A creative slump
We've all been there, right? Those days or even weeks where we can't seem to think of anything inspiring. Or where we look at our day to day routine and see that we've fallen in such a trench of no variety and it seems impossible to pull ourselves out?
I've been feeling that way for weeks now and I've been working on bettering myself. Not just in photography (which for me is "just" a hobby) but in my parenting, home management and even in managing my responsibilities for work and school. I don't admit to have it all figured out yet because I'm still feeling 'slumpish' but here are some things that have helped me.
1. Get off the computer. And the phone. And the TV. And every other screen in your life. There are so many inspirational blogs, photographers, cooks, spiritual or self discovery messages out there and I've decided that our brains (or at least my brain) can only handle so much. I don't give myself much time to think. If I'm doing laundry, it's usually while I'm listening to a podcast or youtube video of some sort. If I'm cooking (which...rarely happens...) I've usually got the TV or music on. These things aren't bad, but I feel like I've lost my sense of self. I'm too busy to listening to other people's stories and opinions that I'm not even sure where Brittany went. I haven't been perfect with this and considering my work is 100% online as are the two classes I'm taking, I still spend a fair amount of time in front of the screen, but I've really tried to limit looking up other people's creativity on the internet because it makes mine virtually disappear.
2. Get outside. The weather at our house is starting to be dreary, but it's beautiful. There is so much beauty in the fall and I feel bad for people who bah-humbug it away. We try to spend time outside each day and it really helps me recharge. We live in the middle of suburbia, so it's not like we have acres and acres of fields to run around in, but there have been times where we've gone to places with acres and acres of land and it feel so good to run around in the crisp, cool air and leave everything else back and home.
3. Do what makes you feel creative. Being with my kids usually jumpstarts my creativity. Those girls have wild imaginations. One minutes they're picking blueberries, the next they're sailing on a pirate ship and then in the next moment, they're flying in a hot air balloon over mountains. They also really love art projects. I've been trying to spend an hour a day giving them supplies and letting them go at it. While they're creating, I listen. I listen to their stories. Listen to them jabber to each other. Listen to them telling me what they are doing. It's amazing how much I've been able to learn from 3 year olds. When I try to see the world through their eyes, I see it completely differently. It makes me stop and examine my own world view and like I said, how trenched I've become. I'm obviously not perfect at this because I'd still consider myself in a creative rut, but I'd like to think I'm getting better...I hope.
So what do you do when you're in a creative slump?
No excuse me while I get off the computer and color with my children.
