How to be creative when it’s the last thing you want to be

Written By:

Hope Bullen

Hope Bullen (A Little Bit of Hope founder and Illustrator and Author based in West Sussex) is sat on a bed with a French, white looking wooden headboard behind her, she is resting on some pillow with a cream and orange mug of coffee in her hand which is decorated with flowers and says "you had me at aloha" written on the front. She is wearing under eye masks, has her brunette hair in a bun, and is wearing a black pop punk tshirt. She is in her mid-late twenties.

Being creative is one of the most frustrating things. I sit down at the table at 9 am, and some days the ideas just don’t flow and before you know it I’ve let myself get distracted by watering plants, staring at the tree outside (it is rather beautiful) and offering everybody coffee. Today is one of those days. So what better day to write a blog on how to help nudge those creative moments and get those creative cogs turning!

Step away

My biggest piece of advice is to try (if you’re able to, deadlines suck) and get some space from whatever you are working on. Most of the time my biggest ideas will come to me at super random points in the day – be it making a cuppa, amid an existential crisis in the shower or on a cushty countryside walk. 

I need to remind myself that my brain doesn’t do well being stuffed into an office 9-5, so why would it do well being forced to use creative energy. You’ll create your best stuff when you give yourself some brain space – trust me!

(In fact, a study revealed 72% of people report having creative insights while taking a shower – heck, why not whack out that Lynx box set that’s gathering dust for the occasion?!)

Change Up Your Scenery

If you can’t fully step away, a simple change of scenery within your workspace can help. Move to a new room, sit outside for a bit, switch to the comfy cushy chair. A new environment can help jog your brain out of its funk (fresh air can do magical things)

Work On Something Else

Got a different project you can pivot to for a bit? Shift your focus to that other task until inspiration for the first one strikes again. Who knows, you may end up blending creative ideas between the two!

Meditate

I’m awful at meditating, but last year I did it for a solid 2 months and I think I was the best version I’ve ever been. Not to mention, it does WONDERS for creative brains. I did it as little as 10 minutes a day (not hard at all, I’ve just become incredibly complacent/lazy af) and noticed the benefits beyond being able to be creative and juggle my part-time job with my drawing. One study found that after listening to a 20-minute guided meditation, people experienced better brainstorming skills and higher creativity.

Be patient with yourself – trust that giving your mind space is often the best way to get those creative juices bubbling again.

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