A 6-week group coaching program for burnt out creatives who want to create consistently without exhausting themselves and having to stop (over and over again).
Break The Cycle
Join the waitlist below to be notified of the next round of Break The Cycle.
Here’s how it starts: something reminds you that it’s been WAY too long since you last created.
Maybe you see a fellow writer unboxing copies of their debut novel on social media.
Maybe you attend the opening of your artist friend’s solo exhibition – the friend who started around the same time you did.
Or, maybe a musician you used to think of as a peer announces the release of their first full-length album.
Seeing their success feels like being stabbed in the chest.
You want to be happy for them, you really do.
But the thing is, that was supposed to be you.
YOU were supposed to be published by now, or showing your art at a solo exhibition, or releasing your debut album.
Instead, you’ve ended up here: too burnt out to create, working a day job you hate.
How did this happen? How did you go from having so much promise to feeling like you haven’t done anything with your art??
Suddenly, you NEED to fix this. RIGHT NOW.
So, you make a plan: every day, after work, you’re going to create.
Relief washes over you.
You’re finally going to do it: you’re going to make the art you were born to make.
The little voice in the back of your head starts to say, “You’ve tried this before and it hasn’t worked”, but you push it down.
This time, you really mean it. This time, it’s going to work.
And so, you show up on day 1, maybe even the day after that.
By day 3, though, it’s all over: you’re lying on the couch doomscrolling, too exhausted to create – again! – feeling guilty and disappointed in yourself.
And so you go back to the way things were – never creating, working a day job you hate.
That is, until the next time something triggers you, and the cycle starts all over again…
If you’re stuck in this boom-bust cycle of creating – trying to go from zero to creating THE MOST before falling in a heap, on repeat – I get it. I was stuck there myself, for years.
And, I have good news: It DOES NOT have to be this way.
You can start creating consistently, RIGHT NOW, without exhausting yourself and having to give up (again).
It doesn’t matter how long it’s been since you last created. It doesn’t even matter how burnt out you are. You can begin to create consistently and start moving towards your creative dreams now.
You don’t even have to fix your burnout first.
All it will take to get you creating consistently is a different approach to your creative practice, an approach that works for your burnt out nervous system.
And that’s what you’ll get in Break The Cycle.
In this 6-week group coaching program for burnt out creatives, we’ll work to get you creating consistently without exhausting yourself
Through Break The Cycle, you will…
create more regularly in 6 weeks than you have since you first burnt out
build a creative practice you can stick to, no matter how burnt out you are
continue creating consistently even after the program ends
“Gauri’s work with me led to a short story being published and a 55,000-word draft of a book.”
Do you want to know why you’re stuck in the boom-bust cycle?
The answer relates to hustle culture and your nervous system.
According to hustle culture, to succeed as creatives we need to create the absolute most, every single day, from now until the end of time.
This means:
1,000+ words a day for writers
at least an hour in front of the easel every day for artists
hours of practice and writing each day for musicians
daily creating and rehearsing for comedians and other performers
and so on…
Anything less than that means you don’t want it enough.
Anything less means you don’t have what it takes to ‘make it’ as a creative.
And so, whenever you try to create, you expect yourself to adhere to these standards.
After all, you want to succeed, and that’s what it’s going to take…right?
Even if you can see hustle culture’s metrics for what they truly are – utter bull$^!( – most of us have been steeped in hustle culture our entire lives.
So, although we may no longer be chasing its metrics, its insidious messages can still make us try to create a LOT more than a burnt out nervous system really can.
And here’s the thing: trying to go from zero to creating A LOT uses up a ton of energy.
As you know, being burnt out means that energy is something you’re very low on. On top of that, a burnt out nervous system can’t make energy effectively – and it certainly can’t make enough to keep up with creating THE MOST.
That’s why, within a day or two of trying to create, you invariably collapse in a heap and have to quit.
Creative, here’s what I want you to know:
The reason you ‘fail’ to create over and over again has absolutely nothing to do with whether you truly want to be a creative, or whether you have what it takes to ‘make it’.
The reason you can’t create to hustle culture’s standards is because they DO NOT work for a burnt out nervous system.
Trying to create the absolute most only sets you up for failure and frustration. Trying to create the absolute most is a losing game.
And, the more you try to create like this, the less you end up creating overall.
So, you need a new way of creating, one that works for your nervous system and that will allow you to show up for your art again and again, without fatigue.
In Break the Cycle, you’ll be supported to learn AND implement this new way, so you can create consistently without burning yourself out more.
