Your Process Needs a Recess
(Note… this is written in my own voice, with my own perfectly imperfect way. This is dangerous and should not be attempted at home. Parental guidance is advised. And only you can prevent forest fires…. Along with whatever stupid legal disclaimer is required. In a nut shell this is just my opinion and what you get out of it is completely up to you. Like everything in life, nothing is guaranteed, just be nice.)
TOPIC: CREATIVE BLOCK
Here are 5 SUPER EASY tips that help me quiet this little pea brain of mine while I sift and sort through all the noise — things you can try for yourself too — You don't need a bunch of planning and scheduling. All you have to do is shut the f&ck up and be nice to yourself. So here it goes…..
1. SECRETLY DATE MYSELF
I carve out a small amount of time once a week (usually late-morning or at lunch), and I take myself out on a secret date ALONE (critical). Usually somewhere I've never been but always wanted to go, ideally somewhere I won't bump into anyone I know (that pulls me right out of the moment). It's entirely about me and what I want. I breathe. I notice the smells, the sounds, the colors, the textures. If it's a coffee shop, I like to journal and jot down my thoughts. If it's my favorite art store, I wander into aisles I never go down — pick up one of the fancy pens in the case, feel the weight of it in my hand. I connect with my senses.
Most importantly I treat myself to one small token of appreciation — a notepad, a flower, a silly pencil. Something small that makes me smile and reminds me that all is good in the hood. Like a secret kiss that I get to keep just for myself until my next date. The most important thing is that it is quiet time with myself, free of judgement from others, and time to just be. To explore like a child and try new things. (The reason why I say SECRET DATE is I don't have to feel silly for doing it, and I can practice being my true self. Free from the spotlight of others.)
2. ANALOG TIME DAILY
A daily dose of analog time is crucial for me in the mornings. 20-30 minutes of nothing more than the feeling of pencil to paper, writing out my thoughts. Not caring what words are falling on the paper… if my brain is doing the disco, I listen to "white noise" on my giant headphones which works amazingly well to distract me from overthinking. I don't worry about what I'm writing — I just watch the shape of the letters appear on the page like magic, like they're coming from nowhere.
Or if I am not in the mindset to put pencil to paper, I gift myself 10-20 minutes of quiet time to clean out one small drawer, or tidy up in the garden or my desk, as I drink my morning coffee. Sometimes it is nothing more than taking 10 minutes to take care of crumbs that have been collecting in the silverware drawer (which pisses me off every stinking time I open the drawer, yet tell myself…. I'll do it later). This brings satisfaction in two ways… I am practicing self-respect and allowing a little meditative time. Win/Win! It clears the clutter and makes room for calm. I've found small daily cleaning habits add up amazingly fast. Before I know it, I've got a lighter and happier place to be.
3. RECESS VS. VACATION
Like most self-employed creatives I rarely have time and money at the same time to go on vacation. And when I do, I am completely bored and ready to get back to my studio after a few days. Instead of the beating myself up, I take a recess instead!
Sometimes it's nothing more a little mini adventure by driving or walking the long way to work or running errands. Taking a route that I have never been — a little urban exploring! I notice the architecture, the landscape, colorful art and design, the stunning trees. I open my mind and try and see things in a new way or a new perspective. A new environment equals new ideas, and a small vacation from my daily hustle. For me this is way more fulfilling than . I love my work (most of the time) and in my opinion when you are living right, you don’t “need” a vacation. Fun yes… but not a necessity.
4. GEEK THE F&CK OUT.
I think back to when I was a kid — before "the programming" set in, before I cared what anyone thought, before worrying about things kids shouldn’t have to worry about. For me it was around the age of five or six(ish) — building tree forts in the manzanita bushes out of twine at the stockyards. Tormenting the boys on my bicycle while planning out the neighborhood "Pink Ladies Girl Gang" complete with embroidered satin jackets. Completely lost in the innocence of it. That's the place I go back to and allow myself to geek out creatively. I grab whatever's on my desk — a couple scraps of paper and glue, cheap tubes of paint, a marker — and I just play. Completely free of expectations or plan, and let things unfold. Fully connected to my creative inner child, the "Little Jenny" that is still inside me waiting patiently for my return.
Honestly, this took a bit of practice at first to get out of my head. As a self-employed creative, I'm programmed to think: time is money, is anyone going to buy this, will people like it, how much should I charge. But I've learned to tell my brain to SHUT THE F&CK UP! Stop bossing me around and let me play. Would you tell a 5-year-old that their finger painting looks like shit and they will never make any money? Then give yourself the same respect and room to splash around for a bit.
5. JUST F&CKIN REST
NO REST / NO LIFE / PERIOD / END OF STORY
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Thank you for reading until the end. I hope you enjoyed it, and your day is a tiny bit better because of it. This too is a bit of creative therapy for me. One way you can help me, is forward or share this post with others. Like and subscribe to my future content when you see it.
And you are always welcome to help fuel my fire by buying me a coffee! (Wink Wink… Here's a little Linkie-link!)
https://ko-fi.com/jentannercreative
Loving you! Comment and let me know how these work for you, and what topics you are interested in.
XOXO
Jenny
