When Creativity Leaves The Building When Creativity Leaves The Building
🧨Over the last few weeks my brain has been on fire; in a good way. In the very best of ways. Whilst I enjoyed the creativity burst, I was very mindful to go with the flow & enjoy the wave that had washed over me, but also be aware of the fact that the tide could go out at any point. Not in a way that caused me to dread it, or sit in wait for it. Rather just from experience, I know that creativity rises and falls for me in this very dramatic and rather spectacular way.
🗝And I have started to build in ways to remind myself not to worry or fear this part of the process; that as suddenly as the tide went out, it will be back in full force just as quickly & dramatically!
🌊Well, this week the tide went out. And the amazing thing is that this time I was ready for it. I did 3 things to help me prepare : Want to hear about them? Of course you do!
1️⃣ Prevent panic over what to post by stocking up on content during the periods of abundance. I like to make content boards on Trello & every time I have an idea, I store it up there, like Joseph storing up his crops for the seven years of famine ahead. I personally don’t think this is a negative way to think, it feels practical and realistic to me & it takes away that feeling of dread. And I find that this makes space to invite creativity back in. Whenever she is ready. No pressure.
2️⃣ Schedule some video chats with people who inspire me – this always works for me. Getting on calls, especially my ‘Stop & Smell the Coffee’ calls, always lifts my mood and leaves me with new ideas to play with.
3️⃣ During my happiest & most creative points, I make sure to open up my list of things that ground me & make me feel better. The list has really grown over the last few months! Here’s the story so far:
🧿Infused oils. I fell in love with the Bloomtown range, but I also love Neal’s Yard.
🧿 Food care: roasting some root veggies or beets, making poke bowls, freshly cooked greens and salads.
🧿Practicing good sleep hygiene : e.g, phone plugged in out of the room, all the light panels covered over in the room, no watching news before bed, asleep before 11pm
🧿Listening to music & singing : especially alone in the car
🧿Getting out of my bubble: Trips to the beach, monthly pub quiz (ah those were the days), a date with a friend
🧿Being with nature: walks, trees, the sea, watering the garden, smelling the earth, planting
🧿Gentle exercise: especially yoga
🧿Drinking water, berries & ice
🧿Baking challah: I love every part of the process. And eating it too.
🧿Joyful activities with my kids: simple things. Need more of these at the moment, need to rethink what that would look like.
🧿Journaling: I especially try to focus on gratitude journaling. I find it really comforting
🧿Listen to a guided meditation: I love listening to Gareth Riddy’s ‘heart coherence’ meditation
🧿Travel ( I didn’t delete this one, because even though we cant fly, we can still travel the country..)
🧿Listening to one of my fave podcasts: at the moment that’s either ‘Ear Hustle’, ‘Imagined Life’ or ‘TTFA’
🧿Reading the reviews on my website: such a good reminder of why I do what I do.
🧿Comedy: Eddie Izzard or Michael McIntyre can NEVER fail
I’d also like to get myself a smoky quartz crystal, to help ground and connect me to the earth.
What else would you add to the list? What makes you feel grounded?