Let’s face it, there will be days when we just feel so uninspired, you know like the moment when you open your eyes and you just want to close them again and just skip today. Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Writing for more than six years, I have my share of lowly days where I just feel stuck. But because I try to be positive in life, I still open my laptop and try to write. And then I just stare at the screen. Blank.
So how do you bring your creative self back? Here are different ways you can do (and I have done each one, one too many times) to be inspired to write or even in life!
Wake up and get up! The first thing you can do is wake up and get out of bed. It might be too tempting to just stay in bed but it’s hard to fight laziness when you’re lying comfortably in your sheets.
Make an awesome breakfast. There’s prolly no better way to start your day than having your favorite breakfast. For some reason, when I eat a healthy breakfast, it makes me feel good for the rest of the day. For a healthy breakfast I usually start it with a glass of honey wheatgrass combined with moringa oil. Follow it up with a strawberry banana smoothie and a cup of tea. But when I’m feeling like a badass queen I go and make bacon and eggs. ‘Cause really, life’s too short to not eat good food!
Sing in the shower. I’ve got to admit, singing in the shower makes me feel like I could record a platinum album. I realized that it de-stresses me and also singing is good for you! It exercises our lungs and it tones our intercostal muscles. It can seriously enhance your mood too! For more benefits of singing, read this article, you might not stop singing after reading this.
Exercise for at least 30 minutes or dance with your favorite fast-paced song. One of my go-to workouts is Hotel Room Zumba with Amber and its below 5 minutes but the sweat after I do it is crazy. It also makes me feel really good after. I usually do this when I don’t have the energy to do anything. When I’m emotionally stressed however, yoga is my best friend. There are countless benefits of yoga but my favorite would be because it helps me focus. Sometimes I feel stuck because there’s a lot of things going on in my mind and yoga helps me focus on what really matters and helps me let go of the worries that’s crowding my thoughts.
Go to a cafe. I’m not a serious coffee drinker although I appreciate a cup with caramel and lots of milk. Or a plain Americano. But it’s not just about the drink, it’s about the place. Cafes are usually relaxing especially with the great aroma of freshly brewed coffee. One of my favorite places to visit is a local cafe in my hometown that plays bossa nova music and serves awesome caramel latte. Although if I had to choose a type of coffee, my palate appreciates Turkish coffee so much.
Or if you’re an outdoor person, go to the beach! I have a bad habit of overworking myself because I just enjoy working/writing so much. I don’t have a problem with staying in but when times like these come, I hit a roadblock and I just can’t be productive anymore. What I did was pack my bags, flew to an island and enjoyed swimming on the beach. Long before I know it, I’m writing again and have been more productive. Sometimes, we just need a mini-vacation from our workplace. But you really don’t have to fly to an island to find creativity, you can go to the nearest beach or pool and enjoy a good swim.
Do something you haven’t done before. Okay this might sound scary but really, you will never know you like something unless you try it. When I was younger, I enjoy painting using watercolors and just let my creative self flow through. Now that I’m older, I tried painting again but this time it was a DIY and I painted my bed frame, mocha blanche, which actually went well with my room. This might not sound scary but it was something new to me as I haven’t painted like that before and also I got a good workout from all the strokes! 🙂 pun intended. After that, I tried more DIY painting and this time, with bedroom decors.
Make an inspiration journal. I have several inspirational journals that I browse whenever I need a pick-me-upper. I also have one in my Google Drive that I keep so I can access it anywhere. It’s mostly inspirational quotes, verses, happy pictures, excerpts from my favorite novels and ofcourse, quotes from real people.
Listen to your favorite song. There are songs that lift your mood and puts a smile on your face no matter what you’re feeling. Whenever I play “Baby I’m Yours” by the Arctic Monkeys, it always puts me in a good mood. Or Amy Winehouse’s “Valerie”.
Sit and do nothing. This might sound contradicting from the previous points but you know, you have to give yourself time to pause and just enjoy the moment. Sometimes, it’s in stillness that the most creative ideas hit you. Remember when you were young and everything you look at is almost magical? Your imagination was limitless! Everything seems possible and even with just a pen & paper, you can create awesome art!
Do you have any tips on how to be creative? Share it with us in the comment section below!
