Struggling to stay creative while genuinely fearing you might lose your job? Brand strategist Ben Miles and psychotherapist Katie Feder offer practical advice for managing job security anxiety without sacrificing your creative output. Discover how to ground yourself in the present moment, build strategic support networks, and maximise your creative time even when uncertainty feels overwhelming. Plus, learn when it's time to seek additional support and how Never Not Creative's peer groups can help you navigate these challenging times with fellow creatives who truly get it.
When lockdowns drag on and business uncertainty looms, it's natural to worry about your job security. But how do you stay creative while having a genuine fear of losing your job? That constant worry can keep you up at night and make it nearly impossible to produce your best work when you need it most.
This question was answered by Ben Miles – Brand Strategist and Creative Leader – who brings transformative experience with major brands and company culture, and Katie Feder – Registered Psychotherapist – who specialises in emotional health and wellbeing. Andy Wright hosted this discussion as part of Never Not Creative's commitment to healthier creative workplaces.
Katie explains that the first step is understanding "what is the longing under the question" or "what do you really want or need." In this case, it's obviously certainty, security, and safety.
There are two ways to find that security: "outside of yourself" where you "just kind of sit back and cross your arms and you go I'll just wait until all these things are in harmony and then I'll feel regulated, or the other is inside of ourselves."
Katie's advice is clear: "I don't have a crystal ball, none of us do. I don't know what's going to happen in the future. I do know that if you project yourself too far into the future that you're likely to go with a negative story because we all have a negativity bias and you're likely to catastrophise."
Instead, she suggests using your senses to ground yourself: "What can I hear in this moment? What can I see in this moment? In this exact moment, are you safe?" The key is to "bring the circumference in a lot tighter, maybe just take it day by day, internalise it, be your own governor of self."
Ben emphasises the importance of "knowing who are the people you can talk to about different things." But he suggests being thoughtful about this: "Some people you're talking to because you're looking for a positive moment, some people you're looking to because you want inspiration, so trying to figure out who's your support network and how do you go to them for different feelings."
From a creative perspective, Ben shares his own experience: "Over the last 15 months building a new practice at RGA has been very stressful, but I've probably thrown myself deeper and tried to maximise the time that I've got from working from home."
He suggests "being thoughtful in my time whereas before there were so many distractions, now I'm trying to be way more focused with my time to be more creative." The goal is "trying to maximise that time that you've got and using it for positive good and using it to explore what's possible."
If you're struggling with ongoing anxiety about job security and its impact on your creativity, consider joining Never Not Creative Circles. These peer support groups connect creatives facing similar challenges in safe, confidential spaces. Meeting monthly with 8-10 other creatives, you'll share experiences, learn practical mental health skills, and build lasting support networks that understand exactly what you're going through.
If your fear of losing your job is severely impacting your sleep, creativity, and daily wellbeing, it might be time to seek professional support. Persistent anxiety that interferes with your ability to work and live shouldn't be something you face alone. Check out Never Not Creative's comprehensive help resources for crisis support services and mental health professionals in your area.
You're not alone in feeling this way – job insecurity has been a shared experience for so many creatives, especially over recent years. The key is focusing on what you can control: your daily routine, your support network, and how you use your creative time. Remember, staying creative isn't about pushing through fear; it's about finding ways to feel grounded and supported so your creativity can naturally flow again.
Globally recognised brand thinker who’s reshaped major brands from Telstra to SKY NZ. Blends optimism with realism, champions diverse thinking & won a Fast Company award for G’AY MATE.
Registered psychotherapist blending Jungian & Eastern approaches with modern science to support emotional wellbeing. Works holistically, tailoring therapy to each person, now based in Australia.
Founder of Never Not Creative, CEO of Streamtime & co-chair of Mentally Healthy, driven to make the creative industry fairer & more human. Believes great work should never cost wellbeing.
