Scattered Energy: The Hidden Enemy of Creative Flow

Abstract

Creativity requires a lot of mental and physical energy. Scattered energy might create a cognitive overload, resulting in an inability to distinguish what is of the essence from what is just clutter filling up our to-do list. That, in turn, could lead to creative, physical, and mental burnout. This short piece grew out of a conversation on embodiment in academia. It explores what it might mean to conserve, redirect, and reclaim our energy, offering a small proposal for doing things differently, more freely, and with intention. Written as an open personal reflection, the article follows three dispersed academics as they examine their own practices and consider what it takes to sustain creativity in a world that constantly pulls us in multiple directions. It argues that embracing slowness, setting boundaries, and recognising the embodied nature of academic work are crucial steps toward more intentional and sustainable creative practice. As a playful provocation, it proposes a fictional, yet very real, course for educators, focused on how to harness scattered energy in service of their own creative and scholarly work.