During this last year, we have faced the problem of comparison more fiercely than ever. Social media, though we fight with our better judgement, knowing that it is a fictitious ‘best bits’ reel of airbrushed, filtered storyline of moments that people choose to share. The reason? Because they feel exactly the same as you do; they feel like they need to prove to themselves as much as other people that they are living their best life. Here are some easy quick fixes that can help you clear some of the noise and get your mind back into the creative zone!
- Take it off your To-Do list. Don’t let your creativity become a chore!
After I graduated from Manchester, studying music and drama, I faced a near year-long creative writer’s block. When I scrolled through social media (which is something you should never do when you have brain fog!), I saw post after post after post of “the song I wrote over lockdown”, “new release on Spotify”, or “quarantine has given me so much time to master my instrument!” I felt so inadequate by comparison that I ended up scheduling time to ‘be creative’, putting ‘song writing’ and ‘composing’ on my To-Do list. The result? A bigger writer’s block and added guilt for feeling like I failed because my To-Do list remained un-checked. Scheduling and routine is great, but don’t use it to try and force your mind into something because it will only add pressure to yourself.
- Leave your phone alone for a day.
Believe me, I know how easy it is to fall into the trap of thinking that no-one will believe you did anything if you don’t post about it on social media. Besides the issues of becoming addicted to the screen and losing all sense of what real life is, putting your phone between yourself and a real-life experience creates more than just a physical barrier between you and what you are experiencing. Your brain cannot take in the full impact of the experience, switching it off as soon as your phone does. Leave the phone at home, get some oxygen and vitamin D and allow yourself to live a little!
- Write down why you do what you do and why you are creative, you will find that you write a lot!
This is one of the simplest quick fixes, but one of the most effective. It is so easy when we face an obstacle to forget why we started the journey in the first place. Jotting down these things helps us to stay grounded and present, ultimately relighting the spark of inspiration and creativity that got us started!
- Revisit the things that inspired you in the first place!
My current favourite TV show for some escapism is The Repair Shop on BBC. Seeing all the traditional crafts used to restore historic items with amazing stories tied to them is an amazingly inspiring thing. Paired with the wonderful team and the joy that their craft brings people, restoring memories, keeping history alive and commemorating those who have left us, this show is my go-to for when I need to take break for myself and learn something new! If music and theatre is your thing, why not watch a screened live performance on YouTube? There are plenty of shows to choose from - operas, ballets, concerts, musicals, plays, anything you can think of! If you are a storyteller, why not watch a childhood favourite film or TV show that sparked your interest as a child? If you’re a musician, listen to the music that inspired you to play your instrument or write music in the first place. The list is endless, just revisit the things that first inspired you and you may be surprised by the new things you notice with added experience!
- Pick up a new hobby/Find a new creative outlet.
The more you use your creativity, the more creative you get. This doesn’t mean you are restricted to one form of creativity, however. In fact, the nature of creativity is that there are no limits, so one way to get back into the zone is to find a new hobby! For me, personally, I am interested in learning how to sew. Besides my love of all things music and drama, I have a love of textiles and would one day love to sew some of my own clothes, for example. I would also love to be able to repair my own things, and hopefully one day be able to make teddy bears to donate. A new hobby will allow you some escapism from the brain fog, but it will also put you in a more creative mindset automatically.
- Take a break from the pressure you are putting on yourself!
Do not burden yourself with unrealistic expectations. It took Brahms fourteen years to write his first symphony, for example, so don’t expect new projects to take form overnight. I remember discussing my writer’s block with my dad, who said, “yes, musicians may be coming out with new stuff 24/7 but that doesn’t always mean it’s good”. Here is where the quality and not quantity argument comes into play.
- Read a book that you’ve always wanted to read but never have…
Now is the time to create a safe, cosy space and read that book that’s been on your reading list for five years. Whether this is a Victorian novel, an autobiography or ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’, let your mind go quiet and read that book! The wonderful thing about books is the sense of achievement you get from turning the pages and seeing how much you have read. When I get really absorbed in a book, I find that this makes me want to read even more – it all comes back to giving your mind some escapism and quiet time to refresh itself and focus on something different but enjoyable.
- Keep your hands busy with something structured e.g. knitting, baking, colouring etc.
Online courses and how-to videos are great ways to pass the time and engage your brain, but what is often overlooked is our hands. There is a reason we have evolved to have opposable thumbs; we are builders, doers, creators. We need to use our hands. Keeping your hands busy with things like knitting, baking, colouring, essentially structured movements not only provides that side-step from the fog, but brings us back to our routes and keeps us safer from overthinking and self-doubt. This movement has also been suggested to help prevent illnesses such as dementia, so it’s always a good idea to do a physical activity every day!
- Don’t restrict yourself.
Our creative endeavours are wonderful things, but we as humans need variety in our lives. A great life hack that often circulates the internet is this:
In your life you should have three hobbies:
- One that makes you money
- One that keeps you fit
- One that fulfils your creativity
There are a million and one things to do, and it doesn’t have to be what you see everyone else doing that makes you feel worthless by comparison. Keep grounded, keep busy, and learn something new. You will start to feel like yourself again in no time!
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