Meredith Stafford, staff writer
The most isolating and frustrating experience a creative person can have is sitting down in front of a blank canvas or an empty page and nothing coming out. The feelings of a creative block can last for days, weeks, even months or years and it’s a long uphill battle for writers, musicians and artists to feel productive again.
Why does creative block happen in the first place? Oftentimes it stems from feelings of pressure, perfectionism, low motivation and comparing your work to others’. It can also come from negative experiences outside of your work, like a sudden loss or mental illness. In college, it’s especially easy to find yourself creatively drained with the responsibilities of classes, work, extracurriculars and relationships tearing at you from every which way. Sometimes, it’s just as simple as getting caught up inside your own head and doubting your ability to create.
When first recognizing the burn out, a knee-jerk reaction may be to spring into action making schedules and forcing yourself to sit down and work. But in the long run, you’ll become overwhelmed and drive yourself into the ground. The best thing to do is to step away from the keyboard, set the pencil down and walk away. Drink some water, go for a walk, hang out with friends and take a break.
Resting often seems antithetical to being a creative person and we struggle with understanding ourselves when we’re not being productive. The pervasive culture of constant busyness makes it seem as if relaxation is a failure, leaving many feeling guilty for being burnt out. There is no shame in taking a break and recuperating.
While you’re out, away from your work, let your mind wander. A majority of the time, our best ideas come when we allow ourselves to be fully and healthily creative. Take the time to notice the world around you: really listen to your conversations or watch the deer as you walk to class. Trying something or going s omewhe r e new can renew inspiration.
When the motivation to create returns, artists are often tempted to throw themselves into a regimented itinerary and back into normal work. However, it’s better to resist this urge. Instead, we should allow ourselves to create something that’s fun to make, even a work that’s subjectively bad. It’s more important to allow yourself to try and fail rather than lose yourself in the pursuit of perfection. Create ugly art. The entire point of creativity is authentic self-expression, so never force an idea that isn’t natural to you.
The best way to re-engage in work after a creative block is to fall into an organic pattern of work. After refreshing, it’s easier to show up to create each day and slowly build a reliable schedule. Getting back into creating can be as simple as taking it one small step at a time.
Most of all, it’s important to nurture your creative brain and be kind to it. Harnessing an imagination and channeling it into a product is difficult work, exhausting at the worst of times. Taking care of your own body and mind is essential to ensuring productivity. This includes eating, hydrating, exercising, socializing and whatever helps the brain to function best. In the end, your creativity will be waiting for you whenever you’re ready for it.