5 Ways To Jump Start Your Creativity

We’ve all been there. Writer’s block, lack of inspiration, whatever you want to call it. There have been (and will be) times when we feel like we’ve lost our mojo. It doesn’t matter what creative field you’re involved in, the feelings of frustration are the same when you can’t produce to your potential or exceed it. Although your work may seem uninspiring at the moment, there are a few things you can do to pep yourself up and start making those masterpieces again.

1. A Different Perspective

Do you have a daily routine? Sure you do. We all do. Some are more rigid than others, but we all have at least one thing we do every day at more or less the same time. Even if that one thing is pooping. It’s human nature to like and fall into routine. It reassures us of control and when these tasks are performed robotic-ally like clockwork, we can usually focus our brain power on the curve balls that life throws. That’s great and all, but it can be mind-numbing to do the same exact thing, the same exact way, every single day. Try changing one to three things about your routine for a week and see what happens. You could take a different route to work, or try eating something you were always hesitant about. How about listening to a different radio station in the car?

2. Make Yourself Uncomfortable

So you’re used to drawing in your cozy bedroom office while wearing your bunny slippers, your cat purring next to you and the temperature set to a consistent 74 degrees? Ditch the familiar and force yourself to work in Starbucks, or the Subway, or a park bench. The plethora of new stimuli will seem like a distraction at first, but once you settle in, you’ll find the nuances inspirational. A gentle breeze, the soft hum of distant conversation and the rhythmic sounds of New York’s underground can fine prime your brain for some serious inspiration and revelation. Even your sense of smell can contribute to your creativity.

3. Look At Others

Good artists borrow. Great artists steal! Sometimes, when you’re unsatisfied with your own work, it may be beneficial and enlightening to just look at someone else’s. Take a day to visit a few galleries or a museum. Try picking up a book that’s outside your genre of interest. Its perfectly OK to be influenced by others’ work. Don’t tell yourself you have to come up with something purely original every time. You’ll drive yourself mad. The concept doesn’t exist. Every form of art that exists and that will exist in the future is essentially a remix of past art. Look at Puff Daddy, or P. Diddy or whatever he calls himself these days. He took countless songs from the 80’s and reinterpreted them for a new generation. Was it purely original? No. Was it Stealing? Not really. Was him music influential and widely successful? Yes. If you look at any honest successful artist’s bio, they will list a handful of past artistic influences that supposedly help make them who they are today. If you’re short on originality, don’t be afraid to emulate or mimic. You will undoubtedly find a way to make the new or derivative art product speak about you the way the original never could. Emulating can also help you focus your artistic direction in the long run.

4. Force Yourself

This method may not produce immediate results, but its very effective in weeding out bad ideas. Perform an exercise in which you quickly create 5-10 drafts of your ideas. We’re not going for presentation quality here. Bust get it out fast! If you’re a writer, try 5 different directions of taking a narrative. Do it by hand, and don’t pick your pen up for ten minutes. If you’re a painter, quickly sketch 5 drastically different versions of your future masterpiece. Try using different stroke techniques, or different size brushes for each rendition. No matter how ridiculous or unorthodox each new approach or method may seem, do it anyway. Two things can happen. A) When pitted against the drastic departures of your usual style, the more conservative versions will be instantly recognizable as the kind of quality your aiming for and you’ll have gained more confidence in your strengths. B) You may find something you like in the risks you’ve taken and you’ll want to elaborate in that direction. Either way, you’ll have given yourself exhibits for comparison. You love criticizing others’ work. See if you can do it constructively for your own.

5. Exercise

This may be a surprise to some of you, but exercise is just as important for your creativity as it is for your general health. when you get your heart pumping, your blood flowing and your muscles working, more oxygen is sent to your brain, endorphins flow freely and you become much more confident in yourself almost instantly. Not to mention exercise reduces daily stress that may be hindering your mojo. Try something as simple as jogging around the block or doing some push-ups in your house. Take 30-60 minutes at least 3-4 times a aweek and dedicate them to your body. No thoughts, no stress and no phone. I guarantee you that new ideas will start popping into your head throughout the day.

I challenge you to try at least two of these tactics in reinvigorating your mind. Try all 5 if you want, try a different one every week. I am 100% confident you will be more pleased with your work! Happy Creating!