6 Ways to Feel Creatively Refreshed
As a Creative, it can be difficult to remain refreshed and revitalized on the daily when you are usually swamped not only with your creative projects and pursuits, but also the rest of your day-to-day life. Between work, school, and other responsibilities, sometimes we struggle to put our best foot forward when it comes to our creative sides. Today I thought I'd explore the the 6 ways I like to keep myself feeling creatively refreshed, and I hope they'll benefit you as well!
As a writer, reading is and should be my second nature (although I often don't get as much reading done as I should). But maybe you are a musician or filmmaker, in which case, movies and music are your storytelling vehicles. Whatever the case may be, it's incredibly important to read/watch/listen in your chosen medium in order to take inspiration and encouragement from those who have come before you. And this means not just idly consuming, but really digging deep into your media, seeing what makes it good and less good, understanding it as a whole and in parts, and taking that magic into account when creating for yourself.
As creators, it's important to let yourself take in someone else's content, or your well will dry up and your work will suffer for it. Sometimes the best thing we can do to refresh our creativity is to absorb some of the creativity of another person.
The times I have been most trapped by writer's block, or simply felt stifled and overwhelmed, getting out of the house is honestly the best cure. I love getting out and taking a walk to relax and unwind, to clear the cobwebs from my head, and get a better grip on my emotions and thoughts that tend to spin out of control. This was especially important to me when I still lived at home, and I was able to step out of my house and into open fields and empty country roads.
Short of taking a walk, you can also simply step away from your computer/canvas/etc to take a breath and a moment to clear your head. Or, take it further and get outside to do some kind of activity to get your heart pumping and your mind engaged. Whether that be jogging, biking, skiing, skating, horsebackriding, canoeing, or anything else at all. Being outside and/or getting in some exercise is often the easiest way to lift our moods and improve our creative output. Sometimes it's literally all we needed!
Spending time and keeping close to quality people is also a highly important aspect of maintaining a good, healthy headspace that emboldens your creativity rather than draining from it. Despite being an introvert, it's incredibly important to me to have at least a little slice of time in the week to develop better relationships with my friends and family and have invigorating discussion. I can't tell you the amount of inspiration I've gleaned from having good conversation with good friends. It's vital to us as humans to interact with each other, to bounce thoughts, ideas, and opinions back and forth, and to keep good company.
Make sure to make time for people! Even if you're an introvert like myself who is constantly torn between feeling absolutely lonely and wanting to be alone (in fact, it's probably more important in that case!). Our creativity suffers without the support of loved ones in our lives, so keep yours close!
This is a hard one for me, that I constantly need reminding about. I tend to get a lot of movement and activity in my day-to-day life, but habits like healthy eating, staying hydrated, staying off my phone, managing a good sleep schedule, etc, are not always successful. This year I've been trying to do better (key word being "trying", lol). Some of the ways I've been doing that...
Similar to the above, keeping good habits is vital to staying on track in your creative life. You might be tempted to think that habits DO NOT EQUAL creativity, as creativity is supposed to spring out of spontaneity, self-expression, and the liberation of one's imagination, and habits are routine, bland, and constricting. While there can be truth to that, there are certain good and healthy habits and routines to keep that do not stifle your creative spirit, but rather, help it to flourish! For instance, like I said above, prioritizing your health and taking steps to make things like hydration, healthy eating, regular exercise, and good sleep part of your normal life will only benefit your mind and keep you sharp and balanced. But aside from the obvious healthy habits we should all be participating in, there are some things that we should do as creatives to keep ourselves moving, even when it's hard to pick up that pen, paintbrush, or instrument.
As a writer, a habit I strive to keep is having a daily or nearly daily writing life. I have recognized what time of the day (morning) is the time I do my best work, and I make sure to stay in a habit of pursuing my art. Having a specific goal and a timeline for what I'm hoping to produce is the one thing that honestly keeps me going through writer's block and any procrastination or lack of motivation I may feel at a given time. Some may think this habit would be more stifling to one's creativity, but I beg to differ! I would seriously get next to nothing done without the discipline of cultivating good creative habits! Creating only by the whims of your muse (especially if you are pursuing some kind of career as an artist) will only get you so far, the struggle of putting your nose to the grind and creating a routine for yourself will push you through those times when you don't FEEL like creating anything. And, if you're anything like me, you will have A LOT of those times! So discipline yourself and help your creativity continue!
Another good habit to cultivate your creativity is QUITTING WHILE YOU'RE AHEAD. This is a simple principle I've learned over the past years in horsemanship and in the art of training horses. It is always better to do a little bit day-by-day, then to try and do way, way too much and become burnt out or fried. Don't be afraid to put away your manuscript while you're still raring to go, or to set aside you instrument, or your paintbrush, or whatever your tool is while your muse is still firing and you are excited for your project. Unless you are on the cusp on completing it, you will probably need some of that enthusiasm for tomorrow, so don't use it all up till you are drained in one go!
