Thursday, May 2, 2013

tips for staying inspired

 
 
I've learned that inspiration is not a fairy princess that arrives at your desk the moment you sit down to write, or draw, or paint. It doesn't tap you on the shoulder and giggle as it floats away, leaving you in a state of uncontainable inspiration and creativity. This has not been my experience, at least.
 
For me, inspiration is more like a muscle that I have to flex daily, if only in the simplest of ways. The more intentional I am about stretching that muscle and opening myself up to the beauty of the world around me, the more "eureka!" moments I tend to have.
 
Here are some things I try to do often to avoid getting into a creative rut.
 
 
1. Challenge yourself with simple, attainable goals. Set goals that are both in and out of your areas of expertise. Try to take a photo a day, even if all you have is a point-and-shoot you got for your nineteenth birthday (or maybe that's just me?) Write some poetry if you've never tried it.
 
2. Morning pages. If you are in the least bit interested in writing, you have to read Julia Cameron's The Right to Write. In it, she highly promotes Morning Pages, which are three pages of writing you do first thing every morning, when your mind is fresh and new. They can be about anything--a story, a journal entry, why you hate your job, what you're thankful for, whatever. Just watch what happens when you get into the habit of moving a pen across a page every day; it'll set the tone for your day.
 
3. Keep a journal. I've kept a journal since I was eight years old, but until recently my entries were little more than recaps of my day ("I tripped again in front of all the boys in gym class," etc.) Now my journal is a little bit of everything: quotes from songs and books, prayers, lists, funny conversations I overhear in coffee shops, goals. As a writer I like to "collect" these things and have them to look back on when I need some ideas or a creative boost.
 
4. Cut and paste. Hang on to things that catch your eye--clips from a magazine, pretty coffee cozies, unique business cards. I like to bust out my washi tape and compile them all in a moleskine book (okay, technically it's faux moleskine. I'm cheap like that.) Sometimes I'll cut out pictures of people and write out their whole backstory, as elementary school as that sounds. It's actually a lot of fun! If you don't have a stack of magazines laying around, go to Barnes and Noble, order yourself a latte, and flip through your favorite magazines, pen and journal in hand. I love to flip through The Simple Things, it always leaves my mind bursting with new ideas.
 
5. Become a list person. Lists always inspire creativity for me unless it's a grocery list. Every week or so I write a "Happy Things" list of simple pleasures that week. Some people write out what they're thankful for, things they want to try, etc. Simple, easy, fun.
 
 
 
Stay inspired, friends!
 
 
 
 



12 comments:

  1. This is such a great post! Definitely inspirational for me! I am really excited to try some {actually probably all} of these ideas :)

    Emily Anne
    fromalittlesparrow.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. loved reading this! i think it's so cool that you keep a "happy list" - everyone should do that! :)

    xo
    www.fitfashionista.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is so helpful. Definitely going to try these! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  4. i love these tips! as a fellow writer i can totally connect. keeping a journal is really helpful, and i'm such a list person too! i love the idea of morning pages though; when i get stuck writing, sometimes i need to just push through--maybe if i tried first thing in the morning, i'd develop a better ritual.

    grace & love,
    kristyn

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great list!! Thanks so much for sharing!

    lianne
    www.lulabelleblog.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for sharing!! I recently started writing more too (something other than boring research articles), and it really is hard to stay inspired & Creative! THanks for these tips :)
    Looking through your blog, you are an excellent writer
    Christy
    Sunny with a side of…
    PS. Found you through The May challenge link :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a great post filled with great ideas! Lately inspiration hasn't been the challenge, but motivation! We are in the middle of a renovation project on a rental property and I am so looking forward to being done and getting back to my "regularly scheduled programming" including some inspiration!
    tm

    ReplyDelete
  8. Just wanted to stop by and say great post! I found your link on the Blog Every Day in May list and figured I'd visit. I often have trouble staying inspired and your post helped me both with ideas to alleviate the times when I lack creativity and to realize it's not just me who suffers from dry spells in inspiration. Thanks for sharing! Have a great day!

    ReplyDelete
  9. SO good!!! I am so easily inspired but then i let that inspiration fade or i get distracted on some other thing i'm inspired by. I've got to learn to stay focused haha. I so enjoy your blog!!!

    xoxo Kerri
    kerrinchance.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm truly enjoying the design and layout of your website. It's a very easy
    on the eyes which makes it much more enjoyable for me to come here and
    visit more often. Did you hire out a developer to create your theme?
    Excellent work!

    Feel free to surf to my webpage: Weight loss burner

    ReplyDelete
  11. I read this article completely regarding the difference of newest and earlier technologies, it's remarkable article.

    my homepage :: Cosima revival

    ReplyDelete
  12. I used to do morning pages while in college. I would write the whole bus ride to school. And then real adult life kicked in and I couldn't possibly find the time now. Or maybe it's because I have a two month old that wakes me up at 5:15 every morning. :)

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for reading! I reply to comments via email, so make sure you're not a no-reply blogger! xo

 
T I C K L E D Y E L L O W © 2013.

Design by The Blog Boat