Even the most creative people get stuck sometimes. It’s easy to feel like you’ve hit a rut, like you’re unable to prioritize your creativity, or like you’ll never create again. I can’t count how many times I’ve said that I feel like I’ll never have another idea for a project, and how I wish I could trade brains with my friends who are always bursting with ideas. If that sounds like you too, don’t worry. You don’t actually have to trade brains. You just have to learn how to nurture your creativity.
The same goes for people who don’t feel like they’re creative. Creativity is a muscle you can train just like any other muscle, and when you prioritize creativity you’ll be surprised by how much stronger that part of your brain gets. So, regardless of if you’re a creative person who’s feeling stuck, or someone who doesn’t think of themselves as creative, read on and see what might work for you to nurture your creativity.
Nurture your creativity by going on artist’s dates
Have you heard of artist’s dates before? Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way, describes the concept as “assigned play.” Essentially, an artist date is when you take the time to be by yourself and do something a little out of the ordinary. They don’t have to specifically relate to making art, but all of the artist date ideas that I’ve seen have nurtured creativity by making you look at the world in a different way. Here’s a list of artist date ideas; if you take the time to do something off of this list on a regular basis, you might be surprised at how much more creative you feel.
Learn something new
One way to nurture your creativity is to learn something new. Creativity thrives with novelty. This could mean trying new, unrelated things (a la an artist date) or it could mean trying new things with your art. One of my favorite things to do is to find classes so that I can expand my skillset. Here’s a resource round up of free online filmmaking classes, if that’s your thing, or perhaps you’d like a list of filmmaking ebooks. If filmmaking isn’t your medium, seek out other resources that might nurture your creativity; if you’re a painter, take a pottery class, or if you’re a novelist, learn more about writing screenplays.
I love to cook, and one way I like to nurture my creativity is by checking out a cookbook from the library that focuses on a cuisine I don’t know much about, and then I make a few of the recipes and learn more about that cuisine. It’s a great way to learn something new, and it often inspires me to mix up my menus.
Learning something new is a great way to nurture your creativity. It doesn’t matter if it’s related to your art, a totally different art form, or something completely different; when you grow your mind, you grow your creativity. So take a class, or listen to an interesting podcast, or read a book, or take yourself to a part of your city you’ve never been to and try a new activity. Your creative life will thank you!
Find a creative community
A creative community is such a good way to nurture your creativity. I’m a member of several; my New 32 family is made up of amazing artists, my friend group is full of creative people, and I’m a member of several online communities built of like-minded artists who want to prioritize their creativity and cheer each other on. It’s an invaluable resource for me, and it really helps me grow.
If you’re a filmmaker who wants a focus on positivity and fun in addition to knowledge and hard work, try following us on Instagram to get filmmaking content and screenwriting tips. If you’re a writer, musician, or visual artist, see if there are other creators online who are building an intentional community of artists. You can also join a discord or a similar online community and use that as an opportunity to connect with other artists and nurture your creativity.
Get out of your comfort zone
Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone like a mama bird pushing her baby out of the nest is a great way to make your creativity soar. A few years ago, I tried embracing some things I’d always been extremely skeptical of; namely, meditation, tarot, and astrology. If you’re rolling your eyes right now, stick with me. I’m not going to say you have to try any of those things. They’re just an example of something that was waaaay outside of my comfort zone, but once I tried them out they ended up changing my entire life. Here’s an article about meditation for beginners if that’s interesting to you, but if it’s not–or if it’s something you practice already–try to think of other ways that you can push yourself to be a little uncomfortable with in the name of growth. Things like physical movement, new activities, or being vulnerable with loved ones are all great ways to get out of your comfort zone and nurture your creativity.
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