With so much going on in the world, it can be difficult to tap into your creativity the way you used to. More often than not, you probably find yourself burnt out, tired, listless, and more than a little stir crazy- while at the same time, you're desperate to do something with your newly acquired "free time". Unfortunately, when you put pen to paper, fingers to keys, or stylus to screen, you can pretty much feel the tumbleweed rolling around in your brain, and I'm here to tell you that it's okay.
“Focus on being kind to yourself and don't push yourself to complete any artistic endeavor that feels like a burden.”
Don't Create Anything that Doesn't Bring You Joy
I'm taking a not-so-subtle page out of organization aficionado and queen of clean, Marie Kondo's, book. Picking up that big intimidating project is not always going to fuel your creative drive, especially when you're already drained from handling the kids at home, an intense day of work, 15 hours of being plugged into the news stream (we absolutely do not recommend this), and just dealing with everything that's happening. It's like trying to climb a mountain after swimming a mile.
My advice? Pick up that smaller (but still fun) project that you've been putting off for months. See if that brings you joy. If there's no spark, don't bother. Creating during these times should be therapeutic (unless you're an industry creative, of course). Focus on being kind to yourself and don't push yourself to complete any artistic endeavor that feels like a burden. You have enough to deal with as it is.
Mix It Up
It's okay to switch things up by trying a different artistic medium!
I'm a writer by trade, but all I've been able to do for the last few weeks is draw. Drawing quasi-anime style figures is a hobby I used to hone when I was younger but ever since graduating from college, I've been hard pressed to draw on a regular basis. Doing this has improved my psychological state a thousandfold. Sometimes, it's nice to flex creative muscles that you don't usually stretch because can be a wellspring of inspiration and give you a feeling of accomplishment!
Get a Group Together
Okay, so you really want to dig your chops into your big scary project. I get it, some things can't wait for the world to heal (and it looks like we're going to be in it for the long haul). If you're really inspired to take it on, we recommend getting together a group of likeminded folks who are working on similar creative projects and creating a Discord chat. This is a great way to build a support system and keep your momentum going.
Even on days when you feel like you don't have the energy to put in the work, maybe someone in your group will decide to call for a sprint. A sprint is when you focus on getting as much work done as possible in a certain amount of time. This might inspire you to grab a cup of coffee and push through the low-energy drudge. Other times, when you simply can't be galvanized, it's nice to have a friend on the other side of the screen who understands how you feel and meets you there.
Now, to be clear, there are productive group chats and non-productive group chats. I'm on a trajectory to finish a 65k word manuscript by the end of July thanks to this fantastic group of writers. I've never felt so motivated and encouraged in my entire life! If you're in a group like this already and do not feel that it's cultivating your self-confidence or creative spirit, then you just might be in the wrong group chat.
Don't Compare Yourself to Other Creatives if it Discourages You
You're doing yourself such a disservice by comparing yourself with other creatives- especially if their success discourages you from working on your own projects. Maybe this creative is a well-established career creator and their livelihood depends on being able to do their jobs often! Even if they aren't, remember- you don't know what's going on behind the scenes. Maybe they're turning out more work because this is how they cope with trauma, or perhaps they're trying to keep their engagement up by posting old work.
Other factors could be at work here, and that is why the comparison is dangerous.
If, however, your favorite creatives inspire you to do your best work, by all means- compare away!
Take a Break
Is your current project being a real pain in the butt? Have you been sitting in front of your computer for hours with energy to burn?
Why not step away for a short walk or a brisk jog to get the blood flowing again?
There's actual science to back up why physical activity is good for the brain, and what's good for the brain is usually good for creativity, too! Check out this study done by the British Journal of Sports Medicine published in 1997.
Still not convinced?
Stretch out and go on a quick 10 minute run and see if that improves your mood and sparks your creativity!
For a Few Hours, Try No Social Media and TV to See if You Feel More Creative
I have personally found that watching TV- especially on streaming platforms that encourage binge-watching are not conducive to larger-scale creative productivity- nor is spending 6 hours scrolling on social media platforms.
(Though, I will admit that I have paused mid-way through an episode of Inuyasha to sketch a picture of Sesshomaru's face before.)
Sometimes stepping away from the noise temporarily can help you focus on the project at hand- whether it's a creative project for work or if you're just trying to get back to your baseline creativity level. You may be someone who works better around noise but when your focus is divided, there is no question that it's simply harder to get as much done as you'd like in a timely fashion.
What have you been doing to stay creative during the pandemic?
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