Finding Space To Be Creative Again

Are you an artist trying to come up with your own art style but struggling to draw something that is new? Are you a musician trying to write your own music that touches the soul but only ending up with cheesy lyrics and a melody that’s been used before? Are you a student lacking the ideas and motivation to make your school projects worthwhile? Are you working and working and working and yet feel like you are nowhere closer to your dreams? Are you a mother struggling to remember your passions as you struggle with the day to day challenges of motherhood? 

​Are you like me? A writer trying to write a new classic but staring at a blank page?

At the beginning of this year I experienced creative burnout. Over the fall I had decided I wanted to become a writer and threw myself head and heart into writing. I started a novel, wrote a whole novella, and finished and edited a novella that I had started a year before. In addition I was writing articles, poetry, and other little stories and pieces to share with others. 
    
Then the burnout hit me. I felt like I couldn’t write. Ideas wouldn’t come to me, I couldn’t get words onto the page. On top of that, I was having through the roof anxiety. Writing felt like wringing my brain for anything usable.
    
Does this sound familiar? 
    
No matter where you are, how burnt out you are or how close to burnout you are - there is hope. You can find motivation and creativity again. 
    
This post isn’t just for artists, writers, and musicians though, this is for everyone. I want to share how to find your creativity again if you are finding that you are burnt out, but also how to find creativity and how to use it to help you find motivation again in your day to day work.
    
​For me, finding space to be creative in again was hard, it took months for me to figure out what works for me, and it may be that way for you too. Remember that recovering from pushing yourself too far takes time, give yourself grace. 

The first thing to do if you are hitting a creative wall is (if your income doesn’t depend on it) take a break from your art (I will be using this term throughout this post to refer to whatever it is that you do creatively.) Sometimes the best thing you can do is immerse yourself in life and living. Let things happen and watch things happen, don’t worry so much about creating, spend time living. Take down rules you have created for yourself, and let go a little bit.
  
 In my mind, creating and living go hand in hand. You cannot live without creating, but you cannot create without living. Why is this? Well, it comes back to the attributes of God. The first thing we learn about God in the entire Bible is that God is a creative being. Genesis 1:1 says “In the beginning God created.” Before being told that God is loving, merciful, full of grace, compassionate, righteous or even holy - we learn that God is creative. 
  
 Later on in verse 27 we learn that “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them.” It’s powerful that we were created in God’s image, and if we were created in God’s image, then we were created to be creative just like God. We are to use creativity for his glory, to worship him and to add beauty to the already spectacular world he created. 
    
So creativity is directly linked with both life and our purpose in Christ, that is why caring for the creative part of yourself is so important.
    
​While you’re on your creative break, I would recommend taking time to talk honestly with God about your art. Ask him where he wants to lead you with it and how you can use your creativity for his glory. 

Even if your goal isn’t to have a career as a writer or an artist, practicing creativity is still a really important thing for your all around well being. According to Forbes Magazine being creative increases happiness and dopamine (the hormone that makes you feel happy), it has also been shown to reduce symptoms of dementia, improve mental health, boost your immune system, and can help you be smarter. 
 
Here are some things I would recommend for you to do to build up your creativity and help yourself find what you need in order to create. The first thing that you should do and always be doing is consume and experience other people’s creativity. Many artists find their inspiration from the art of others. In order to hone creativity here are some things to get you inspired, read books in all genres and styles, watch movies, listen to music with words and without, go to art museums, play video games, go to a play, go to an orchestral performance, really just experience the world of other people’s creativity.

While it’s very important to consume other people’s creativity, it’s even more important to experience God’s creativity. I firmly believe that spending time in nature brings us closer to our creator, but it also inspires us and boasts a number of health benefits. Spend real time in nature, let it inspire you and also allow yourself to be in awe of it.

Allow yourself to be creative by creating in small doses, especially if you're recovering from creative burnout, take it slow and easy, spend a small amount of time a few days a week to write, paint, design, code, cook, sing, whatever it is. Doing this can help you get started and get further inspiration. 

In addition to that, try other forms of art. Even if you have a specific art that is your passion, it’s very valuable to try other arts. Step outside of your comfort zone and gain a new skill, exercise the creative side of your brain in a new way, engaging in other creative activities may give you the inspiration you need to go back to your projects.

One of the best things that I have found that helps me to actually want to create is by having a curated space that is exciting to work in. Take some time to make a space that works for you. The space we work in can greatly affect what we produce. Surroundings are so important. Don’t know what might work in your space for you?

Here are a few things I love that help me be creative - a clean room, candles burning, low lighting, classical music, a light academia mood board or Pinterest board, a vintage inspired desk setup, and a hot drink. (Note that it’s important to not have to rely on these things to be creative so that you can be creative anywhere and everywhere.)

This next tip is more of a cognitive choice. It's hard to apply, but I think it can totally alter your mindset about creating. Here it is - remove rules you have put in place. Humans naturally create rules and standards for ourselves. Personally I had it in my head that I needed to write a significant amount per day in order to be considered a good writer. That is simply not true, that was a rule I created for myself that didn’t serve me. So find what you are telling yourself, are the rules you have put in place helping you or harming you?

Working in tandem with that, I believe in prioritizing art over productivity. It’s better to enjoy yourself and create something truly beautiful over a long course of time than to constantly be trying to be productive. When it comes to art, it’s truly quantity over quality. Remember, Jane Austen only completed six novels over the course of her lifetime. It really is about quality, create something you will be proud of, give your best and enjoy it fully.

Finally, in order to find the room to be creative, we need to make time. This may be the most important factor, make time for yourself to create. Maybe it’s a little everyday, maybe it’s a lot in one day. Find time, it’s so easy to slip out of a habit. And at the same time, make time to take breaks so that you don’t burn out (again.)

If I could give myself any advice back when I was struggling with creative burnout I would tell myself that it’s okay to have breaks and it’s okay to be easy on yourself. I began writing because I love it, now it has become something deeper, but I constantly need to remind myself that this is something I love to do, no one is forcing me to do it. Give yourself time, let your mind be refreshed, don’t push yourself too far. Don’t let yourself get so consumed with getting a task done that you forget to care for your mind. Give yourself grace, God gives us endless grace, and I think we owe a little grace to ourselves as well. 
    
​Creativity is a beautiful thing, but like all things, moderation is important. I believe in you my friend. I know that you can find the space to be creative again. 

Belle Thomas

​Belle is the writer behind An Old Fashioned Girl. She is passionate about Jesus, good books, and living a beautiful life.