Creative jobs can be challenging, especially on those days when your your creativity meter is on the blink. Whether you’re a photographer, writer, designer or film maker, a time will come when you feel creatively exhausted. Instead of changing jobs or throwing in the towel, give yourself an opportunity to refresh and get your creative juices flowing again.
1. Create a Creative Challenge
Just like a child needs a parent to set boundaries, sometimes creative professionals need a third party to come in with a set of rules and deadlines to light the creative spark. If you’re a writer and you sit down at your desk to write, only to end up staring at a blank page, or worse, wasting time on social media, try a writing challenge, such as National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Every November, people dedicate the month to completing a novel of 50,000 words or more, using the program’s website to track their progress and connect with others who are also participating. In 2013, more than 343,000 people wrote a novel during NaNoWriMo.
Filmmakers, actors and designers can find that creative spark by trying to make a movie as part of the 48 Hour Film Project. Since 2001, more than 25,000 film-making teams have spent weekends putting together movies, which are then screened at a local theater to a paying audience.
2. Look for Inspiration in Unexpected Places
Break out of your usual routine and look for new ideas in unusual places. One such example was artist Michael McMillan, who turned an old locker he found while walking his dog into a piece of art. You don’t necessarily have to wander around the streets to find inspiration, though. Visit places you don’t typically frequent, such as a science museum, historical site or zoo, and explore the things that pique your interest. If you usually write, take a painting class to engage another part of your brain. If you usually direct behind camera, try an acting class to get a different viewpoint that might help your film-making.
3. Establish Your Creative Identity
One reason you may feel as though you’re in limbo is because you haven’t established your professional identity. Create a visual brand to establish your identity, not just for yourself, but for any clients and fans of your work. First impressions are everything. Create a logo and color scheme that will get noticed. A creative identity you can be proud of will motivate you to stay creative.
4. Form a Partnership
Another way to jumpstart your creative battery is to connect with other professionals, both in and out of your industry. A site such as CollabFinder lets you post a project idea and find people who want to collaborate. You can also review other people’s projects and join those if they interest you.
5. Take Time Away
Take a vacation—a real one—and return feeling fully recharged. Vacations tend to improve productivity in the workplace (which is why it’s important to use your PTO days). Time off also relieves the pressure of your personal and professional life and helps restore balance to your days ahead.
