In A Creative Slump? 4 Ways To Turn It Around
Creative people are happier and thrive when they create! Creating doesn’t always mean making art; it could be gardening, dancing, playing tennis, cooking or even party planning. As long as it allows you to express your inner vision, it’s a creative endeavor.
Finding the time or even knowing how to express your inner vision can be really challenging, especially around the busy holidays. Even if there doesn’t seem to be much time, you can find ways - even small ones, to feed your creative soul. You need to make sure you tend to it every day or, as I am sure you have noticed, you may get more irritable and just not feel like yourself!
Here are 4 important things you can do to keep your creative juices flowing every day:
#1: Make A Routine
Morning routines are all the rage now. Everyone is talking about how to optimize performance and be your best self. Artists and creative individuals have known for centuries that the key to getting better is to practice every day.
Waking up and starting the day in a deliberate way says to your brain, this is a new beginning. Let’s create!
Making art every day is a way to get over the fear of creating. Creatives, even those who have been working for years and years, have a fear of starting. Practicing art every day helps you get over that fear much faster than anything else I know of.
It also gets your creative juices flowing on demand. Having a routine signals to your brain, “OK! It’s time to create!” The more you do that, the easier it will be to make your art.
I love my morning routine. It is simple and effective. If you are struggling with a routine, feel free to borrow mine to get started and then adapt it to make it your own.
First thing in the morning, I walk into my kitchen. I make no secret of being a kitchen table artist. I don’t need a fancy studio or a bazillion pens to create. I just get up, get my cup of coffee and light a beautifully scented candle. There's morning light streaming in the windows around me and I take out my drawing pad and I spend 20 minutes drawing.
Simple, right?
Being in the zone for 20 minutes sets the foundation for my whole joyful day.
I might try to fit in exercise or meditate, but my art is something that I always do. It is the cornerstone of my life as an artist. It helps me ground myself as a creative. My morning routine sets the tone for my day. It helps me create a better day for my family and for my business. Those 20 minutes of creative alone time are the foundation of my mental wellbeing.
Think morning routines just aren’t for you? Many creatives resist routine because they have limiting beliefs about routines curtailing their creativity. Those beliefs are not true! Routines enhance creativity. Read more.
#2: Gather Inspiration
When you are practicing your craft every day, you’ll find that you have fewer and fewer “dry spells” where your creativity takes a dip. With your creative juices flowing, you’ll start actively seeking out sources of inspiration. I hear this a lot from new students in my surface pattern design programs. They’ll say: “I see patterns everywhere I look now.” And that’s because as soon as you understand what surface pattern design is - a pattern on any surface - you’ll recognize them on the carpet below your feet, on the blouse you are wearing, on the notebook you carry around, on your iphone case, all over the place!!
I flip through magazines to find inspiring visuals. I like to look at interior design magazines, but pick magazines you like. During the holiday season, a ton of different types of magazines arrive on our doorsteps, which can be completely overwhelming. Instead of tossing them, flip through them really quickly for pretty color palettes, interesting shapes, or unique ideas that will spark your next project. Inspiration can be found anywhere. A terrific color palette for your next botanical may be found in the Martha Stewart Living magazine (take a picture of that palette so you have it when you need it!). A new project idea may be sparked by some pillows you saw in the Serena & Lily catalog. You never know where inspiration may come from.
Pinterest is another great place to gather inspiration. But heed this warning: Don’t get stuck there for hours! Set a timer for yourself and spent just 20-30 minutes exploring there. Search for things that you like - that’s a simple way to start. For example, search for animals and create a secret board for the animals you like. Or create a public board and drop pictures from other artists or pictures that just inspire you.
If you love bunnies, deer or foxes create your own little Pinterest board and then practice drawing those shapes. If you love flowers, do the same thing.
Another way to find inspiration is to go outside. The master artists used nature as their muse and you can too. Even if you live in a city, there is so much inspiration out there. Look at shapes, colors, shadows, texture, and space. Look at faces, movement, the pace of the scene, there are so many things to take in!
Going for a simple 20-minute walk can be very inspirational if you let it be.
Going outside can also mean going to a museum, or zoo, or botanical garden. Notice what draws you in. Do you end up in the modern section? Impressionist? Do you gravitate toward the orchids or the shrubs? Notice what you gravitate towards - that is what inspires you!
#3: Recharge With A Break
Everyone needs a break! If you are doing your morning routine and creating each day, you will eventually need to take a break. An intentional break is the best way to avoid burnout. Don’t try to power through the creative blocks, you can avoid them completely with a break.
I like to take what I’m fondly calling a “Visual Cleanse”. Turn off all social media and TV for up to 5 days. Allow your eyes and mind to relax. Taking away the visual stimulation gives our eyes and souls a break from the noise and clutter of the world. This will help you see the world with fresh eyes. I am less scattered, less frazzled and more curious about the world around me after a visual cleanse.
This intentional break will recharge your batteries. It’s important that you are intentional about how long your break will be, so that it doesn’t go on forever. Remind yourself that you are taking good care of yourself by doing the Visual Cleanse, and stay motivated to complete it by reminding yourself that you are feeding your creative soul by taking this break.
Think of this as an act of self-care: Nurture yourself and return to your creative game refreshed after every cleanse. Taking a break is especially important if you are sick. You need to focus on getting better and putting other priorities to the side. All will be well when you return to health and your creativity will start flowing again.
#4 Embrace Perfectly Imperfect
As with any creative endeavor, don’t go for perfect, just go for better.
Your morning routine may not be perfect when you first start, but it’s better than nothing. Your inspiration-seeking time may feel dry and unproductive, but I encourage you to keep going because it will blossom into something terrific. Here’s something I’m working on right now in my own life.
I struggle between the hours of 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM. That’s the time when I am burnt out from working all day. A typical day for me looks like: I roll out of bed by 7:00, I take a shower, I get my coffee and then I start working and I’m not very good about taking breaks during the day. By 5:00, I am toast.
My husband doesn't get home until 7:30, so I’m realizing this the perfect time for me to get some exercise. I haven’t nailed down a routine yet but I’m going to experiment with swimming during the summer months because I can walk down the street to my neighborhood pool. In the winter, I may ride the stationary bike in the basement which has worked really well for me in the past. And if those feel too involved or I just don’t have the energy for them, I’ll go for a short walk in the hills behind my house. There is a lovely loop that takes about 45 minutes and I’m always curious to see who is doing remodeling work or other projects on their home or yard.
Thinking through several options that span from easy to hard is a great way to reduce the pressure and make you feel good no matter which one you pick! One small improvement in your day adds up to a lot over time. And exercise is a great way to help remove creative blocks too!
Feeding your creative soul should be a priority because it’s one of your purposes in life. You are here to make the world better by adding beauty, joy, ease, and imagination. Keep giving your soul lots to feed on, give it breaks when needed, and experiment with small improvements. That’s what will keep you feeling fulfilled now and into the new year.
Remember,
It’s Never Too Late to Create
If you enjoyed this blog please share it with your friends and family. Click your favorite social platform below. And join my email list for weekly creative inspiration and an invitation to our private Facebook group, Anne’s Art Club.
MEET ANNE
Hi…I’m Anne!
My creative inspiration comes from a lifetime of observation. I grew up in Paris on the Place St. Sulpice and walked to school through the Luxembourg gardens. And that was only the beginning… Learn more by watching the video on my About page.
