Let’s face it, most of us are really busy. So busy that we don’t make time for creativity. Even those of us who work in creative fields are probably at a point where true creativity is being pushed behind more pressing tasks. This happened to me a few years back. After having kids and really focusing on the business side of things, I found that I never had time to be creative. I was bummed out and not excited about my work anymore. I knew I needed to shift my mindset. I needed to treat my creativity like another important task and stop feeling so guilty about it. That’s what is so great about creativity; you get to have fun and also improve upon yourself while doing it! So if you’re like I was and you need to get your creative mojo back, here are some easy tips for making it a priority.
Schedule It
Put your creativity tasks into your calendar—you have a very important meeting with yourself! But seriously, this really helps. If you have the luxury, make a creativity day. All you really need is about 15 minutes a day and that can really start to swing the pendulum in the other direction. I find that 15 minutes in the morning after a fresh cup of coffee is an ideal time for some creative work, but you do what works for you!
I also do a little something I like to call “creative field trips,” but some like to call them “artists’ day.” It’s where you plan a day to go out and explore something new to get inspired, like going to a local garden to take pictures of flowers, a poetry reading, a visit to the library, whatever you feel is going to fuel your creative energy. Schedule these into your month, as well.
Shift Your Mindset
Like I mentioned, sometimes it has to start with your own perception. If you’re not valuing your creative time, then it’s not going to happen. I found that once I redesigned my business to free up more time for me, I was able to really let go of guilt and realize that creativity is self-care. Even if it’s not going to better your career, it’s likely going to “better” you, and that makes it all worthwhile.
Eliminate Distractions
Like you would with other important tasks, you need to carve out time without distractions. For me, that often means having no phone nearby. I find that I go to grab it so often when it’s not there. It can be such a waste of time. Turn on airplane mode or go into another room and give yourself a break. I also like to turn off the TV or anything else that may take me away from my project. You need to get immersed, and if you only have 15 minutes to get into a groove, you need to be laser-focused.
Be Curious
This is something you can do no matter what you are working on. By having a curious nature, you will be more open to new ideas and exploring the unknown. Without it, your creativity is not going to thrive.
Make Space
So we’ve talked about mental space, but how about physical space? Is there a place in your home that you can dedicate to your creativity? Maybe it’s in your office. You can have a spot with your art utensils, musical instruments, your favorite books. Or maybe it’s in your backyard and you have a spot where you drink tea and practice writing. Sometimes it may be a corner of pillows in your bedroom that you snuggle in and listen to music (kind of like you’re 14 again). Having a dedicated spot helps to foster it as a daily practice that you look forward to.
Make It Routine
Just like all your good habits, you have to make them routine. Once you get used to carving out time and space for your creativity, you will wonder how you ever lived without it!
For more creativity tool kits, you can head to our Creativity section. You may also like: 5 Bad Habits That Ruin Your Creativity and Damage Your Success.
