Is being creative stressing you out? Do you feel like you’re always doing the same thing, but you keep getting reminded of it by constant feedback? Do the people around you judge your every move, because they think it’s not ‘normal’ or ‘accepted’ behavior? You’re not alone in feeling this way, especially as you may be pressured to fit in and be ‘normal’ at all costs. Well, you’re in the right place, because this article is going to help you find your creative side and how you can use it to make your life feel more satisfying. It’s time to embrace your inner artist and let your creative genius shine through!
Turn Off The Noise
We’ve all been there. Maybe you’ve got lots of unopened gifts and you keep wondering “will this ever end?” or “is this how Christmas feels every year?” Well, it doesn’t have to. You can control the noise surrounding you by taking a step back and ignoring the constant stream of distractions that bombard you each day. If you want to be creative, you’ve got to be willing to put in the work to shut out all the outside stimuli that could be sucking the life out of your creativity.
Redefine Success
What do you consider to be ‘success’? Is it getting the most likes on your Instagram post? Is it making as much money as possible? Is it climbing the ladder at work? These are all worthy goals and it’s important to remember that they aren’t necessarily linked. You may very well succeed at one, but not the others. When you start to define success in this way, it can shift how you feel about the achievements you make. Instead of feeling deflated, excited that you’ve accomplished something new and worthwhile, even if it’s not directly linked to a previous success story.
There are also environmental factors that could be affecting your creative output. Maybe you’re working in an uninspiring environment with poor lighting. Or, you’ve got too much on your to-do list and you’ve stopped taking time for yourself, which may be preventing you from being as creative as you could be. Whatever the case may be, it’s important to consider all the elements that could be holding you back from being successful at being creative. Only then can you start to redefine ‘success’ in a way that encourages you to keep going.
Prioritise Quality Over Quantity
In sports, there is a term known as ‘sportswriting’. It describes a situation where the best players in the world are pitted against each other in a fight for top spot. With so much competition, the goal is to offer the best quality writing for your chosen clients. If you want to be the best, you’ve got to be willing to put in the work to ensure that your writing is of the highest possible quality.
In the same way, when you’re working on creative projects, the more you put in, the more you’ll get out. It’s important to be realistic about what you can achieve, but it’s also critical not to let this influence your decision-making process about whether or not you should continue with a project. Instead, pick a small, achievable goal to work on and use this as a benchmark to measure your progress. If you keep setting new, unachievable goals, you’ll never be able to tell whether or not you’ve actually improved at all. Quality is much more important than quantity when it comes to creative work. Even if you’ve got a lot to do, take the time to do it right. You’ll find that the benefits completely outweigh the effort required.
Treat Yourself
Self-care is an important component of creating a happy and healthy life. It doesn’t mean that you need to quit your job or change your lifestyle. Rather, it means that you care for your mental and physical health by taking time out of your busy schedule to meet your own needs. Sometimes, this might mean taking a walk, going to the spa, or simply putting your feet up and taking a break from all the stressors of the world.
In times of need, you can also reach out to a friend for support or consult with a professional. However, apart from these exceptional circumstances, you should be taking care of your mental and physical health as much as possible by finding ways to relax and recharge. This is where treating yourself comes in. Make it a point to do something that you enjoy, whether it’s taking a long walk, going to the spa, or getting a massage. Schedule time out of your busy day to do something that you enjoy, so that you can feel refreshed and ready to tackle the day when it’s done. This is your creative peak season, so take advantage of it and do what you love!
Get Inspired
If you want to be creative, you need to be open to being inspired by all sorts of things. If you want to be a painter, for example, you’ll need to be open to being inspired by the colors green and yellow or the shapes of clouds and trees. So, it doesn’t matter what kind of content you are producing, be it a film, a song, or a novel – as long as you stay open to being inspired by everything around you, the possibilities are endless. It’s important to keep your mind open, so you don’t get stuck in a habit of only thinking about things that are close to you. Instead, you want to keep your mind as open as possible, so that even the most unlikely ideas can spark an idea and lead to an amazing project. The best thing is that when you open yourself up to being inspired by all sorts of things, the most obvious ideas will seem like the least likely to work. So, even if you don’t normally get inspired by clouds or rainstorms, you might just find that somewhere hidden inside you longs to express itself through painting or writing. This is the beauty of being creative – the possibilities are endless, but hidden inside you, waiting to be discovered.
Make A Plan
If you want to be creative, you need to have a plan. Even if you have no idea where you’re going with your creative project or how you’ll even begin, making a plan is a great way to organize your thoughts and get started. By making a list of all the things you need to do to get the project done, you’ll be able to check off each item as you go. This will give you a sense of accomplishment knowing that you’re going in the right direction and will help you stay motivated. Make a plan for the following week, so you can stay on track and productive. This is especially important if you’re looking to create a specific mood or scene. Without a plan in place, it’s easy to jump from one thing to the next, without ever really getting anywhere. Make sure you stick to your plan, otherwise, you’ll never get your project done on time.
Use Your Creativity
Once you’ve made a plan and started working on it, it’s a good idea to get into the habit of using your creativity. This doesn’t mean you’ve got to be perfect – you’re never going to be able to do that. Instead, use your creativity to find the best possible way of solving a particular problem or creating a desired effect. If you’ve got an interesting problem or question, don’t be afraid to get creative and come up with an innovative and original answer. The best way to improve as a problem solver or creator is by finding the fun in it and having the courage to be different. If you want to be creative, use your talents and skills to solve problems and create something new. Even if you feel like your work is never going to amount to much, you’re still capable of producing something unique and wonderful.
In times like these, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. In fact, you may be encountering these feelings of low self-esteem and alienation for a reason. It could just be that you’re in the right place at the right time and have found a creative kindred spirit who understands your frustrations. Regardless of the reason, this is a place you can find solace and inspiration to create something wonderful. So, remember to keep your head up high, because there’s a whole world of creative souls out there who are ready to appreciate your unique talents and creative genius!