Lockdown has been tough! Mentally, physically & financially draining. Stress can directly affect our ability to be creative, along with environment, isolation, tight deadlines & lack of motivation.
Here are 3 simple things that have helped to combat & conquer my creative block & hopefully will help you shift your mindset into a more creative space too:
1.Talk.
Isolation can really effect creativity. Speaking to people can switch your perspective, hearing about other peoples journeys or challenges, achievements & outlooks can help you to think outside your box in the same way learning something new can help broaden your horizon.
Reach out to your circle and seek advice if you are struggling and need help to process your thoughts. Sometimes just by connecting and actively participating can clear your thoughts to help you focus. Join the family zoom quiz or the networking book club, catch-up with your circle or reach out and introduce yourself to new creatives.
Sometimes it can be the smallest of things that are causing our creative slumps when we haven’t even realised its affected us – an unpaid bill, being cut up in traffic. Talk it out & re-focus.
2. Take A Breath.
Lockdown is limiting so many areas of our lives, sometimes its just important to breathe or do whatever it is that brings you peace in a healthy, revitalising way.
Connect with nature, exercise, meditate, trying to sleep recommended hours. Whatever the healthy habit is that you enjoy – make space for it. For me its 30 minutes a day walking around the local park taking photos of the landscape.
Mind charity have written articles on how nature benefits mental health and personally I felt it’s calmed me down, given me a positive outlook and when I’ve felt stressed and found myself unable to go out referring to the videos & photos I’ve enjoyed taking on my walks have helped boost my mood too. (Mind’s nature article). Also nature is pretty inspiring! The colours, natural patterns, sounds…. Try looking at things in a different way and changing your perspective.
3. Get Inspired.
Read, listen to podcasts, music, watch a film, youtube reviews or a TED X, learn a new subject, try a new skill, make sure its a “doing” activity instead of just thinking. Switch it up so it’s something different every week. It’s so easy for creative people to dream or think deeply – sometimes it’s important to “do” whatever inspires you, it could be something repetitive like painting like Pollock, build something, go for a drive, visit a new place, expand your horizon.
Building these 3 simple things as bitesized slots into my week have helped me feel connected, inspired, calm & creative. Sometimes taking the pressure off can help us grow and re-frame our mindset.
In no way am I trained in psychology, based these tips on statistics or reports but they have helped me so I hope they help you too.
Although, beware! If you don’t limit and schedule it into your week it is very easy to get lost for hours in the pursuit of creativity or start procrastinating. I hope these tips help.