Feeling Uninspired? This Easy 5 Day Creative Reset Will Help
Are you feeling uninspired or stuck in a creative rut? This easy 5-day creative reset is packed with techniques to help you rediscover your creative spark. Get ready to unleash your creativity in the best way possible.
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Whether you’re an artist, painter, photographer or designer, you know that feeling uninspired can be majorly frustrating and hinder your productivity.
As a writer, there have definitely been days where I’ve had a deadline looming and I sit in front a blank screen – waiting for ideas to form out of thin air. (Spoiler alert: They don’t!)
So what can we do when we want or need to be producing creative work but you feel like you have nothing else to give?
If this sounds like you, it’s probably time for a Creative Reset.
I used to be creative – what happened?
Have you ever thought to yourself, “I used to be creative. What happened?” You are not alone.
Lost creativity can be so discouraging, especially when you know that you’ve been able to create really great creative concepts, ideas and works in the past. But the ebbs and flows of creativity are actually a normal part of life!
Because we’re humans and not machines, there will be times where we feel inspired and connected to our creative purpose – and times where we won’t.
There are so many life factors that can affect your creativity, including things like having a child, losing or changing jobs, going through a breakup, physical and emotional changes, depression, sickness and just general burnout.
The good thing is, none of these factors have to permanently affect how you feel. All of them don’t have to be permanent factors that stop your creative juices from flowing – as long as you’re aware of the problem and willing to fix it.
How to Regain Your Lost Creativity
So whether you’re wondering how to get creativity back after depression or how to develop new ideas in an area where it seems like all your great ideas have run out, keep reading.
There are a handful of foolproof ways to reignite your creativity and get back on track, and I’m excited to share them with you!
This 5-day creative reset offers a variety of exercises and techniques to help you rediscover your creative spark and overcome any creative block you may be experiencing.
Give it a try and see the positive difference it can make in your life!
Day 1: Set Internet Boundaries.
It might seem a little weird to have this as the #1 step in a creative challenge, but trust the process.
If you’re like most of us, in today’s age you are inundated with screens, messages and outside influences from other people and places at all times of the day.
Whether it’s your social media feed or everyone’s else’s priorities in your email inbox, the constant nature of the Internet can actually be one of the number one things that stifle our creativity.
So on Day 1 of the challenge, I encourage you to set some Internet boundaries over the next 5 days.
Here are a few ideas on what that could look like. You choose the guidelines that work best for you.
- Digital Detox Days: Choose specific days or weekends each month as “digital detox” days. During these periods, avoid using social media and limit your Internet use to essential tasks only.
- Tech-Free Zones: Create tech-free zones in your home, like your dining area, bedroom, and bathrooms. Keeping devices out of these areas gives your brain space to breathe and creates separation between digital and personal life.
- Notification-Free Hours: Set hours during the day when you turn off notifications on your phone and computer.
- Analog Mornings or Evenings: Start or end your day without your phone. (A scary thought, I know) Use a real analog alarm clock in the mornings and charge your phone away from your bed in another room.
- Social Media Sprints: Mindlessly scrolling social media is killing your creativity. So over the next 5 days, try scheduling dedicated “sprints” for social media use. Allocate a specific time, say 15 minutes twice a day to scroll to your heart’s content.
Choose one or two of these to apply and commit to over the next 5 days and start today.
Okay, ready for your next step?
Day 2: Wake Up 10 Minutes Earlier to Journal.
You don’t have to wake up before the sun to get your creativity back.
But you do need to dedicate time and space for your brain to wake up in the mornings and for you to process your own thoughts and feelings before being inundated with the needs of everyone else.
Introducing, the journal. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but make sure you’re putting actual pen or pencil to paper here.
Set an alarm for 10-15 minutes earlier than you’d normally get up. Then before you do anything else, just start writing.
Do this everyday for the rest of the challenge. Try to write for about 5 minutes. Or you can do Julia Cameron’s method from The Artist’s Way and do three pages front and back.
You don’t need to write anything in particular – just whatever you’re thinking about, worried about, or whatever you have coming up that day.
If you’re feeling uninspired, journaling is one of the biggest secrets of how to be creative again because it helps you to unblock the things you’re subconsciously holding onto so that new ideas can flow.
Day 3: Walk or Move Your Body.