And then, I’ll support you to gently increase your nervous system’s ability to make energy, so you’ll have more to bring to your art.
“I wrote 2 new songs, the last song I wrote was 5 years ago”
“I had an absolute boost in capacity and output (wrote 2 new songs, the last song I wrote was 5 years ago...), massive insights, a shift of perspective (far more compassion and less shame), motivation and strength!”
– MO XX, musician
Hi, I’m Gauri, and I spent YEARS trapped in the boom-bust cycle.
Like you, I was trying – over and over again – to do what hustle creativity culture had told me I needed to do to be successful: write at least 1,000 words a day, every single day, without fail.
Sometimes my attempts to write like this worked for a few days, but I would inevitably return to my default state – lying on the couch, too burnt out to create.
I never stopped to think about whether 1,000+ words per day was an appropriate goal for a burnt out writer.
And, I never considered the net effect of this all-or-nothing way of creating: that is, most of the time I created nothing.
It wasn’t until I started working with my burnt out nervous system – using everything I knew about the nervous system as a naturopath (a healthcare practitioner who uses herbs, nutritional supplements and diet and lifestyle medicine to improve health) – that things started to shift.
I began letting go of hustle creativity culture’s standards and creating my own, based on my growing understanding of how much I was truly capable of creating from this space of burnout.
To my surprise, I started writing consistently – with an ease that stunned me – before I’d even really done anything about my burnout.
I was finally – finally – free of the boom-bust cycle of creating.
As a creative wellbeing coach, I’ve been getting burnt out creatives creating again – and getting them out of burnout – for four years.
And I would love, absolutely love, to help you start creating consistently, so you can make the art you were born to make.
“I’ve started a consistent practice.”
“My creative practice is a LOT healthier now.
I wasn't creating in any consistent way before the program, and when I did there was a lot of procrastination, angst, and generally feeling awful (either about the lack of consistency, or lack of output, etc). It’d been years since I last finished a project.
Now, I’ve started a consistent practice.
I made significant headway on outlining a new script (that I hadn't even had the idea for prior to the class), and I’m really having a lot of fun with it thus far.
Also, the group sessions were the highlight of my week. Obviously this is challenging ongoing work, but you made sessions into a cozy, safe space & so much fun was had. I felt supported & learned so much from others as they shared about what they were working through."
– Shelby Doubek, writer
The worst part of being burnt out is not being able to create. So let’s fix that!
Through 6 weeks of group coaching in Break The Cycle, you will…
understand exactly why the way you’ve been trying to create isn’t working for you (or your nervous system!)
be supported to create consistently in a way you can stick to, without burning yourself out further
gently increase the amount you can create, without fatigue
leave the boom-bust cycle behind, for good
Just think: in six weeks’ time, you could be creating consistently, finally making the art you long to make!
Who is this for?
Break The Cycle is for burnt out creatives who are ready to leave the boom-bust cycle of creating behind, for good.
It’s for writers, artists, designers, musicians, actors, comedians, performers, content creators – basically, anyone who creates anything.
If you
are tired of trying and failing to create consistently
are ready to try a new way of creating, and
want to be part of a community of creatives who are keen to support each other as they implement this new way of creating
…then I invite you to join Break The Cycle.
“These last few weeks have been very creatively abundant for me.”
“When I first started the program, I was creating a little bit, but these last few weeks have been very creatively abundant for me.
I now have the tools to create sustainability and stability in my creative practice. I'm more likely to come back to create the next day, and sessions have been feeling better to my nervous system and overall more sustainable.
Thank you so much Gauri. This is such a needed program for so many people who have been wounded creatively by so many different systems (academia, capitalism, etc.). I have learned so much and I am going to deeply miss these classes."
– EB Tatum, writer
The details
Program structure
Break The Cycle is a 6-week group coaching program.
It includes 6 x 60-minute live group coaching calls, one call per week.
Calls will be held at 9am on Mondays, Australian Eastern time, starting Monday 2 June.
Here’s when the calls will be in different time zones:
PDT: 4pm on Sundays
EDT: 7pm on Sundays
BST: Midnight on Mondays*
CEST: 1am on Mondays*
IST: 4:30am on Mondays*
You can also use this time zone converter to figure out exactly when they will be for you.
*If enough creatives from the UK, Europe and/or India join the program, I will add a second call time to suit you (Sunday morning/afternoon your time).
Recordings will be available for all calls.
