The Art of Trying to Balance Creative Work as a Creative
Columnist rekindles her creative passion - and thinks of ways to bring that spark to everyday life.
For years, like clockwork, late January would roll around and I would start to run out of gas and begin doubting myself and my abilities as my post-New Year’s Resolution phase of clean notebooks and crushing it at my to-do list honeymoon slowly began to fade. Deadlines would pile up, and invariably I would start to ask myself, am I out of ideas?
I kept expecting my creativity to work on demand and when it didn’t, I shamed myself into thinking true professionals are always “on” and so I must not be a true professional. Right. Right!? Well...
Wrong!
The truth is that while our creative energy IS infinite, it doesn’t mean that it won’t get temporarily tapped out, especially when I’m not taking steps to keep the flow moving. Sooner or later, you need to replenish those reserves. It’s what Julia Cameron refers to in The Artist’s Way about “filling the well.”
So how do we recharge? I tried SO many things before finding one no-fail solution to my creative brain freeze…One of the main things I realized was that I wasn’t taking enough time for my own art. So recently, I cooked up the perfect template to be creative on Sunday’s for myself and I earned bonus points because it also helps to beat the Sunday Scaries (which we all know are very real). Here is the list below!
Take yourself on a fance writing date at a fab location (for me, it’s the Garland, for you, maybe it’s your luxurious tub.) Whatever sparks joy, etc., etc.
Add one glass of red wine or whiskey, if that’s how you roll.
Listen to an inspiring playlist. For me it is ‘French Chill’ on repeat. For you, hopefully it’s one of my custom playlists (shameless plug here!)
One hour spent on your calendar planning an acitivity that feeds your creativity, notebook, or scheduling app of choice. Get it done, Monday you deserve it.
Count those blessings. Write down three things that make your heart happy.
BONUS: Let go. We aren’t robots, chill please (mainly writing to remind me).
How do you reignite your artistic spark when your tank is empty? Tell me in the comments below! Kisses. A.