How to Flex Your Creative Muscle
Have you every ran a mile out of the blue? You went to the gym ready to give it your all and before you know it you’re at 1.3 miles. Your hamstrings are killing you, and your heart kind of feels like it may jump out your chest, but the beads of sweat on your forehead feel more like a crown of glory than a biological necessity. The next day you feel a bit sore, but you’re excited to do it again and again until you’re running half-marathons every couple of months.
That’s kind of what it feels like to use your creativity. We’ve always learned that creativity stems from the left side of our brain, but what if we treated it more like a muscle that we have to train with the same rigor and dedication as Serena Williams a month before Wimbledon?
When I decided to take my various artistic pursuits more seriously, I quickly realized this decision would require me to flex my creative muscle on the daily. As someone who typically sources inspiration from the simple things in life- happening across a cute Portuguese cafe down the street, taking a stroll along the Providence River- I thought it would be impossible to find time to create anything whilst being in class for four hours each day as part of my intensive graduate program. I was still viewing creativity as something that had control over me, like this mystical being that blessed me with her presence only when I sat still and welcomed her in.
While this may still be true, I realized I would have to take more control over my creativity and stop playing a passive role in my artistic journey. This realization came with some minor adjustments to my regular programming, but it has been completely worth it. Since taking decisive steps towards flexing my creativity muscle, I’ve sold artwork, gained more confidence, and manifested my visions much more seamlessly. Below, I share a few tips for ways you can access your peak creativity without feeling like it’s an uphill battle.
1. Make journaling part of your routine
Maybe I’m biased (being a writer and all) but writing has been scientifically proven to declutter the mind, Google it! When you cleanse your mind of all the noise that crowds it, you leave more room for inspiration to take up space. The beautiful thing about journaling is that you can write whatever you want- and you’d be surprised at what you can learn about yourself when you document your thoughts and feelings. I like journaling before I go to sleep or when I wake up but test what works for you and you’ll start to feel the creativity kick in.
2. Try to create something everyday
This can be as simple as a little doodle in the back of your notebook or a hasty haiku in your iPhone’s notes app. Whatever your medium of choice, try to create something everyday and it will gradually become second nature. Artist’s block is kind of like the equivalent of when your leg cramps up after you’ve skipped yoga for 3 weeks. But, when you stretch a muscle everyday, remember it becomes easier to use!
3. Figure out what inspires you and incorporate it into your routine.
In addition to my photography, I’m a singer and I also love producing music. After I graduated from undergrad, I didn’t have a cappella as a constant way to flex that particular muscle. So I had to find new avenues of making music creation apart of my routine again. The best way for me to do this was to start making songs on garage band. I also created a Creative Inspo + Flo playlist on Spotify as a way for me to always hear the songs that get my wheels turning at anytime of the day. I also love candles so I light those when I want to get in the mood of creating. Are you catching the drift? Find what makes you happy and schedule it into your day like you schedule your favorite tv show!
I hope these tips help :) Share your favorite ways to tap into your creativity in the comments below!