Do you find it hard to stay motivated sometimes? We all have those days. Sometimes we feel like giving up. And other days we’re highly motivated and work like the energizer bunny. If you’ve been feeling these ups and downs lately, then this post is for you.
I’ve been doing my business since 2017, and since going full-time in August 2020, I’ve come up with a few ways that have helped me stay motivated in my creativity.
Before I go too far, I want to mention that these tips are in no particular order. And what may work for me, may not work for you. Like any tip (especially those that are presented in the form of a habit), please take the time to practice the tip for a few weeks.
1. Journal everyday
I’ve been journaling for as long as I can remember. But since 2016, I’ve been practicing the bullet journal method, and it has literally changed my life. Not only has it given me the freedom to be organized, task-oriented, AND creative, it’s helped me to slow down and reflect more often.
When I’m journaling, I’m also doing my “morning pages”. This is a practice developed by Julia Cameron in her book, The Artist’s Way. Here’s how she puts it:
They are about anything and everything that crosses your mind– and they are for your eyes only. Morning Pages provoke, clarify, comfort, cajole, prioritize and synchronize the day at hand. Do not over-think Morning Pages: just put three pages of anything on the page…and then do three more pages tomorrow.
Sure, there are still some days that I forget to do this. But I’ve noticed a significant increase in the way that I think, the way I’m able to problem solve, and overcome creative block.
2. Be okay with mistakes
This is a HUGE lesson that I learned over and over again in my creative journey. I started posting on Instagram almost right away when I began calligraphy and watercoloring. I was excited to share. But I quickly realized that everyone else’s work looked so good and I didn’t know how to be okay with my not-so-pretty work. I remember I would follow along with online tutorials and be hard on myself when I made a mistake. I got frustrated easily, and didn’t like wasting materials either.
But there’s a whole other side of me that thinks like a teacher. And I learned how to be okay with messing up. After all, each mistake is a step closer to progressing in my skills. Once you’re able to overcome that thought trap, you can allow yourself to learn from your mistakes.
Now, whenever I mess up, I try to take notes on what the mistake is, and how I could have fixed it. Or if I don’t like the finished work, then I take notes on what specifically is bothering me, and I try to paint it again.
I’ve gotten used to painting the same subject over and over again, and I always encourage my students to do it as well to stay motivated.
3. Share your frustrations
Some people consider artists to be loners. But even the loneliest of loners need community. Join a facebook group. Or a membership (like The Garden 🥰). Or some kind of community where you can share your wins and points of frustration. I think sharing frustration is different than venting. The latter implies that you have something to get off your chest, and you’re not interested in constructive criticism or feedback. Sharing frustrations implies that you have a reason for why you’re sharing. Maybe you’re asking for feedback. Or a tip on how to fix your mistake.
4. Practice Drills
Drills can come in many different forms. For some, it may be painting lines or generic shapes. For others like me, it might be painting simple leaves and flowers in different colors like this rainbow wreath. Drills are basically something that you paint that doesn’t require too much thinking. It seems to come naturally to you.
Bonus: you can also use drills to clean up the leftover paint in your palette 😉
Practicing drills helps you break out of your creative block because while you do them, you may discover a new shape, or color, or technique. Always be open to what you might learn, even when you’re doing drills.
5. Reflect on your journey
This tip kind of goes along with the first one, journal everyday. But it’s a call to be more specific in how you journal – by reflecting on your journey. First, acknowledge that everyone is on his/her own journey. Each one will look different. And the pace will be all over the place depending on various factors. So don’t worry about other peoples’ journeys. Think about your own.
Where were you at last week? Last month? Last year? And where do you want to be in a week, month, or year?
Looking back will help you appreciate how far you’ve come. And looking forward will help you set goals and stay motivated.
6. Practice affirmations
Sometimes we’re our own worst critic, aren’t we? It’s easy to diminish and minimize our accomplishments because some of us have been trained to think that boasting about our success is such a dishonorable thing. But affirmations are not about inflating one’s ego or making any false claims.
Affirmations are emotional support or encouragement. They’re phrases that your creative soul really needs to hear.
Phrases like:
- I am confident in my ability to improve my skills
- I am thankful to share my artistic gifts with the world
- I am exactly where I’m meant to be on my creative journey
- I create art because it (fill in the blank____)
You can practice saying or writing (or both!) affirmations in your journal. Or maybe turn them into a print and hang them in your creative space.
As I mentioned in the beginning, these are methods that have worked for me to help me stay motivated over the past few years. I still struggle with creative block from time to time. But it’s not as crippling or paralyzing as it used to be. I’m able to more efficiently identify what’s wrong, and move beyond it. I’ve also developed some hobbies like tending to my houseplants that is keeping my mind in a creative state without explicitly painting or creating.
What about you? Do you have some tried and true ways that have worked for you in maintaining motivation in your creative journey? I’d love to hear from you!