You are, of course, free to attend as many or as few calls as you like.
You also have full choice over how (and whether!) you show up to the live calls: camera on/off, mic on/off, participating fully or observing only.
And, if life happens and you get behind on calls, the recordings will be available for 12 weeks after the program ends – plenty of time to catch up!
Here’s what we’ll cover
The neuroscience of the boom-bust cycle: why creating the most makes you create the least
Reclaiming consistency: how to create regularly despite burnout
Stretching safely: how to create more without doing too much
The art of rest: resting right to support your art
The gift is the present: using mindfulness to make more art
Structure
This is the general structure we will follow:
Welcome and nervous system regulation practice (10 mins)
Topic discussion with self-reflection/Q&A (45 mins)
Closing (5 mins)
If you want personalised support from me, consider the…
This will be like having me in your pocket to help you troubleshoot any issues that come up as you work on breaking the boom-bust cycle.
VIP is for you if:
you know you won’t try the exercises or do the homework unless you have someone to keep you accountable
you’d like the security of having my feedback on whether you’re in danger of doing too much and exhausting yourself again
you want to quickly resolve any issues that come up for you as you get creating consistently – you don’t want to have to wait until the next group call to get help (and risk us running out of time for your question)
you can’t attend the calls live and would like to be coached by me directly in addition to watching the recordings
you’ve been stuck in the boom-bust cycle of creating for a long time and want the maximum level of support to make sure you break out of it for good
How VIP works
You can message me through our private Slack channel any time between calls and I will respond during my ‘office hours’, which are Mon–Fri 9:30am–4:30 pm Australian Eastern time. I commit to responding within 48 hours (business days only), but often reply on the same day.
Feel free to message as often or as infrequently as you want. Some people like the accountability of messaging every day to let me know how much/how long they will create that day. Others only message once or twice when they have a burning question. Whatever works for you is totally fine!
Kind words from a past VIP client
“VIP gave me more space and time to elaborate on my specific situation and struggles, which led to more individual feedback and tips adjusted to my life.
It also helped me to stay on track and committed! I truly felt accepted with everything going on and never pushed. I felt truly seen with the exhaustion and the ambition at the same time – which also increased my acceptance for myself.
Thank you so much, your space is really full of SAFETY!!!”
– MO XX, musician
VIP upgrade (only 4 spots available!)
Sign up for Break The Cycle
Choose your preferred option below.
Option 1: Break The Cycle (group program only)
Includes 6 x 60-minute group coaching calls.
US $97 (or 2 payments of $48.50).
Can I just say this is an absolute steal?? You’re getting calls worth $60 each for just $16.16 per call (!!!!)
Click a button below depending on whether you’d like to pay upfront or in 2 instalments. You will be redirected to a form on Moonclerk, a secure payment gateway.
Note: payment buttons will only appear below when enrolments for Break The Cycle open.
Option 2: Break The Cycle + VIP upgrade (4 spots available)
Includes:
Everything in the group program
6 weeks of private coaching from me via Slack
US $497 (or 3 payments of $165.66 with payments due every 2 weeks).
To make sure everyone gets the level of support they need, there are just 4 spots available for the VIP upgrade.
So claim your place by making a payment below as soon as you can!
Click a button below depending on whether you’d like to pay upfront or in 3 instalments. You will be redirected to a form on Moonclerk, a secure payment gateway.
Note: payment buttons will only appear below when enrolments for Break The Cycle open.
Frequently asked questions
Is Break the Cycle still worth it if I can’t make it to the live calls?
Absolutely! Even if you can’t attend the calls, you’ll gain so much just from watching the recordings.
If you’re concerned about missing out on opportunities to ask questions or get my feedback on your particular situation, consider the VIP upgrade. This will give you private coaching support from me via Slack for the duration of the program.
Do you offer payment plans and scholarships?
Making Break The Cycle financially accessible is very important to me. I offer payment plans free of surcharges to anyone who needs them.
I also reserve a limited number of scholarship spots within Break The Cycle. These are for creatives who are keen to do the group program, but whose access to food, housing or medical care (for themselves or their family) would be affected if they paid full price.
If you’re interested in one of these spots, please email me at hello@gauriyardi.com.
Note: Scholarships are not available for the VIP upgrade.
Surely I have to get out of burnout before I can start creating consistently???
Good news: you don’t! The approach to creating that we’ll take in Break The Cycle is suitable and sustainable for even the most burnt out creatives, because it will be customised to exactly where you’re at.
