No Spark? No Problem. Creative Energy Has Its Own Schedule
Some days you’re in the zone. Other days, not so much. Here’s how to work with your natural rhythms instead of fighting them, plus some great reads from other midlife nomads.
✈️ Welcome to Midlife Nomads, your weekly hit of real talk, smart ideas, and helpful tools for building a location-independent life through remote work, travel, and business.
G’day from Edinburgh, where I’m soaking up a rare run of sunny weather and riding the energy that’s already building ahead of Fringe Festival. Between long walks and pints, I’m also putting the final touches on a destination guide that’s heading to the publisher by the end of the day and covering a news story.
Between Canada and here, it’s been a week of head-down focus, which has me thinking about creative momentum and the rhythms that fuel it. That theme shows up in a few different ways in this week’s recommended reads, from building the confidence to raise your rates, to finding your footing when everything feels awkward and new.
First, let’s talk about creative energy… and what to do when it disappears.
I’ve come to realize (over many years of blank screens and the frustration that comes with them) that you don’t have to be motivated all the time. You just need to act when you are.
Some days, the ideas pour in. Other days, you’re dragging yourself through inbox cleanup and wondering if any of this matters. That’s normal. The trick is knowing which days are which, and planning accordingly.
When the spark is there, use it. Build, write, draft, explore.
When it’s not, shift to admin, marketing, or lower-effort tasks. This isn’t about pushing harder; it’s about working with your natural rhythms.
And when you work this way, you start to build a cushion; something to fall back on when life gets noisy or your creative energy hits a lull.
I still struggle with the push and pull between creating and marketing. Switching modes is tough, and trying to do both at once almost never works. But I’ve learned that each has its season.
That’s one of the quiet gifts of working for yourself: the ability to notice your own patterns and build around them. To stop forcing and start paying attention to what actually works for you.
Some weeks are for output. Some are for input. Both are part of the process. Which brings me to a little update on our remote business experiment.
Last week, I promised that Trevor and I would share our progress as we build a new income stream—something completely remote-friendly that can take him into his next phase, and maybe even fund a bit more travel together. It’s an experiment, and it might fail spectacularly. That’s okay.
We had a real sprint of progress early on and ticked a bunch of things off the list.
Now, progress has slowed a bit. And that’s okay too. Trevor joins me here in Edinburgh next week, and we’ll pick it back up together. It’ll be a lot easier to brainstorm and build side-by-side than across time zones and video calls.
This is what building something sustainable looks like. It’s not a race, it’s a rhythm. If you’ve been thinking about creating something of your own, I hope this gives you a realistic peek behind the curtain… and maybe even a little nudge to get started.
If you’re in a similar place, whether working on something new or just trying to keep momentum going, here’s something I come back to often:
Ask yourself: What feels doable today?
Not what’s on the master plan, not what you think you “should” be doing, but what actually feels possible, or even interesting, right now.
Some tasks ask for your sharpest thinking. Others just need a bit of quiet follow-through. If something feels heavy, it might not be time yet. That’s okay. Put it aside for now and come back when it clicks.
This kind of gut check keeps me from forcing things that aren’t ready, and helps me stay productive without burning out.
Now for a few things worth your time this week… smart, practical reads I’ve come across that might just meet you where you are.
Why You Should Plan an Exit, Even if You Hope to Never Use It
This practical, clear-eyed guide from Canada Resists outlines how to build an exit strategy not out of panic, but out of preparation. It’s for people who love their country but also want a plan B, just in case.
Whether you're eyeing a snowbird lifestyle or a full relocation, this six-step framework walks you through documentation, finances, healthcare, and more. Think of it like fire insurance for your future… you hope to never need it, but it helps you sleep better at night.
👉🏼 Read 6 Steps to Planning an Exit Strategy on Canada Resists
Yes, Change Triggers People… And You Should Do It Anyway
In this deeply relatable essay, Chris K (a.k.a. the philosopher futurist) breaks down why personal change often triggers resistance not just from within, but from the people around you. When you're trying to show up differently in your relationships, launch something new, or simply speak up more, this piece will help you understand why others might push back… and why that’s not a sign to stop. It’s a powerful reminder that reinvention is real, valid, and necessary, especially in midlife.
👉🏼 Read Why Change Is So Hard by Chris K on thinkfuture
What If You Let Yourself Be a Beginner Again?
In this refreshingly honest piece, Jo Barnes pulls back the curtain on what it actually feels like to start something new in midlife… it’s messy, awkward, and full of second-guessing. From webinar bloopers to abandoned projects, she reminds us that the hardest part isn’t the tech or the time, it’s being willing to be seen starting.
👉🏼 Read Why Most People Quit Before Anything Good Happens on The 50+ Nomad Club
🧰 Tool Tip of the Week: 1Password
If you're juggling multiple projects, accounts, or logins across devices, a solid password manager is a must, and 1Password is the one I've trusted for years. With one master password, it gives you secure access everywhere, generates strong passwords, and stores everything important.
Pro tip: create a Travel vault to keep key documents like insurance, passport scans, and frequent flyer numbers handy and safe wherever you are. Midlife Nomads readers can try it free for 14 days here, no strings attached.
Full disclosure: that’s an affiliate link, which means if you choose to stick with 1Password after the trial, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps support the work we do here, and we only recommend tools we actually use and love.
✌🏻 Miranda
P.S. ICYMI: Freelancers, if it’s been a while since you raised your rates, this no-drama guide walks you through how to do it without losing clients—or your nerve. 👉🏼 Read our No-Drama Guide to Raising Your Rates Without Scaring Clients Away