Stuck in a rut?

It’s too easy to wallow in isolation when you find that you're not as creative as you could/used to be. For a lot of us, we turn to the wrong pit-stops - there are the endless Netflix show re-runs with a bag of Cheetos to accompany. If that doesn't tickle our fancy and distract us enough, we conveniently bury our minds in social media. Basically, there's a myriad of distractions that conveniently taunt the mind of someone with a creative block.

Whether it’s the green goblin of perfectionism or being stuck in a rut and succumbing to procrastination, there are many things that can impede creative growth. Here are four tips to hopefully jump start your flow!

Fall in love with your craft again

Reconnect, recharge and recalibrate. The beauty of your chosen craft is in the ownership of that craft. You own it!

Whether you have a passion for the arts or if you love indulging in anything entrepreneurial - whatever your craft is, own it! It’s important that every day you grow with your craft and gain a better understanding of it. Every day there is someone, somewhere out there working like you at what they love - ensure that you are one of those people. Allow your zeal and curiosity to direct your path. If you love to write - put down your phone, get off the latest Twitter tirade and pick up your pen! If you love art, start indulging yourself in a world of colour. Start to view your immediate environment as a stepping stone into the next opportunity. Ladies and gents, it’s all about your mindset.

Inspirational Ted Talks/podcasts

“Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.”
― Socrates

Grades, course guides, modules, curriculum etc - let's put the systematic pedagogical systems of the world to one side and view learning from a broader and quite frankly a much richer and deeper perspective. Learning from others is a great way to get our minds to toss and turn in new directions. Surround your space with individuals whose minds are daring enough to talk about fresh ideas. The breadth and depth of one’s mind is a susceptible arena for cultivating novel concepts and thoughts. If you’re not situating yourself in an environment that echoes such it’s hard to then dig deep and create. 

Get out of the house

Creation versus consumption - Exercise your creative muscles and get moving. Take that leap!

Take the road less travelled and change up the route to your favourite coffee shop. Find a different to route work. Allow your mind to see and adapt to new environments and new people. Monotony is the best way to stifle and kill a creative mindset. Strive to reach outside of your comfort bubble and try new things. You never know what idea you may be able to conceptualise that could inspire a novel thought. There is an inherent intention behind creation. Your scintillating curiosity and your willingness to dig deep and discover are what can amplify your depth of creativity - bringing it from a unipolar, dull, jaded platform to a bright, personal.

Guys, it's time to stop those bad habits 

The one habit that can serve as an obstacle to tapping into your creative juices is the lack of consistency with a task. It’s incredibly easy to profess what you want and what goals you want to achieve. The truth is, hard work and determination are the rocket fuel to get the engine moving. Some say you need motivation, others will grumble about a lack of inspiration. Honestly, you need to leave that behind, get up and start creating.