That being said, if you want the energy, motivation and drive to reach your creative goals – publishing a novel, recording an album, preparing for a solo exhibition, whatever the goal is for you – you will ultimately need to get out of burnout.
BUT, you can safely start working towards your goals right now, before you’ve recovered.
In fact, many of my burnt out clients find that reconnecting with their art ASAP actually motivates them to work on their burnout. As they get creating consistently, they start wanting more energy for their art, which inspires them to work on their burnout, which helps them create more, which inspires them to work on their burnout even more, and so on... the opposite of a vicious cycle!
While our focus in Break The Cycle won’t be to get you out of burnout (I have other programs for that), I will support you to begin the burnout recovery process during the program.
That way, if you choose to continue your journey out of burnout with me after Break The Cycle ends, we’ll have already laid the groundwork!
I’m super burnt out. Will trying to create consistently burn me out more?
Not the way we’ll do it! In Break the Cycle I will teach you a way to create consistently that’s suitable for burnt out creatives and certainly won’t make your burnout worse (no matter how burnt out you are!).
I’m SUPER busy at the moment, but I’m keen to finally get creating regularly again. Is Break The Cycle for me?
If you have time for one 60-minute call per week (attending live or watching the recordings) and 5–10 minutes several days a week for creating, then it could absolutely be for you!
Will Break The Cycle get me out of burnout?
While Break The Cycle will get you creating again despite burnout, and also start the process of increasing the energy available for your art, recovering from burnout requires a lot more time and support than a 6-week group coaching program allows for.
As an alternative, or as a follow-up to Break The Cycle, I recommend Renew, my 6-month private coaching program for burnt out creatives who want to get out of burnout and back on the road to their BIG dreams ASAP.
Most creative programs I’ve tried have ended up being too demanding. Is this going to be too much for me?
I hear you – many programs go WAY too hard and demand far too much of you, especially when you're burnt out. Not only is this demoralising when you inevitably can’t meet the goals/requirements, but it can burn you out more.
Break The Cycle actively resists hustle culture:
You will be supported to set your own goals that are easy to achieve, flexible and feel good to you
While we will go through a lot of information in our calls, there will also be plenty of time for self-reflection (through journaling prompts) and questions
There isn’t a ton of homework in Break The Cycle, and all homework is optional, doable and adjustable to suit your capacity
Although I do recommend attending as many calls as you can (live, or watching the recordings), if life happens and you have to drop off, in just the first couple of calls you will learn a ton that will help you get creating consistently.
Plus, you’ll have access to all the recordings for another 12 weeks after the program ends, so you can always catch up!
Is the program going to be super science-y?
We will definitely go through a bit of neuroscience as it’s necessary to understand how your nervous system works. But don’t worry – the content will be easy to follow, accessible and practical, with no unnecessary jargon or abstract concepts.
In case it helps with your decision, I have years of experience translating complex scientific concepts into engaging content for non-science-y folks. I did this all the time in my naturopathic practice and in my former day job as a medical writer, and I continue to do it in my creative coaching sessions.
What's the difference between your free 5-day mini-course, Return to Your Art, and Break The Cycle?
Both Break The Cycle and Return to Your Art are designed to get you creating again ASAP. In Return To Your Art, I guide you through the very beginning of the method I use to get my blocked and burnt out clients creating again without burning themselves out further.
In Break The Cycle, I will support you to adopt the entire method, guiding you through it step by step and helping you adapt it to your own needs, so that you can show up to your art consistently. Then, I'll support you to gently stretch how much you can create in a sitting, without burning yourself out more.
If you've already taken Return To Your Art before, then Break The Cycle is the perfect next step.
What's the difference between the Re.Creation Masterclass and Break The Cycle?
Re.Creation Masterclass teaches you how to look after your nervous system in order to start regaining your energy and recovering from burnout. So, there will be some crossover in the nervous system, rest and mindfulness topics. However, I do not teach the method I use to get my blocked and burnt out clients creating again in Re.Creation, so this will be completely new.
Plus, Re.Creation is an on-demand class with no direct support from me. In Break The Cycle, I'll support you as you start creating consistently. And, there is the opportunity to get even more support from me in the VIP upgrade, which adds private 1:1 support through text/voice messages via Slack.
I’m not sure this is the right time for me to do Break The Cycle. Will you be running it again?
This is the first time I’m running this particular program, and at this stage I’m not sure if I will run it again! It all depends on how this round goes. If I do, the fee will definitely increase.