u/FS_SwishaHouse

Basically trying to figure out what happened to my creativity and passion for creating.

Throughout most of my life I was single and had the time to experiment with things like graphic design, video editing, and later VFX/3D. I used to get off work and immediately hop on the computer to work on some random idea I had. I’d go out, record videos, edit them, post them, and just create constantly.

When COVID happened in 2020, I learned 3D software so I could create things I imagined in my head, and honestly it was one of the most fun creative periods of my life.

Now fast forward to today — I work remotely, long hours, and by the time I’m done I’m mentally and physically drained. Outside of work, most of my time goes toward my relationship with my girlfriend and spending time with our dogs, which I value and love.

But somewhere throughout these past few years, my creativity and passion for creating slowly faded.

The weird thing is, I don’t even think it’s about "not having time" for passion projects anymore. It feels more like my brain just doesn’t think the same way creatively. I used to think of ideas during lunch breaks or while walking around the block and be excited all day to get home and work on them. Now I rarely get those random sparks of inspiration.

Even opening up Blender, it feels strange now. I forgot shortcuts, workflows, and even basic things I used to do without thinking. Weirdly, that part hits emotionally harder than I expected.

I’ve also wondered if environment plays a role. Since moving, my desk/setup has always felt temporary, and because I work remotely from the same space every day, I almost associate my setup more with work and exhaustion than creativity.

Maybe it’s burnout, getting older, life changes, relationships, or turning a passion into a career. I honestly don’t know.

But I do miss that version of myself that constantly wanted to create things just for the fun of it.

Has anyone else gone through this?

PS this was written entirely from me this time. Hopefully you guys understand my thought process as I hardly write long posts

I've been working in the field for a few years and used to be really consistent with personal work. During COVID especially, I went deep into learning and experimenting - constantly building small projects, testing ideas, and just creating for fun. I'd get ideas during the day and actually look forward to getting home to execute them

Over time, life changed. I’m now working full-time remotely in a creative role with longer hours, and by the end of the day I’m usually mentally drained. Outside of work, most of my time goes to my partner and our dogs, which I value a lot.

But I’ve noticed something I didn’t expect: I’ve completely lost that personal creative flow.

Even opening up software or trying to start something personal feels unfamiliar. Shortcuts, workflows, even just thinking of ideas doesn’t come as naturally anymore. It’s not that I don’t like it — it just feels disconnected compared to how it used to be.

I’m not sure if it’s burnout, life changes, or just not having the same mental space for experimentation anymore, but it’s been hard to ignore.

Has anyone else in vfx world gone through this after a period of consistency or life shift? Did you manage to get that creative flow back?

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about creativity and passion projects, and I’m curious if anyone else has gone through something similar.

Most of my life I had a lot of free time outside of work, and I was constantly creating things — graphic design, video editing, and eventually 3D/VFX work. After work I’d get on my computer excited to build random ideas I had, experiment, and just create for fun.

During COVID, I even picked up 3D software and went deep into learning it just because it felt fun and limitless. I’d get ideas during the day and actually look forward to going home to build them out.

Now fast forward a few years — I work remotely, longer hours, and by the time I’m done with work I’m usually mentally drained. Outside of that, my time is mostly spent with my partner and our dogs, which I value a lot.

But somewhere along the way, my creative drive faded.

What’s weird is it doesn’t feel like a time issue. It feels like my brain just doesn’t naturally generate ideas the way it used to. I don’t really get random sparks of inspiration anymore. Even opening creative tools I used to love feels unfamiliar, almost like I’ve lost that “flow” I used to have.

I’ve also wondered if environment plays a role. Since moving, my desk/setup has felt temporary, and because I work from the same space every day, it’s hard to separate work from anything creative. It almost feels like my brain associates that space purely with work and fatigue.

I guess I’m just trying to understand this shift. Maybe it’s part of getting older, being in a long-term relationship, working a demanding job, or just life changing in general.

But I do miss that version of me that constantly wanted to build things just for the sake of it.

Has anyone else experienced this? And if so, did you find a way to get that part of yourself back?

Appreciate it