How to Stay Inspired and Creative

Many of us creatives and business owners around the world are looking at the crisp air and vibrant colours of Autumn to bring us a renewed wave of creativity – and if that’s happening for you, that’s wonderful! But the truth is that inspiration comes and goes in waves that are notoriously difficult to predict, and sometimes not even a daffodil on a gloriously sunny day can lift our spirits.

Being the owner of a brand or business is a complex rollercoaster filled with highs and lows, and so today we want to talk about ways of keeping yourself motivated, creative, and inspired.

Here are our five top tips!

One: Look after the creative (YOU!)
Two: Experience something new
Three: Leverage your deadlines
Four: Connect with like-minded creatives
Five: Practice joy and gratitude

One: Look after the creative (YOU!)

Inspiration will sometimes need to be nurtured, cultivated, and given room to breathe. It requires a rested mind and body–but sadly this kind of self-care is something we are so prone to de-prioritising when our schedules are busy. Make sure you are taking time, even just a few minutes per day, to look after yourself, notice the magic in your everyday, and give your mind, body, and heart a rest from constant emails, phone notifications, and life’s “noise”. Be mindful of how you spend your time and what you give your attention to: are there elements of your day to day that might be draining your creative energy? Are there distractions you could minimise? Could your sleep routine be more intentional and restful so that you start each day with a fresher mind? Remember to include breaks, self-care, and recovery time into your to-do list too.

Two: Experience something new

Sometimes inspiration comes from unexpected places–and it’s not always possible to predict either! This may seem counter productive, but one of the ways to refuel your creativity is to put down your business tools (whether physical or digital), and try something new. This could be as simple as placing yourself in a new room, or as extreme as taking a holiday to a far-flung destination; it could be an art exhibit, learning a new language, or watching a YouTube tutorial for a new DIY project. Sometimes we can get stuck in our routine, and we lack those “seeds” that feed your inspiration and grow into new ideas.

Three: Leverage your deadlines

Deadlines may seem like the enemy sometimes–but for some of us, having goals to work towards can actually be a great creative stimulus. If you know that you’re that kind of person, then take the time to create a daily, weekly, or monthly timeline that will help keep you on track and creating consistently. Having one single overwhelming deadline is daunting, whereas breaking this down into multiple meaningful checkpoints and mini-deadlines can be a great way to reward yourself with tangible progress. This kind of positive feedback helps with motivation, which in turn boosts creativity and inspiration. Make sure you have lists of your to-dos that are realistic and itemised.

Four: Connect with like-minded creatives

Having a professional support network in your industry is always important, but all the more so during challenging times. If you’re feeling the equivalent of a “writer’s block” in your own work, then it’s the perfect time to reward yourself with some socialising. Surround yourself with other business owners, creatives, and artisans who are on similar paths and may be experiencing similar feelings too. If large groups feel overwhelming or not productive enough, then one-to-ones might be the way to go. Sitting down with a colleague and focusing on a single problem can lead to great burst of creativity, bouncing ideas off one another! Another benefit of this is that hearing that your friends, family, or colleagues understand your state of mind will make you feel more understood; emotional venting helps to overcome frustrations and obstacles, and helps to clear your mind for creativity.

Five: Practice joy and gratitude

Sometimes, being creative comes down to feeling like you are allowed to slow down and prioritise idea generation–and this may not come naturally if your work routine feels like a slog every single moment of every day. Inspiration needs fertile ground to grow, and one way of nurturing that is infusing some joy and gratitude into your everyday. If you can invest small portions of time on weekdays or weekends on hobbies or interests that refill your cup, you’re likely to see a huge difference in your motivation levels when you’re working! Another key element of this is reflection and gratitude: one of the largest obstacles to creativity is self-doubt, and taking time to remind yourself of all you’ve achieved and all you have to be thankful for can be a really impactful remedy for that. Make time for reflection, so you can self-evaluate your day and know what works and what does not; this also helps you account for your time, which is an essential part of productivity. All of this will give you more motivation to accomplish your goals, which in turn will get creativity juices flowing!

We hope this post has been a helpful source of ideas on how to find inspiration and creativity–even in challenging times. If you’re looking for an infusion of motivation, why not book in a branding and marketing power hour with us, so we can review strategies for staying on top of your content and maximise the time you spend creating content for your business. If you’re looking for any support, get in touch!

Until next time,
Vaishali