When ideas and creativity seem blocked inside you, one of the greatest things you can do is move your body.
It may seem counterintuitive to move your body in order to move your mind, but I swear to you it works.
Not big on fitness? That’s okay! Take a brisk 20 minute walk with your favorite playlist. Go somewhere that no one can see you and dance to a few of your favorite songs.
There are also a host of great workouts from yoga to pilates bootcamp style and more on Youtube – totally for free.
Here is one of my favorites from Yoga With Adrienne, a beginner friendly Youtube channel with videos on pretty much every physical or emotional problem you might face, all treated through yoga and movement.
Try even just 10 minutes and see how it makes a difference!
If you’re feeling creatively blocked, commit to moving your body every single day in some way until you start feeling clear again.
Day 4: Do something creative, and DON’T edit yourself.
Now that you’re spending less time on your phone, moving your body and getting your thoughts out of your head, it’s time to actually start talking about intentional creativity!
All of us are made as creative beings. We were designed to be makers and to bring new ideas and concepts to life! But that doesn’t mean that you won’t occasionally deal with creative burnout.
When you’re feeling uninspired, one of the BEST things you can do is allow yourself to create without pressure.
For a lot of us this is easier said than done when it comes to our own craft.
So the best creative reset is when you allow yourself to try new creative endeavors, just for fun!
Here are a few creative ideas to get you started:
1. Make a vision board
Grab magazines, newspapers, or printouts with images and words that represent your goals, dreams, and aspirations. Arrange them on a board or paper to create a collage of inspiration.
2. Start a creative journal
Get a blank notebook and use it as a space for doodling, sketching, writing poetry, jotting down ideas, or exploring your thoughts through different artistic expressions.
3. Write a song
Have a terrible voice? Don’t have a musical instrument? No worries! Try coming up with some song lyrics, no matter how terrible and put them to a tune.
4. Explore with photography
Go on a photo adventure in your local area or somewhere new. Take pictures of nature, architecture, people, or anything that catches your eye.
5. Cook or Bake Something New
You might be surprised by just how much creativity can come out in the kitchen! Hop on Pinterest and try out a new recipe or improvising with the ingredients you have. You may just land on your new favorite meal. You can find some of my favorite recipes on this Pinterest board.
6. Write a Short Story or Poem
Let your imagination run wild and write a short fictional story or a heartfelt poem. It doesn’t have to be perfect and it can totally be silly! Just enjoy the process of trying something new.
7. Create a Playlist
Make a personalized playlist for different moods or activities. Include songs that inspire you, make you dance, or help you relax.
8. Rearrange a room
Whether it’s moving things around in your bedroom for a new vibe, creating a cozy reading nook in your living room, or making a more inspiring workspace, this is one of the best ways to flex your creativity AND create long term feel good benefits.
Remember, the goal here is to have fun and explore your creative side without worrying about the outcome being perfect. Enjoy the process, and let your imagination lead the way!
Day 5: Set a goal with reminders!
You made it to the last day of the challenge – congratulations!
Over the last few days you’ve added some new tools to your tool belt to help you fight feeling blocked creatively and bring inspiration back into your work and life.
Now the key is to not let these good habits go!
So many of us end up feeling uninspired because we’re not working toward anything. We’re not setting goals, and therefore we end up living each day in a rut. But we are meant to be a work in progress!
One of my favorite quotes ever is something that Cathy Heller always says,
“The opposite of depression is purpose.”
Cathy Heller
So what are you working towards? What are you getting up for each and every day? Set a goal for yourself related to your creativity, and then set reminders for yourself on your calendar or phone throughout the week to hold you to them!
You can also ask someone in your life (a spouse, friend, parent, etc) to hold you accountable to it! I have a guide on How To Set Goals You’ll Actually Keep right here.
Conclusion
If you find yourself feeling uninspired or stuck in a creative rut, don’t despair!
By committing to this 5-Day Creative Reset, you can reignite your inspiration and tap into your creative potential in a whole new way.
Use this time to challenge yourself and explore new ways to find inspiration. Remember, creativity is a journey, and everyone experiences ups and downs.
Embrace this reset as an opportunity to grow and evolve as an artist. So, what are you waiting for? Give yourself the gift of a creative reset and watch as your imagination soars to new heights. Happy creating!