We are constantly surrounded with a barrage of information, usually easily accessible at our fingertips, and sometimes this can be overwhelming and stressful. But I find that it is always really important to handpick those people that really inspire me, whether through their actions, art, or even just themselves, and keep them close. Refer back to them when you need some enthusiasm, or when your muse has dried up. Take motivation from how they pursue their goals, or be inspired by their beauty. People can be the absolute worst sometimes, but they are also absolutely fascinating, and no matter what kind of artist you may be, you are certainly going to be inspired by the humans you surround yourself with, so make sure you choose well!
Outside of writing, I love taking photos, especially of the girls in my circle. They are all such amazing, talented, and beautiful people and I love the thrill of capturing their essence through a camera. I feel so rejuvenated creatively just in that simple act of portraiture and that carries over into my other work as well, including writing.
Often these same people really help me envision and certainly are inspiration to many of the characters in my fiction, whether directly or indirectly. And spending time with them and just letting them feed my muse is hugely beneficial to my creative process. It's awesome!
Why I Write.
Guest Post by Kerry Kelvas on Internal Inspiration
Where Do I Find Story Inspiration??
How do you best find creative refreshment? Do you often feel creatively drained or are you pretty good at keeping your muse fresh and inspired? Any healthy habits you're trying to create in 2020? Let me know in the comments below!
#1. CONSUME STORIES INTENTIONALLY
As a writer, reading is and should be my second nature (although I often don't get as much reading done as I should). But maybe you are a musician or filmmaker, in which case, movies and music are your storytelling vehicles. Whatever the case may be, it's incredibly important to read/watch/listen in your chosen medium in order to take inspiration and encouragement from those who have come before you. And this means not just idly consuming, but really digging deep into your media, seeing what makes it good and less good, understanding it as a whole and in parts, and taking that magic into account when creating for yourself.
As creators, it's important to let yourself take in someone else's content, or your well will dry up and your work will suffer for it. Sometimes the best thing we can do to refresh our creativity is to absorb some of the creativity of another person.
#2. TAKE A WALK
The times I have been most trapped by writer's block, or simply felt stifled and overwhelmed, getting out of the house is honestly the best cure. I love getting out and taking a walk to relax and unwind, to clear the cobwebs from my head, and get a better grip on my emotions and thoughts that tend to spin out of control. This was especially important to me when I still lived at home, and I was able to step out of my house and into open fields and empty country roads.
Short of taking a walk, you can also simply step away from your computer/canvas/etc to take a breath and a moment to clear your head. Or, take it further and get outside to do some kind of activity to get your heart pumping and your mind engaged. Whether that be jogging, biking, skiing, skating, horsebackriding, canoeing, or anything else at all. Being outside and/or getting in some exercise is often the easiest way to lift our moods and improve our creative output. Sometimes it's literally all we needed!
#3. TAKE PART IN GOOD CONVERSATION
Spending time and keeping close to quality people is also a highly important aspect of maintaining a good, healthy headspace that emboldens your creativity rather than draining from it. Despite being an introvert, it's incredibly important to me to have at least a little slice of time in the week to develop better relationships with my friends and family and have invigorating discussion. I can't tell you the amount of inspiration I've gleaned from having good conversation with good friends. It's vital to us as humans to interact with each other, to bounce thoughts, ideas, and opinions back and forth, and to keep good company.
Make sure to make time for people! Even if you're an introvert like myself who is constantly torn between feeling absolutely lonely and wanting to be alone (in fact, it's probably more important in that case!). Our creativity suffers without the support of loved ones in our lives, so keep yours close!
#4. STAY HEALTHY
This is a hard one for me, that I constantly need reminding about. I tend to get a lot of movement and activity in my day-to-day life, but habits like healthy eating, staying hydrated, staying off my phone, managing a good sleep schedule, etc, are not always successful. This year I've been trying to do better (key word being "trying", lol). Some of the ways I've been doing that...
- Buying healthier snack options. I used to buy cheap chips on a semi-regular basis, along with other such snacks. Junky food is so often less expensive, even though I actually usually crave good fruits over candy, and I found it hard to splurge on the good stuff when I'm not very rich! But lately I've been attempting to keep that stuff to a minimum and purchase the necessities, plus the better snacks. Things like fresh fruit (despite it being out of season and ridiculously priced in Alberta), greek yogurt cups, the healthy kind of granola bars, etc. That way, when I get hungry and reach for something, it's more likely to be something good for me.
- Hydration is a big thing that I've always struggled with. I usually only drink when I'm thirsty, not actually as often as necessary. One way I have found to combat this is carrying a water-bottle. My husband always has a water-bottle with him, but I'm unfortunately not in that habit. However, when I do have it, my water consumption goes up exponentially!
