Running a creative business brings with it many ups and downs in your level of creative inspiration – I call this the Creative Cycle.
One aspect of this cycle is creative block – which can be incredibly frustrating and worrying, especially if it is your first time experiencing it.
In this episode I again chat with my friend Christina Lowry, who outlines some action steps that you can take to kick yourself out of a creative slump, while still honouring creative lulls as a natural part of the Creative Cycle.
Quotes and highlights from this Episode:
- Christina created a ‘How To’ for herself to help her deal with creative block.
- ‘Inspiration and action are not the same thing’ {Christina}
- Don’t start with a blank page
- This creates expectations and pressure.
- Just start making marks, get your hands and mind working.
- Make it a habit
- Make space in your day to be creative.
- There will always be a cycle in your business and your creativity.
- ‘You have to believe it will pass’ {Christina}
- Take a shower
- Take a shower or a bath, a long one, and lock the door.
- Have a notebook ready because taking that time to yourself will get the ideas flowing.
- Driving, sleeping, running, walking or knitting are all examples of activities that can get the ideas flowing.
- ‘Doing any kind of creative endeavour influences your creativity’ {Christina}
- Make something different
- Make something in a completely different medium to what you usually use.
- Make something you don’t have to sell.
- ‘Do something for your own fun and your own fulfilment’ {Jess}
- Look back through old sketchbooks
- Look at old ideas or designs to reignite some inspiring action.
- Maybe you have old designs that you didn’t have the means to make? Has this changed?
- Fill your well
- Self care cannot be a secondary thing.
- Never drain yourself. Self care should be a daily thing.
- Surround yourself with creative people
- Immerse yourself in others creativity.
- Use Prompts
- Prompts can help you open that creativity and smash the creative block.
- Step away
- If you aren’t being productive sometimes walking away is the best option.
- If it is making you angry or stressed walk away and come back to it later.
- Know that you are not your work
- It is not healthy to think you are a reflection of anything external to yourself.
- ‘You are not your work’ {Christina}
- The cycles will become easier to recognise the longer you are in business.
- Find Christina online at christinalowrydesigns.com
Download or Listen to This Episode
(You can also subscribe to the podcast and listen to this episode on iTunes + Stitcher – just search ‘Create & Thrive’.)
