Stuck in a Creative Rut?

As an artist, I am no stranger to getting into a creative rut from time to time. Luckily, these don't last long, but when you're in one it can be extremely frustrating and you might be asking yourself what you can do to break the cycle. Here are a few ideas on how to get out of it, so you can get back to creating and expressing yourself, whichever way that might be!

Practice Self Care

To make sure your mind is working at peak power you have to take care of yourself. While you might be doing the basics, making sure you're eating and sleeping, etc. Make sure you are taking time to do the things that might not be essential but still non-the-less improve your quality of life. For example, try exercising by going for a run or meditating in a long hot bath.  Not focusing on your creative project, but instead on just yourself could help you channel your emotions and utilize them to create something great.

 Be Consistent

Being flexible about your routine doesn't mean you shouldn't consistently show up for work every day. Whether you like to work in the mornings every day or set aside a full afternoon one day each week, it's important to make sure that you show up for the creative activities that you love to do. Any artist can tell you that a huge part of getting creative work done  is simply setting aside the time to feed it and give it attention. 

Change Something small

It can be easy to think you need to do something drastic to get out of your rut. Well that can definitely help that might not always be the case. Sometimes it's the little things that can make the biggest difference. Try cleaning your studio or switching your camera lens out. 

Take a Trip

When we’re around the same sights day in and day out, it’s only a matter of time until our creativity will start to suffer. Traveling can help you view the world with a completely new perspective. New faces, new sites, and being in an unfamiliar place can help to inspire you like almost nothing else.

Whatever you try, remember that this too shall pass and before you know it you'll be busting out paintings or paragraphs. Listen to your intuition and let it guide you to create and transform your creativity into what you desire.