Winter Rains by Kecky on EtsyIt seems like it never fails, about this time of year cabin fever sets in and I hit a creative slump. There is something about the endless grey skies and the point where the snow starts to melt and reveal its muddy dirty underside, that just makes me want to curl up in my bed and wait for spring.
With my creative slump being in full swing right about now, and no spring flowers in sight, I am going to have to overcome this slump all on my own. Feeling the same way? Here are some tips and tricks on overcoming the creative slump, and getting back to doing what you love.
My sketchbook.
Whenever I am feeling that creative block I always pull out my sketchbook and look at doodles and ideas I came up with when I was not in my current slump. Sometimes this is just what you need to regain your focus and be inspired to try some new ideas.
Mini Goals
Sometimes the task ahead of you seems so daunting and formidable that you dread doing it at all. I seem to feel this way when taking new item photos for my Etsy shop. I like photography, but it is not my strongest skill, and it seems to take me forever just to get the 5 photos needed to fill up those little slots. If I have 15 new items to photograph, It could take me forever! So I have to break it up into mini goals. Instead of “Photograph Items and Add to Etsy Shop,” my goal will be “Photograph 5 items today and add to Etsy Shop.” Breaking a big goal up in to smaller bite sized pieces can really help the motivation and your sense of accomplishment once you have completed several of these little goals.
Step away from the task
Sometimes the only way I can get a new and fresh perspective on a project is to step away. Taking a break can sometimes really help your creative juices and give you new energy to move forward. Take a day off and go shopping, go to the bookstore, see a movie. Maybe do something you haven’t ever done before.
Learn something new
Do you make jewelry? Try your hand a knitting for a day. Read a book about something that interests you but you don’t really know much about. Sometimes you can take what you learn and incorporate it into your work in an interesting and fresh way.
Dollar Store Shopping Spree
One of my favorite things to do when I can’t come up with new inspiration is take 6-10 dollars to the dollar store and buy a bunch of random items to make something with. A placemat here, some fake flowers there, it might not be pretty, but it can be really fun. Take a friend, rent a movie and play with the strange things you got. Who knows maybe you will come up with something great.
These are just a few things that I like to do, but the list is endless. What are your tips for getting through that slump that many creative’s face at one time or another?