grey fog’ of modern life.
THE maison 1973 Takeaway
This isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing different.
At maison 1973, we believe:
- Creativity isn’t a luxury—it’s a life source.
- Midlife isn’t a crisis—it’s a privilege.
- You don’t need to be good. You just need to be willing.
- Just start – do, change, repeat
And when we create (whether it’s a dish, a sentence, a feeling, or a space), we re-enter our world with fresh eyes.
If you feel like you’re stuck in beige… If you can’t remember the last time something lit you up… If you’re craving something more, but unsure what…
This is a call back to your creative self.
It’s not always ‘burnout’ – maybe you just need to feed your inner creative. Sometimes it’s not about the five-year plan. You just need a spark. And maybe it starts with a messy doodle, a walk without your phone, or a playlist you haven’t heard since 1996.
Whatever it is, let’s find it. Because it’s wonderful.
Midlife isn’t an ending-
maison 1973
it’s an invitation.
You in?