Life as a creative is challenging, and inspiration does not always stick around when you'd like it to! We've all been there - the complete mind blank of inspiration when you're wanting to create something. Feeling uninspired or having trouble getting your creative juices flowing is totally normal. So many of us go through stages where we struggle to find inspiration for creativity.
Inspiration is not a tangible thing. Breaking down the process of how you get inspired can be challenging to understand, and even harder when you try to force it. The truth is, curiosity and imagination are present in every moment, and that is where real inspiration comes from. It can't be summoned on demand, but there are ways that you can encourage its presence.
Simply sitting back and waiting for inspiration to strike is a recipe for frustration and failure. If you are stuck in a creative rut or simply looking for tips to boost your creativity and inspiration, then I've got your back. So, when you're having one of those days or weeks when it's just not happening for you, here are my top tips for getting your creative mojo back.
Explore the New and Unknown
Routine and the mundane can suppress our creativity and imagination. An ideal way to escape this is to push outside of your comfort zone and try something new. Doing the same thing over and over won't encourage any new energy or ideas, so explore the unknown and you'll be surprised how quickly inspiration will flow!
Go paddle boarding, take a ride in a hot air balloon, travel to a foreign country, join an art class, take a day trip somewhere, talk to new people, go hiking, get outside in nature or try out a new recipe. Whatever is new to you, try it. When you take yourself out of your comfort zone you are liberating your mind, gaining new perspectives and expanding your creative mind.
Seek Ideas from Inspiring Sources
One of my favourite ways to get inspired is to immerse myself in an inspiring situation or location. As I said before, inspiration comes from all sources so the more situations you explore, the more ideas will come. Some great ideas in this instance are to go to museums or galleries, watch a movie, read a book, browse through a magazine, or create a pinterest board.
This isn't about redesigning something that already exists, it's about letting the concept inspire you to create something new. An old movie, the graffitied streets of your local area, architecture on a walk into the city... they can all spark creativity and innovation!
Keep an Ideas Journal
If you're like me, I bet that you've had ideas come to you at the most random times. For me, it's usually when I'm in the shower, falling asleep, or walking the dog! Not usually ideal times when I'm actually able to put the inspiration to action, and more than likely I'll forget what the idea was when I want to use it. So, a great idea is to keep a little journal with you at all times to jot down any sudden thoughts or ideas that come!
The idea journal doesn't have to be neat or tidy, it can just be a space for you to chuck down all of your observations, inspiring words, ideas and thoughts. It's a mini brainstorming tool that you carry around with you or have near your bedside. Just make sure that it's easily accessible whenever that idea appears!
Take Time Out
Putting pressure on yourself to create and be creative is often the worst thing you can do to encourage inspiration. Give yourself the freedom and time to fully step back from whatever it is that you're doing, and you'll be surprised at what benefits that can bring.
Take some time off, or step away from what you're working on to focus on something else. Freeing your mental capacity is liberating and gives you a chance to recalibrate. Take the pressure off yourself and enjoy the process.
Create a Vision Board
A vision board is a collection of images or objects arranged in a way to help you manifest your goals or vision. Creating a vision board is a way of helping you to identify what's important to you and what you want your intentions to be. They can be created for any project, whether it's to manifest your life dreams or to set yourself specific goals.
Creating a vision board is a super helpful way to spark inspiration as it gets all of your thoughts, goals and desires out in a visual format. The more you invest in your board and the more frequently you look at it, the more ideas will enter your subconscious, manifesting into a reality.
More Ideas...
Go for a walk
Take photos
Doodle
Try another creative task
Get into gardening
Make a scrapbook
Attend a creative event
Chat with friends and family
Collaborate with others
Create an inspiring work environment
Find a new hobby
Listen to music
Mind-map
People watch
Go travelling
Most of all, learn to be open to life and everything it has to offer. Inspiration is everywhere! Be present and aware, and you will easily find things that spark your imagination!
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L x
Creative Virtual Assistant