The creative rut is something most creatives know all too well. So, how do we push through this barrier and get re-inspired? The creative rut isn’t always easy to escape from, so give yourself some grace as you take strides and work to step into a creative headspace, once again! Many of the tips that are shared below can also be applied to other areas of life that you may feel a little stuck in, which we all face from time to time.
- My first tip for anyone experiencing the creative rut is to leave your workspace for a little while! Take a walk, run a simple errand, do a load of laundry or tidy up the house. Most importantly, move away from your place of work and unplug for just a bit. Sitting in the same place for too long can be mentally draining, so take your mind off of whatever it is you may feel stuck on and circle back to it later. Sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself when you’re in the creative rut is to do something that requires very little concentration. Give your brain a break!
- Get in community with people that energize you! Whether you get a group of people in your industry together and collaborate with them, meet up at a coffee shop to share dreams and goals, or you have a life-giving conversation with someone who you are inspired by. Surrounding yourself with like-minded creatives can be so refreshing and inspiring! If you haven’t already, join the new social media app Clubhouse and engage in conversations with people in your creative industry! This will surely help get your creative juices flowing once again!
- Attend, listen, read, or watch something that will help ignite inspiration! I personally love listening to podcasts, flipping through a new magazine or reading a business/creative-minded book, and watching documentaries. When doing those things, I love taking notes on the very things that ignite inspiration.
- Lastly, creative ruts can mostly be attributed to being overloaded, tired, and overwhelmed by what is happening around you. Remember- your identity does not lie within your creative industry. You are far more than what you do! Who are you without your career/passion? What things light your soul on fire aside from creating? Step away from your devices + projects and spend time laughing, being present with your people, walking in nature, learning a new skill, moving your body, etc!
While there are many ways to break out of the creative rut, these little tips and tricks that have carried me through different seasons of my life where I’ve lacked inspiration and creative drive. While reading through these tips, I hope you feel a sense of support and are able to step back into your creative pursuits with renewed energy friends!