People feel their best when their focus and productivity flow freely. But if you're stuck, you probably don't feel so good. First comes frustration and maybe even a little fear. No one wants to be in a place of lethargy and lagging energy. You are not inspired and it shows. And if you're an entrepreneur, you can't do that for long periods and expect your business to grow. How can you get out of here?
First, remember that it's all about thinking. Change your mind and you change your status from stuck to creative, productive and in the flow. You were there yesterday. You will be there again tomorrow. You are the same person. Creative flow takes place in the space between too little stimulus and too much. Creativity requires a certain amount of stress and structure, a basis of reality. But too much stress, too much pressure is overwhelming. Here are 10 things to do to bring you back into your creative space:
Recognize that creativity is cyclical
Creative people work with intense energy and focus, but then step back to cherish time. Perhaps you are not stuck but you are alone at rest. Use that. When you rest – really rest. Don't fill your time with aimless activities just because you worry about your productivity.
Keeps a diary Whether you're stuck or creative, at rest or active, keep a journal every day. Fifteen minutes every morning or during your most productive time of day. It helps identify things that block you and what you like and encourage. Creativity doesn't appear out of nowhere – a journal provides an opportunity to explore. Use inspirational words for your journal, keep them on small pieces of paper in a box and take one every morning and write or draw for 15 minutes. Don't worry about quality or consistency. Don't worry about completing thoughts. This is just for you.
Be prepared when creativity strikes
Always carry a pen and paper or use your phone to record messages for yourself. Capture your ideas throughout the day. Record your dreams. It complements your structured journal time and is just as important as your handwritten (or typed) notes.
Identify your creative triggers
If you struggle to find inspiration, learn from your journal what things excite you. Schedule time to read or take a class in that area or find groups that share your interest. Perhaps your passion is more physical than mental. Maybe it's not directly related to your work. Make time to pursue it.
Structure your workflow
Visualization is a concrete process; maybe use sticky notes on a whiteboard with categories:goals, projects, backlog, learning/improving, this week, today and done. The visual aspect enables conscious decision-making about priorities. Various software products can also support this type of process. Even a simple list will help you see what's on your plate, prioritize and check off completed tasks. Making lists frees your mind and your energy, allowing you to focus.
Evaluate and remove non-essential elements
If you have goals in front of you every day, you can evaluate each activity against them. If an activity sucks time and energy, accomplishes little toward your goals, get rid of it.
Limit your view
Too many stimuli can block creativity, flood your brain and drain your energy.
Break it off
Turn your big projects into smaller, more manageable projects. This is the art of turning a mountain into a molehill and then turning the molehill into the most incredibly creative and productive molehill ever.
Make the most of limitations
Creative people use the available resources because it can provide more creativity. Write down the things you see as limitations, both personal and external blocks. Write each restriction on a separate slip of paper and place them in your to-do box. Write about these limitations and focus on how to use them creatively.
Celebrate the achievements
Marking completed tasks can be as simple as a note in your journal or diary, naming the task or project and writing "Done". Or maybe it deserves a celebration. For some, completing an important task and moving on means a sense of loss or sadness. Marking the occasion will help you celebrate your achievements.
