Feeling Stuck Or In A Creative Funk
We have all been there.
Those times in our life when we know we need to be productive, we have goals and to-do lists but for whatever reason getting anything done seems to feel draining, overwhelming or just flat out impossible.
Maybe you’ve been sick for a while, going through life changes, or just not feeling like yourself?
Maybe you have a goal you want to achieve or are going after a career change but feel stuck with how demanding your current job or life is.
How can we switch from feeling unmotivated to
on-track and in motion?
I’ve been in the “stuck” phase many times in my life. I have gone through different phases of healing that felt debilitating and times in my life where it felt impossible to show up because I didn’t feel like myself at all. I’m going to give you 10 of my best tips on how I go about regaining momentum & boosting my creativity.
Start with very small movements. Looking at your goal, what is one small action you could do today that would be productive towards your goal? By taking the smallest bit of action, this will naturally trigger dopamine in your brain. It will give you hope that your goal is still achievable. Think about it this way, there are 365 days in the year, if you show up every single day and do at least one thing to get you closer to your goal, even though the progress may be slow, small actions will eventually build to great results. If you can’t show up daily, there are 52 weeks in a year. Showing up once a week will still make a great impact.
Recognize and celebrate your wins. There’s a quote I’ve heard many times before “I remember when I used to pray for the life I have today.” What in your life today did you used to pray for? What would the person you were 10 years ago be proud of about you today? What hardships have you overcome? What brave things have you done? When we recognize our wins it reminds us just how capable we are and naturally we realize we truly are able to do great things.
Take a Shower. I used to think it was funny that brilliant ideas came to me when I was in the shower but it turns out this is a common phenomenon known as the "shower effect.” It happens because routine activities like showering relax your brain and allow creative thoughts to flow.
Exercise Sparks Ideas. Any kind of physical activity will increase your blood flow to the brain and can trigger creative problem-solving. Even a 10-minute walk can lead to fresh perspectives. On some of my worst days I still had to walk my dogs even though I didn’t want to and it was sometimes hard to get through I always felt better after. Even going to the gym and getting on the treadmill for 20 mins sparks new ideas for me.
Allow yourself to daydream. While it can feel unproductive to just sit and stare out the window, at a beautiful landscape, lay on the grass and look up at the sky…letting your mind wander can lead to "aha" moments. Studies show that daydreaming can boost creativity by allowing your brain to connect ideas in new ways.
Change Up Your Surroundings. Working in a new or unusual space, like a café or park, stimulates the brain with fresh sights and sounds, enhancing creative thinking. I have a cute little office at my house and plenty of places to get work done but being home can be distracting. I’ll hear the laundry finish and get up to go change it. A package arrives, better go get it. Dog starts barking, better go investigate. Allotting yourself an hour or more to work somewhere else will help your focus and likely spark new ideas.
Play. Engaging in childlike activities like coloring, painting, crafting of any kind or even building with LEGOS removes self judgment and helps your mind think outside the box. What did you love to do as a kid?
Get Good Sleep. I know, easier said than done. REM sleep (the dreaming phase) enhances creative problem-solving by integrating disparate ideas. While sleeping can feel unproductive, sometimes it’s what our bodies need most to reset. I personally haven’t always had the easiest time falling asleep and staying asleep. Some things that have improved my sleep are…no phone or laptop screens 1-2 hours before bed, taking a magnesium supplement (right now I really like Cymbiotica’s liquid magnesium.) I also use a magnesium spray on the soles of my feet before bed. Having the room that you sleep in very dark and cold is also helpful, I have blackout shades and set the temperature in my bedroom to 68 degrees. Showering before bed helps me to feel clean and more relaxed. I make sure to clean my sheets once a week. Your bedding makes a difference in the quality of your sleep. I stop drinking anything caffeinated in the early afternoon and do my best not to consume sugar at least a few hours before bed. Eating an early dinner will also help better sleep. There are tons of ways to improve your sleep but these are what have helped me the most.
Pay Attention to Self Talk. Stop telling yourself and others about how you’re feeling stuck and unmotivated. Your subconscious will believe whatever you tell it and that naturally becomes your reality. Every moment, every single cell in your body and the entire universe are working together to create your reality…your words and thoughts are so powerful. Practice being intentional with the affirmations you preach. Instead of saying “I feel stuck and unmotivated” replace it with something like “I’m working on myself and getting better everyday.” Or “everything is temporary, the phase I’ve been in is temporary and I’m excited to start feeling creative and like myself again.”
Don’t be hard on yourself. If you’re going through a funk, there’s likely a reason for it. Remember that everything in life is temporary, the way you’re feeling now won’t last forever. If you’re feeling unproductive or not creative, let yourself rest and relax before taking action. Have the same grace with yourself that you would give someone you love
