When the Creative Slump is REAL
There are many days when the days feel long and monotonous and I question everything I’m doing. I go from months and months of creative spark and energy, busting out session after session of creative gold to not wanting to pick up my camera or even look at it. Winter is always my downtime and although I look forward to the slowing down and the rest, once I’m in it, I tend to get a bit slumpy and blah.
What I’ve learned about these times:
1) Don’t fight it.
I’ve learned that when I’m low on creative fuel, it doesn’t actually help to immediately try to fill the tank with solutions. What actually helps me is to accept the downtime. To lean into knowing that its ok to not have ideas and (in my case) images flitting through your brain 24/7. Your brain and body need rest. REST.
2) Read or listen to a podcast.
These two things work your imagination in a different way than image making, or watching t.v. does. Many times, I will be reading a book (I’m much more of a fiction reader than non) and a spark of an idea drops in. Your brain is doing something different which creates a relaxed space for new ideas to filter in.
3) WALK.
It’s amazing what happens to your body and especially your mind when you walk. I get so lost in my thoughts walking that I often find myself not knowing how I got to where I am. It is the most literal way to ground yourself.
4) Take a bath or go for a drive.
How many of you find ideas come to you at the most inconvenient times? The bath doesn’t always do it for me, but the car? Almost every time I’m in the car driving by myself, something rad filters through.
5) Go with the flow.
When you do have an idea, run with it. Don’t question it, just do it. Now is the time you have the freedom to explore and challenge yourself. To try something weird, wacky and wonderful.
6) Bake bread.
I have no scientific information to back this up, it just works for me. There’s something about baking bread that makes everything better. Yes, everything. Even if it’s just for the afternoon. Bonus is that you have homemade bread after.
7) Jump in the ocean (or lake if you’re not near an ocean). Yes, especially in the winter! Water really helps me to clear my head and regain some much-needed focus.
8) Choose an era of art and research it. Try to replicate that in image-making. I get so much inspiration from art textbooks. I tend not to read or look at other photographers when I’m doing this because I don’t want what they are doing to cloud my own ideas.
9) Scout out a new location, bring a friend and have fun. I’m always on the hunt for the perfect field or river.
10) Go shopping. JUST KIDDING! Don’t do that. I just needed a 10th thing to make it even.