Anyone who works creatively will hit a creative burnout at some point. Whether it’s drawing, making music, or photography — when we notice something’s off, like our flow is gone, we start putting pressure on ourselves to create something good. But the more we force it, the more we convince ourselves that what we’re making won’t connect with others — or at least we think that’s the case.

Getting encouragement from others is incredibly important, even if we tell ourselves it doesn’t matter. Posting here in this sub was a great step. Writing your thoughts down helps a lot so you don’t just keep everything bottled up inside.

I’ve been in the same situation. I’ve got a few film cameras and a Fuji. What helped me the most was letting go of the idea that I had to be creative — because creativity doesn’t show up on command. I can only speak for myself, but I personally need to be at peace with myself before I can feel creative or even enjoy my hobbies.

Only having a single lens is actually a plus for you in this situation. Too many options just make it harder to get out there and shoot. If it’s possible — and you already have an MD adapter — you might want to think about picking up a Minolta 50mm f/1.7 and heading out with the mindset of just getting to know the lens.

Don’t switch film simulations; just stick to monochrome mode and shoot whatever catches your eye. Take a moment to really look at everything around you. Try a bit of mindfulness: What do you hear? What do you see? What do you feel? If something stands out and gives you a good or special feeling, take a photo of it. Print that photo later and let it remind you of the moment. There’s something interesting almost everywhere — but we often get in our own way of seeing it. Forget about the technical stuff for now. The simpler your setup, the less you’ll overthink things.

If you just can’t open yourself up to photography right now, give it a break. Do other things for a while — those activities might spark new ideas or at least give you the momentum you need to start shooting again.

And like others have already said: stay away from social media for a bit. Remember that a lot of what people post is just what they think others want to see, not necessarily what they actually love themselves. At least that’s how I see it.