During these challenging times, people are experiencing the restlessness that comes with staying at home for long periods of time. Many feel bored, unmotivated, and unproductive as they fear for the state of the world and the people in it. On top of that, it’s difficult to feel inspired when you have no choice but to stay inside.
But just because you’re stuck at home doesn’t mean your creativity has to wither away. No matter how uninspired you feel, there are different ways to spark your interest and create something you’re proud of. Rather than focus on the negatives of your situation, you can use the extra time you have to dive into that creative project you’ve been putting off.
If you can’t create right now, or you feel it’s downright impossible, be kind to yourself about it. Everyone is doing their best with the current situation they’re in, and you’re no exception.
Let’s look at a few ways you can harness your creativity while stuck at home.
Watch Videos
There are likely tons of books, journals, articles, and other texts you can sift through to inspire your creativity. While these are important, it’s crucial to also switch up the type of media you consume. Around four times as many people say they would rather watch a video about something than read about it, proving that videos keep viewers engaged and hold their interest.
If you want to switch it up, watch videos that will inspire you. They don’t have to be related to what you’re doing; they just have to make you feel something. Play a music video from your favorite artist, watch a TED talk about a subject you find interesting, or indulge in a YouTuber’s latest vlog.
Learn Something New
What better way to get your creative juices flowing than to learn something new? There’s always going to be something new out there to try or take an interest in. You just have to find and pursue it.
Is there something you’ve always wanted to learn or try but didn’t have the time to before? Spending most of your time at home means you can finally learn how to network, play chess, start a blog, or generate more leads, for example. It gives you the opportunity to explore new ideas so you come out of this with enhanced knowledge and skills useful for all areas of your life.
A lot of the time, learning leads to new hobbies which are great motivators for creativity. When you spend time doing things that make you happy, it encourages you to pursue your passions with vigor.
Get Active
When you’re physically active, your brain produces chemicals like dopamine and endorphins that make you feel good. On top of that, it releases stress and anxiety that can build up over time and cause physical symptoms.
When you feel good, it’s easier to maintain a positive attitude and look at life with optimism. It’s also easier to create and feel motivated when you have feel-good chemicals flowing through your body.
Take it upon yourself to get active. There are tons of ways to exercise at home and with no equipment. If you’re someone who doesn’t enjoy working out, try a different form of physical activity, such as dancing or rollerblading. Sometimes a simple tweak can change your outlook and make you look forward to something you used to hate.
Avoid Striving for Perfection
We put so much pressure on ourselves to be the best and create the best work. But if anything, this only stresses us to the point of paralyzing fear. Many people refuse to start a personal project because they’re afraid of the outcome, but this will never get you where you need to go.
If all you focus on is how your final result needs to be perfect, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Perfection doesn’t exist and the longer you have this mindset, the more it’ll wither away at your confidence to create something brilliant.
It can feel difficult to be creative when you’re focused on the wrong thing. Make it an active practice to stop yourself when these negative thoughts pop up so they’re easier to control and let go of over time. And rather than complain about how you’re forced to stay inside, see it as an opportunity to grow as a creative individual.
Boost Your Creativity Today
You don’t have to wait until the right moment for a creative spark to hit. If every creative in the world did that, then art would cease to exist. Feeling uninspired and underwhelmed is normal and happens to everyone. During challenging times, it may feel difficult to harness your creativity, but it’s necessary to feel better and more fulfilled. How will you boost your creativity right now?