Time to Retreat

Top up your creativity at one of these three local retreats, from the Drakensberg to the Garden Route

- BY BUNTU NGCUKA

Calling yourself a creative can be quite the commitment.

Whether you're a writer, designer, painter, sculptor or stylist, it’s time- and energy-consuming. But then you plan for months and plot your way to independence. One day, you leave your stable corporate job to answer your calling and be a full-time freelancer. One month, you know you're guaranteed a salary on time at the end of the month and that your medical aid is a sure thing. The next, you're doing your taxes and following up on invoices.

That’s been my life for the past few months, and, honestly, I’m getting tired - more exhausted than I ever was when I worked a nine-to-five. My main issue, though, is the search for inspiration. I’m only in my early 30s, but I’ve lived an eventful life and have plenty of anecdotes, experiences, regrets and triumphs to draw from. If the universe is willing, I hope there are more to come. But the creative calling does come at a cost: Your sanity, stability and sanctitude are always on the line, no matter your chosen medium. Burnout is common these days and shouldn't be a new concept to anyone hustling and trying to get by. The symptoms bog you down and make dedicating your all to your craft even more difficult. But there’s hope for us all (creative or not), and freelancing is more accessible than you might think.