What can we do when inspiration wanes?
How to continue to grow as a creative during a fallow period.
July is my least favorite month. I’m a water creature who shrivels up during the hottest month of the year. Some people crave summertime, but I yearn for cool, rainy or foggy days. The sun is a welcome sight for me, except during the height of summer. Can you relate, or are you normal?
Besides feeling lightheaded and grumpy during heatwaves, I have another reason to dislike summertime. My muse tends to desert me in the summer. I don’t know where she goes. Maybe she is off visiting you instead? All I know is that try as I might, I just can’t seem to connect with her during summertime.
There are several writing projects and a handful of thread art works I had hoped to finish this summer, but sadly I have made little progress on any of them.
When there’s a goal we can’t seem to reach, it can be disheartening. Instead of feeling weighed down by lack of progress, here are some ideas for continuing to grow as a creative when in a fallow period.
Keep at it! If you are a writer, write garbage. Tell yourself it’s okay to write absolute rubbish. The important thing is to keep writing. Inspiration will return eventually, but in the meantime: just write! Same thing goes for any other creative medium.
Set a timer and get work done in short bursts. Sometimes, when my energy is low, I find it overwhelming to start or return to a project. Instead of worrying about the finished product and how you will ever get to that point, break it into smaller tasks and give yourself a manageable amount of time to work on each task. Instead of writing one long poem, maybe focus on shorter ones. Instead of working on a 90,000-word novel, work on the First Act, or the first chapter, or even one paragraph. Set smaller goals.
Spend time with other creators. I was at my most productive during my art school days. Being constantly surrounded by other creative people helps to feed your own creativity and keeps you motivated. Share your ideas. Ask about what inspires them. Encourage each other to keep working.
Rest. Yes, there is a fine line between sinking into a state of laziness and genuinely needing rest because of burnout. Be honest with yourself. If you are worn out, don’t attempt to add more to your plate. Take a step back and rest. On the other hand, if it’s just the weight of summer (or life, or whatever) dragging you down and making you lazy, acknowledge the fact and then do one small thing to work towards your goals.
Think about how you are managing your time. Summer tends to be a busy season for most people. Are you committing to more than you need to? Can you free up some time for yourself? As creators, we need time and space to allow the seeds of inspiration to be planted in our imaginations. When we are too busy to daydream, it can be problematic. On the flip side, if we have too much time and not enough structure it is easy to let the hours slip away without accomplishing much of anything. Find the balance you need in order to be the most productive.
Tap into your inner child. When I start to lose momentum with my creative work, I’ve noticed it’s often because I am taking myself too seriously and feel anxious and worried about how to get to my desired outcome. At times like these, it’s important to relax and connect with your playful, curious, imaginative inner child. Maybe it’s time to switch mediums for a while and just have fun. If you are a writer, you could try collage. If you are a visual artist who primarily works with pastels, you could try writing song lyrics. Switch things up!
Don’t forget the importance of visualization. During a nature walk, while in the shower, or even when washing the dishes allow your mind to drift. See what images appear. Then, get clear on what it is that you want to create. Visualize your finished project.
Nurture your generous spirit. Sometimes, when my inspiration is waning, I still manage to create something if my intention is to bring happiness to someone I care about. For example, I haven’t been creating much lately but I did manage to create a few things because I wanted to send little gifts to a friend. A neighbor was kind to me, so I thanked her by gifting her beautifully packaged date and pecan truffles I made with my son. The little things we do for others are sometimes the most beautiful works of art imaginable because we are creating from a loving heart.
Turn yourself into a work of art. Dress like you are the main character of your story. Have fun with it. This is a low-stress way of tapping into your creativity.
Can you think of any other tips? Share them in the comments.
I may be wilting, but my Emily Bronte roses are thriving after I nourished the soil with coffee grounds. So, maybe there’s something to that as well. Final tip: Drink more coffee!
My fave of your tips is number 3. I certainly don't panic anymore, when my inspiration wanes. I consider it a vacation imposed upon myself by some inner wisdom, which makes it feel like I've gifted myself something rather than lost it.
I'm not so sure your muse left you. While looking at your recent flower posts on IG I was struck by how very beautiful they looked. Didn't you realize the creative talent you have with a camera?? In the past I've always admired your photography. Maybe your muse is hinting to channel some photo skills and see how that goes too. Maybe write a poem and then capture the essence or emotions in a picture as a companion to the verses. Just a thought anyway.