3 Tips to Find Your Flow
Welcome to my weekly blog. January went by so fast! I wasn’t expecting that to be honest.
I’ve been working on a collection of surface patterns designs for Valentine’s Day. I had planned to get them done a while ago but things happen, right? Residual holiday stuff. Family interruptions. Higher priority projects. You name it. This brought up some thoughts about creativity and how to reignite your flow when you get stuck or, like me, find yourself working on something that should have been finished already.
Ready for my top 3 tips when you find yourself in a similar situation? Read on…
Many artists and creatives of all sorts go through phases of creative burnout. The good news is that there are simple steps you can take to reignite the creative mojo and find your flow again. Here are my top three tips:
1. Have your supplies handy and ready to use
One of the most important things you can do to jumpstart your creativity is to have your supplies ready and at your fingertips. Make sure that your sketchbook, fine liner pens or pencils, and other tools are easily accessible and organized. This way, when the creative urge strikes, you won't waste time searching for what you need. Having your supplies ready to go also helps to remove any mental blocks or excuses that might prevent you from getting started.
The mistake I used to make around this was… I’d work at the dining room table. This gave me a nice amount of space but every night, I felt compelled to clean everything up so that we could use the table for dinner. I didn’t want my husband to find a mess when he got home from the office. And our dining room is a space that you have to walk through on the way to the kitchen. Enough said! Moving into the garage which is now a wonderful creative studio for me solved this issue. I can have all of my supplies at the ready. No more excuses.
2. Pick the time of day that's best for you
Everyone has a different rhythm for when they feel the most productive and creative. Some people do their best work in the morning, while others are more inspired in the evening. To find the time of day that works best for you, experiment by working at different times and take note of how you feel and what kind of results you get. Then, you can schedule your creative work for the times when you’re feeling most “in flow”.
Sometimes this is easier said than done. We can’t always stick to a rigid routine. Things happen. We have to be able to switch things up from time to time even when that means working on our creative practice at a time of the day that’s not exactly right for us. The good news is, we can return to that “perfect” time of day when things settle down again. And taking a break from creativity is important from time to time. Let your mind rest and recharge. New creative ideas will flow.
3. Join a free workshop or challenge
When you’re feeling restless or need a boost of inspiration, join a free workshop! There are many available online these days so it’s important to reach out to your friends to find out which ones are really, really good. For example, my friend and mentor Bonnie Christine is offering her - once a year only - free workshop: The Art of Business: 7 Secrets to Success in Surface Pattern Design. It’s happening now and you can still sign up. Click HERE to grab your spot.
This workshop is something that Bonnie started to offer a few years ago. She only does it once a year so she puts EVERYTHING into making it the most incredible experience. Videos are delivered to your email box. She’s available for Q&As sessions. She runs a really fun contest with prizes. That’s the “stuff” but much more importantly, she walks you through her 7 Secrets to Success in Surface Pattern Design.
I’m grateful to Bonnie for introducing me to this industry five or six years ago. I’d never heard of it and now I’m hooked and sell my own designs and teach my own programs about it. What a blessing to have met her and I’ve learned so much from her. I’m a huge fan and this is a workshop you really shouldn’t miss.
Remember that finding your creative mojo is all about taking small steps and being intentional about your creative process. By having your supplies handy, picking the time of day that works best for you, and joining a free workshop from time to time, you can reignite your creative spark! Go ahead and give these tips a try, and see what kind of results you get!
I hope to see you in Bonnie’s workshop. She’s the real deal and since this is only offered once a year, it would be a shame for you to miss it. Click HERE to sign up.
See you next week.
xo,
Anne
P.S. If you’re new to Surface Pattern Design and want to learn more, download my beautiful free ebook. Click HERE to grab it.
It’s Never Too Late to Create®
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MEET ANNE
Hi…I’m Anne!
My creative inspiration comes from a lifetime of observation. I grew up in Paris on the Place St. Sulpice and walked to school through the Luxembourg gardens. And that was only the beginning… Learn more by watching the video on my About page.
