The In-Between Studio: Caring for Your Mental Health Between Creative Contracts.

There’s always a strange silence when a contract ends. No call sheets. No deadlines. No research. No tense collaborative conversations. Nothing. Just silence. Now what?

For me (and I'm sure many), the in-between space can feel like a mixture of relief and sheer panic all at once.

As a trained professional dancer/artist I have been conditioned to chase the next call, the next audition and the next commission. But I was never taught how to care for my mind during the gap. So, I'm on a mission to change this!

This is where The In-Between Studio comes in — a way of reframing this season not as “out of work,” but as a different kind of creative space. A studio for recovery, reflection, and steadying ourselves before the next chapter begins.

Below, I’ll share three grounding practices that have worked for me and, most importantly, continue to protect my wellbeing while I'm in the in-between.

1. Create a “Loose Routine”

When contracts end, structure disappears overnight. That sudden lack of rhythm can heighten anxiety and low mood.

A loose routine is not a productivity schedule. It’s scaffolding for your nervous system - a structure without rigidity. This has worked wonders for me.

Author Cal Newport speaks about the power of focused blocks over scattered busyness (Newport, 2016). The Pomodoro Technique is one practical example of this principle in action (Cirillo, 2006).

During the in-between, the goal isn’t intensity — it’s steadiness.

"Structure often reduces background stress, even if the day stays flexible."

What works for me includes:

• A consistent wake-up window (not necessarily early but consistent)

• One or two focused job-search or admin blocks (max 60–90 minutes) using the pomodoro technique if helpful.

• A daily movement window (e.g., a slow, long walk, pilates/yoga, a 3-5min dance party).

• Planning at least one intentional social or creative touchpoint a week.

  
  

This keeps me focused - not on an outcome, but a steady rhythm of productivity and play.

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2. Separate Self-Worth from Work Output

This one is harder. Much, much harder.

I’ve found that as a creative, the blur between identity and creative output is common. For example, when the work pauses, it can feel like you have paused, that we're are failures, and our 'calling' has become stagnant.

Researcher Brené Brown often describes how shame attaches itself to productivity and achievement — the fear of being “not enough” when we are not performing or succeeding (Brown, 2012; 2015).

But, we are not our work. We are more than our creative outputs. We are more than what others might say about us. Contracts end; it's the nature of the business, and that has nothing to do with our talent or value.

It’s refreshing when artists like Billie Eilish have spoken openly about periods of doubt and anxiety, even amid global success (Eilish, 2021; Apple TV+, 2021). Visibility doesn’t erase vulnerability. Success doesn’t eliminate uncertainty.

I small, but effect way to pushback against the output as values syndrome is through implementing a day of rest.

In the Christian faith, this day is called the Sabbath - a dedicated weekly day of rest and worship. However, this ancient practice can be practised, whether you are a Christian or not!

Setting aside a day for total and complete rest and giving way for boredom to arise, has done wonders for my mental health. I have found that overtime, a day of rest has helped to realign my priorities and offer space and time for creativity to flow naturally.

'But I don't have time for a full day of rest, Sara, I hear you say!'.

Completely fine — adapt as needed, but intentionally block out a couple of hours each week. Be intentional about protecting some “white space” (Funt, 2021), which is known to support stronger performance over the long term.

When you are between jobs, the temptation is to panic-apply, over-network, and prove your usefulness. Sometimes - I find - slowing down can help to see things more clearly.

Your provision, value and worth do not rest solely on your performance.

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3. Track Micro-Wins

When you’re between jobs, progress can feel invisible. Applications sent. Emails unanswered. Ideas half-formed. Tracking micro-wins has been proven to keep momentum visible. So, the final tip is to write down your daily micro wins.

As an example:

• Updated one portfolio section

• Reached out to an old contact

• Went for a 20-minute walk

• Finished a small personal project

• Didn’t spiral after a rejection

  
  

Consistent small wins strengthen perceived self-efficacy, which in turn increases psychological resilience (Bandura, 1997; Seligman, 2011).

Over time, you’ll see that you are still moving — even when it feels slow.

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"The In-Between Studio isn’t about hustling harder. It’s about staying steady physically and mentally while preparing for the next opportunity."

And sometimes, the in-between (however long it lasts) is where the most important work — the internal kind — happens.

With Love,

Sara

References:

• Newport, C. (2016). Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World. Newport argues that sustained, distraction-free concentration (“deep work”) produces higher-quality output than fragmented multitasking.

• Francesco Cirillo (2006). The Pomodoro Technique. Cirillo developed the method of working in timed focus intervals (traditionally 25 minutes), followed by short breaks — a structured way to implement focused blocks.

• Brown, B. (2012). Daring Greatly. Gotham Books.

• Brown, B. (2015). Rising Strong. Spiegel & Grau.

• Apple TV+. (2021). Billie Eilish: The world’s a little blurry [Film]. Apple Original Films.

• Juliet Funt (2021). A Minute to Think: Reclaim Creativity, Conquer Busyness, and Do Your Best Work.

• Albert Bandura (1997) — Self-Efficacy: The Exercise of Control.

• Martin Seligman (2011) — Flourish