- Staying off my phone is something I definitely have a hard time with, I habitually scroll through my social feeds when I have a spare moment that I'm sitting and doing nothing in particular, or even in the middle of other things, whether there is a lull in conversation or a slower moment of my work day. Not to mention my habit of grabbing it first thing in the morning and right before bed! It's a terrible addiction and I'm attempting to break it by keeping it on airplane mode for certain times of the day, as well as disciplining myself to work on better things. Those spare moments all add up to be a huge chunk of time! And what better way to add more hours of good creative output to your day than to take it from your phone!
- Maintaining a good sleep schedule is up and down for me, I generally get to bed by 11pm and am up around 8am at least, but I'd like to be up earlier in order to have more hours in my day. I have found since being married that getting up can be way, way harder, and so I really have to push myself to do it. I give myself a little grace by allowing myself permission to sleep in on the weekends and holidays. It also helps me to set my alarm across the room from my bed, and to get to sleep at a decent hour!
#5. KEEP GOOD HABITS
Similar to the above, keeping good habits is vital to staying on track in your creative life. You might be tempted to think that habits DO NOT EQUAL creativity, as creativity is supposed to spring out of spontaneity, self-expression, and the liberation of one's imagination, and habits are routine, bland, and constricting. While there can be truth to that, there are certain good and healthy habits and routines to keep that do not stifle your creative spirit, but rather, help it to flourish! For instance, like I said above, prioritizing your health and taking steps to make things like hydration, healthy eating, regular exercise, and good sleep part of your normal life will only benefit your mind and keep you sharp and balanced. But aside from the obvious healthy habits we should all be participating in, there are some things that we should do as creatives to keep ourselves moving, even when it's hard to pick up that pen, paintbrush, or instrument.
As a writer, a habit I strive to keep is having a daily or nearly daily writing life. I have recognized what time of the day (morning) is the time I do my best work, and I make sure to stay in a habit of pursuing my art. Having a specific goal and a timeline for what I'm hoping to produce is the one thing that honestly keeps me going through writer's block and any procrastination or lack of motivation I may feel at a given time. Some may think this habit would be more stifling to one's creativity, but I beg to differ! I would seriously get next to nothing done without the discipline of cultivating good creative habits! Creating only by the whims of your muse (especially if you are pursuing some kind of career as an artist) will only get you so far, the struggle of putting your nose to the grind and creating a routine for yourself will push you through those times when you don't FEEL like creating anything. And, if you're anything like me, you will have A LOT of those times! So discipline yourself and help your creativity continue!
Another good habit to cultivate your creativity is QUITTING WHILE YOU'RE AHEAD. This is a simple principle I've learned over the past years in horsemanship and in the art of training horses. It is always better to do a little bit day-by-day, then to try and do way, way too much and become burnt out or fried. Don't be afraid to put away your manuscript while you're still raring to go, or to set aside you instrument, or your paintbrush, or whatever your tool is while your muse is still firing and you are excited for your project. Unless you are on the cusp on completing it, you will probably need some of that enthusiasm for tomorrow, so don't use it all up till you are drained in one go!
#6. BE INSPIRED BY PEOPLE
We are constantly surrounded with a barrage of information, usually easily accessible at our fingertips, and sometimes this can be overwhelming and stressful. But I find that it is always really important to handpick those people that really inspire me, whether through their actions, art, or even just themselves, and keep them close. Refer back to them when you need some enthusiasm, or when your muse has dried up. Take motivation from how they pursue their goals, or be inspired by their beauty. People can be the absolute worst sometimes, but they are also absolutely fascinating, and no matter what kind of artist you may be, you are certainly going to be inspired by the humans you surround yourself with, so make sure you choose well!
Outside of writing, I love taking photos, especially of the girls in my circle. They are all such amazing, talented, and beautiful people and I love the thrill of capturing their essence through a camera. I feel so rejuvenated creatively just in that simple act of portraiture and that carries over into my other work as well, including writing.
Often these same people really help me envision and certainly are inspiration to many of the characters in my fiction, whether directly or indirectly. And spending time with them and just letting them feed my muse is hugely beneficial to my creative process. It's awesome!
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
Why I Write.
Guest Post by Kerry Kelvas on Internal Inspiration
Where Do I Find Story Inspiration??
LET'S TALK.
How do you best find creative refreshment? Do you often feel creatively drained or are you pretty good at keeping your muse fresh and inspired? Any healthy habits you're trying to create in 2020? Let me know in the comments below!
These posts are awesome! There is so much to them. I love it. Big one on the health part. Like everyone, and I am in the coaching business, I need to drink more water. fermented tea will do (;
ReplyDeleteThank you! Remembering to drink water is honestly such a struggle for me. XD
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