Lenny's Reads: "A Visual Guide to Getting Out of a Creative Slump"

Episode Date: April 8, 2026
Host: Lenny Rachitsky
Guest Writer: Michelle Realp

Episode Overview

This episode of Lenny's Reads is a special collaboration with Lenny’s wife, Michelle Realp, celebrating the launch of her first children’s book, Charts for Babies. The episode is an audio rendition of Michelle’s guide to overcoming creative slumps, originally published in Lenny’s Newsletter. The guide is filled with practical, empathetic advice for reigniting your creative drive—whether you’re a professional creator or experiencing a momentary drought. The tone is warm, witty, and encouraging, punctuated by memorable metaphors and relatable humor.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Challenge of Creative Slumps

• Introduction to Creative Blocks (01:36)
  Michelle describes the familiar feeling of paralysis in creativity—be it fear of irrelevance (“If robots can do the creative work…why should we even try?”) or just the common drought of ideas.
• Metaphor for Creative Recovery:
  “Making [the charts] felt like peeking out from underwater before heaving myself out of the sea like a slippery, blubbery walrus gripping the land and steadying myself with my number two pencil tusks.” (03:04)

The 12 Visual Charts: Steps Out of the Creative Rut

1. Be Okay with Being Embarrassing (04:33)

• Publishing creative work means risking “cringe” moments and embarrassment; most failed projects are forgotten, but success is remembered.

Memorable Quote:

• “What if I look thirsty? Or worse, what if Gen Z thinks I'm cringe?... But the people who always end up with something really good, they don't stop. Maybe they pause or take a rest, but they always come back and keep at it." – Michelle (as narrated by Lenny) (04:36)

2. Ignore the Algorithm (05:21)

• Don’t mold your creativity for algorithms or external approval—make things that move you.

“Are you making work to please the algorithm like it's your never-satisfied immigrant parent? Just me?" (05:23)

3. Use Your Caffeine Wisely (05:55)

• Channel caffeine-induced alertness into creative pursuits, not just trivial tasks.

“Try not to fall into the trap of squandering your mental alertness on a pile of emails that only needed a simple ‘Sounds good.’” (06:08)

4. Overwhelmed? Take Some Breaths (06:42)

• Whether facing a blank page or a mess of “trash,” adopt breathwork or meditation to steady yourself.

“The times I’ve been consistent with [meditation] have been my most steady and productive times.” (07:04)

5. Stop Thinking, Start Doing (07:30)

• Beyond creating the right environment, just start and restart as needed; “Button chair.”

“If you get distracted, start again. Button chair.” (07:52)

6. Keep Going and Going and Going (08:07)

• The love of the work should be the core motivator. Struggle is inherent and adds to your story.

“Imagine succeeding at every attempt. You’d need a whole forearm full of mildly ojo bracelets.” (08:19)

7. You Can’t Control Reception (09:02)

• You can promote, but can’t dictate reaction—some will hate it, which may mean you’ve simply reached more people.

“If people hate it, congrats. It’s popular enough to attract scorn. Maybe nobody sees it. Congrats. It’s a hidden gem. Be proud of what you’ve done.” (09:13)

8. Rumination is a Waste of Time (09:45)

• Move forward, don’t dwell on regret. Reference to Lenny’s straight-line thinking and productivity.

“His thought loops...move forward in a straight line. The only time he looks back is to note how he can do something better in the future.” (09:57)

9. Each Failed Idea Creates Potential for Growth (10:15)

• Store your “bad ideas.” Let them mature—sometimes what didn’t work is the seed for future gems.

“Let [failed ideas] sprout in new directions...come back to those ideas and see what blossoms into something new.” (10:29)

10. You’re Already Further Along Than You Think (11:10)

• Review your drafts to see proof of progress and incremental gains.

“If you’re blocked...go back and look at your draft pile. I bet you’ll spot some progress.” (11:15)

11. It’s Never Too Late To Start (11:47)

• Age doesn’t matter; be the adult among first graders at piano lessons, or the youngest at water aerobics.

“You might discover you’re great at something you didn’t know about. Or even better, you might have a blast and the juicy new neural pathways in your brain will thank you.” (12:08)

12. Still Feeling It All? Let It Be (12:31)

• If stuck, allow yourself to simply be in the moment—accept the creative struggle.

Notable Quotes and Moments

• On embracing embarrassment:
  “What if it makes me want to pack up my infinity notebooks and quit? But the people who always end up with something really good, they don’t stop… People remember the successes and forget all the attempts.” (04:38)

• On caffeine and creativity:
  “Use your caffeine wisely. Caffeine can be amazing for creativity. Until it isn’t.” (05:55)

• On the fruitlessness of rumination:
  “Rumination is a waste of time…The only time [Lenny] looks back is to note how he can do something better in the future.” (09:57)

• On failed ideas:
  “Come back to those ideas and see what blossoms into something new and what’s still a goner. And then clean your dining table. For the love of God. People live here.” (10:38)

Final Thoughts & Call to Action

At the episode’s close, Michelle invites listeners to check out her new book, Charts for Babies, which introduces the language of math to very young children. She encourages gifting, sharing, and supporting creativity in all ages.

“It’s my way of introducing the language of math at a very early age when the brain is at its spongiest.” (13:20)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:36 – Introduction to Creative Slumps
• 03:04 – Walrus Metaphor for Creative Recovery
• 04:33 – Step 1: Embrace Embarrassment
• 05:21 – Step 2: Ignore the Algorithm
• 05:55 – Step 3: Use Your Caffeine Wisely
• 06:42 – Step 4: Overwhelmed? Take Breaths
• 07:30 – Step 5: Just Start
• 08:07 – Step 6: Keep Going
• 09:02 – Step 7: Can’t Control Reception
• 09:45 – Step 8: Avoid Rumination
• 10:15 – Step 9: Failed Ideas → New Growth
• 11:10 – Step 10: You’ve Made Progress
• 11:47 – Step 11: Never Too Late
• 12:31 – Step 12: Let It Be
• 13:20 – Book Promotion & Encouragement

Tone and Style

The advice throughout is compassionate, self-aware, and laced with humor. Michelle’s voice (as narrated by Lenny) is deeply relatable, often poking gentle fun at herself and creators everywhere while offering actionable hope.

For Further Reading & Resources

• Visual charts accompanying each tip are linked in the written newsletter (see show notes).
• Charts for Babies is available at major retailers and select museum stores.

This episode is like a reassuring, creative pep talk—offering listeners both solidarity and practical nudges back to creative momentum, whether they’re just starting out or stuck in a prolonged slump.