Isabel Designs

Cup of Inspiration - photo by Noella Cotnam

 I think most artistic types struggle to find the incentive to create when feeling overwhelmed or just plain tired. It’s too easy to get side tracked in front of a TV, or aimlessly surf the internet, when really, you know you should be doing ‘something’ more productive. ‘Something’ that would make you feel good inside and remind you that you are a creative force to be reckoned with, if only you could get started. The Irony is that the act of being creative – of engaging your mind, soul and hands to make something that wasn’t there before – is exactly the catalyst needed to get out of a slump. 

It’s not like I’ve got limited choices when it comes to exercising my creativity. I’m a songwriter, visual artist, jewelry maker, writer, outdoor enthusiast and love to cook, and any one of these things could bolster my imagination. Perhaps it’s just that I want to do everything at once, and so my wheels just spin like bald tires in the mud, and I don’t get anywhere. When I’m stuck I turn to previously proven methods to augment the process.

Here are five things you can do to jump start your creativity when you’re in a slump:

1) Give yourself permission to relax. Creative answers often come to us when we least expect them and they need time to brew. Quiet, reflective time allows your subconscious to reorganize and connect the dots in fresh new ways. 

2) Do an environmental assessment – just a fancy way to say ‘clean up your space’! An uncluttered, organized work space with everything in its proper place gives you a ‘clean pallet’, ‘a blank canvas’, and room to breathe as you prepare to start a new project. 

3) Change your space. If you’ve been glued to that same spot for days, it’s time to find a new stall. Little indie type cafes are a great place to go and hang out for an afternoon. A lot of ‘creative types’ frequent these places and their energy can be intoxicating. 

4) Share your energy. Brainstorming with another person or group will almost always ‘spur the flow’ of ideas and inspiration. Bouncing ideas around can lead to that next big thing and ‘recession-proof’ your creative gene pool.

5) Find a new muse. If your creative fairies have left the building, maybe it’s time to play with gnome’s instead. “Guiding spirits” are all around us, so the next time something or someone tickles your fancy, pay attention and prepare to engage!

There are many ways to get the ol’ creative juices brewing again. Do you have something that works for you? Share it here.