How To Become Creative Again: 6 Easy Ideas to Get Inspired
Do you feel like you used to be creative, but you just can’t seem to come up with new ideas again? Are you struggling to get the creative juices flowing whether at work, at home or in your hobbies and daily life? We’re all creative people who were made to create!
But sometimes we need a little help to reignite that spark the helps us to get our best ideas, especially as moms. Here are a few easy ways to become creative again.
Growing up, I had always been a creative person. Even as a first and second grader I always wanted a notebook nearby to jot down my great ideas, story ideas, songs, poems, whatever I felt! As I got older my creativity continued to mature and develop like it does for so many of us.
But then, the creative block set in. My time became consumed with my full time job. Then I got married. Then came the kids. Before I knew it like, life was a whole lot less of singing, dancing, writing and creating. Instead it was full of time constraints and the mundane aspects of a daily routine. Have you ever felt this way? If so, you’re not alone!
Feeling inspired enough to do your creative work, whatever that may be can be hard to come by. Depending on the other factors of what’s happening in your life, maybe you feel like it’s impossible for you to start, or actually finish any of your creative projects anymore. When you’re facing creative burnout, what is the best way to get that creative feeling back?
When life gets busy, often our inspiration can be the first thing to slip away. It can be daunting to get back into the swing of creating when you’ve been feeling uninspired for any period of time. But I’m here to walk you through some things that have helped me get that spark back.
These ideas can work whether you’re a full time mom, a full time creator, a part time writer, or just trying to reignite your own creative mind!
6 Easy Ways to Become Creative Again
Here are 5 things you can do to help you become creative again – and for all you mamas out there, help you to revive your creativity as a mom.
1. Implement a Morning Walk into Your Routine
I know, I know. You’ve definitely heard this before, but a morning walk or some other form of physical exercise first thing in your day truly never fails. Not only does it get you out of the house for some nice fresh air, but it gives your mind space to wonder. And that’s something that can really open you up to ideas you’ve never thought of before!
Doing something like this in the morning also checks off so many boxes for your day. You get in a little bit of exercise, you start your day off in the sun, and you give yourself a minute to just be you before you throw on all of your “hats”.
I recommend prepping a coffee in your favorite to-go mug, throwing on a pair of sunglasses, and setting a timer for thirty minutes. That way you aren’t thinking about how long you’ve been gone and when you need to get back.
In turn, you’re tuning out everything except the nature and the world around you. I get so many good ideas while I exercise, and this is my personal favorite way to enjoy a daily moment to myself without even having to leave my neighborhood.
2. Have a Pinterest Happy Hour
Sure we all tend to find ourself mindlessly scrolling through social media throughout our days. But have you ever had a Pinterest Happy Hour? While our Instagram, Facebook and TikTok accounts tend to put us in comparison mode, which lets our inner critic shine, there’s something about Pinterest that does a little something different.
There’s something about scrolling through a never ending list of ideas from fellow creatives that are curated to match things you love and care about. Whether it’s finding new outfit ideas, creative writing prompts, or even just new ways to rearrange your living room, I love using this platform to shift my brain to creative thinking instead of just consumption.
Designating time for you to gather inspiration that you can favorite, pin, and throw into a mood or vision board can be the thing that helps you feel that spark again.
Try designating a little Pinterest happy hour for yourself toward the end of every week. At the beginning of the week we all go in needed to knock our to-do lists, and by Thursday or Friday our brains and creativity are often fried.
Give yourself a half hour toward the end of the week, even while you’re waiting on your latte, or for the kids to finish up bath time to scroll and save ideas and inspiration on Pinterest for later. Then, come back to these ideas as you pour into your own projects for a little fresh perspective and direction when you need it!
Looking for more inspiration? Take my 5-Day Creativity Challenge right here!
3. Get Journaling
Don’t roll your eyes! Journaling is such a great way to clear any blocks that you’re dealing with in your head and your heart, which makes it the perfect practice for creatives of all types. The wonderful thing about journaling is there’s no right or wrong way to do it.
I love to do the Artist’s Way Morning Pages method, which is basically just opening up a notebook first thing on the morning, and just write down everything that comes into your head. Don’t stop writing until you fill an entire page front and back.
By letting your mind wander and writing it all out on the page, you’ll notice you begin to process your thoughts more clearly, stress less, and clear your mental space for unique ideas to come in. Journaling is a big part of my creative process and it might work well for you too! (Need a little jumpstart, go out and buy a nice new notebook and pen that you actually want to use.
4. Try a New Hobby
What better way to revive your creativity than to step out of your comfort zone and try something completely new? It can be so easy to get stuck in the rut of your usual routine as a creative, but there’s no room for that in the very beginning of something new.
Maybe it’s trying out something with your hands like floral arranging, pottery, or trying out a new recipe. Or maybe you choose something like sitting down to dive into writing jokes or poetry or learning a new language, using your brain in different ways with a new creative hobby can open you up to new possibilities.
And hey, maybe you end up not loving that hobby. That’s totally ok! You learned something new, and maybe even gave yourself a chance to refresh and dive into your craft with fresh ideas or a more creative spirit.
5. Plan a Solo Retreat
I know what you’re thinking…”How am I supposed to go on a retreat when I’ve got responsibilities?!”
May I introduce you to the idea of the solo day retreat? This is one day during the week where you would normally dive straight into work after you drop the kids off at school, or dive into chores at the start of the weekend. Instead, you’ll bet intentional about spending the day doing some self-care things just for YOU!
(Need a little planning help? Check out these 10 simple self-care ideas.)
Maybe it looks like going to your favorite coffee shop (you know the one) and reading a good book that’s been sitting on your bedside table for weeks, or months if you’re like me. No shame here.
Maybe after your coffee shop you head to the park and take a moment to feel small; to practice mindfulness for thirty minutes, to pray, and maybe even notice something in your neighborhood that you’ve never seen before.
Maybe this looks like getting your spouse or a sitter to take your kids out for the day so you can lounge at home, eating your favorite snacks and doing something fun that you enjoy in a house full of…silence for a few hours. Sweet bliss.
Your solo retreat doesn’t have to look or feel a certain way. The point is for you to take most of a day, one full day, where you can sit with yourself and clear your mind. You’d be surprised what taking a step back from your normal routine can do for finding that creative spark or a different perspective that you’re looking for.
6. Join a Small Group
Something I’ve learned over the last few years as a mom and as a woman is that community is so important. You know the saying “It takes a village”? Well, it truly does. When you’re feeling burned out, at the end of the day you need support!
A lot of people tend to ignore this concept of community, but I think it’s one of the most important, especially for women. Your small circle of support could be a group of other moms, a women’s group at church, or a group specifically centered around your craft.
There’s nothing like getting together with a group of people who understand where you’re coming from. Their goal may look a little different than yours, but at least everyone is putting their creative energy into something wonderful. That can be really inspiring to see and be a part of!
Whether you are a writer, an artist, or you love finding your way through a DIY project, joining a small group can help you connect with other people that just “get it”. And inevitably, you’ll start to find inspiration to pick that project back up again.
Conclusion
All in all, I’ve learned that sometimes the simplest ideas are the best thing to bring that creative spark back. It’s truly all about slowing down to give yourself space to think, and breathe, outside of your normal day-to-day routine.
Don’t worry, your creativity didn’t go anywhere and you are still a creative person. Think about the bigger picture of your life full of seasons. Like plants blooming in the spring, your creativity It will come back before you know it! You just have to hang in there, give yourself a little breathing room, and believe that your greatest creative days are still ahead. I can’t wait to see what you create next!