To celebrate the release of Not in the Mood, let's discuss what to do when we're Not in the Mood. Rather than talking about the book itself, let's focus on overcoming a few creative 'hurdles' that can stand in the way of progress. Hopefully, this leads to some helpful tips that put you back in the mood for some 'serious' work or... play.
Creative Barrier #1 - Unrealistic Expectations
My 'almighty' to-do list grows with great rigor, like garden weeds. Before long it's out of control and there is no clear way in. Or out! When the workload scheduled for the day is too big, it's difficult to know where to begin.
As an author / illustrator, I'm stuck with overwhelm until I dissect a manageable chunk of work to grapple with. Feeling Stuck? - Where to begin
Begin with whatever is most appealing. Whatever is most fun. Because the most difficult barrier to overcome is often getting your bum on the seat, and starting work. Obviously, there comes a time when you'll need to deal with the difficult bits, but you can chip away at the tough stuff once you've found your rhythm. Take on those challenges when you have momentum on your side.
A weekend can be enough for me to lose my sense of momentum. Take a playful approach to how you re-establish your groove again.
Head on collision,
Sometimes the challenge is too much to face head on. Perhaps you don't need to tackle it head on. Take the side entrance? If I'm 'stuck' I find it helpful to isolate an 'easier' component of work, and then play within that realm. You define this realm for yourself. Limiting the boundaries can be freeing, because there's freedom in restraint. Try starting simple. For example, abstract mark-making to help obliterate the fear of the empty page. Enjoy the sensory experience, get in touch with the materials you love. This often puts me back in tune with the process that I adore, and those unhelpful voices of the inner-critique soften as I become increasingly absorbed in the process. Before long ideas usually begin to flow without the tension associated with deliberate effort, or hard-work.
Play can get those creative muscles warmed up, eventually you'll feel more agile and ready to take bigger leaps, overcoming bigger, more menacing creative obstacles.
The side door,
If I'm tired of the text or strung-out on the sequence, I'll play with abstract compositions, exploring the relationship between space, text and image in simple thumbnails. Just using blocks of colour to signify 'image' and line to indicate the position of the text.
Any new material you can feed into the equation advances a project forward (or sideways), even if it doesn't feel like it is the most pressing matter. It's all relative. It'll change something, in turn, the change in perspective could reveal the way to move forward. More often, creative work is more rewarding when you embrace the process rather than focusing too hard on the results.
Risk / Reward,
Too often I end the day feeling like I've lost the battle, because there's a multitude of unfinished tasks left on the to-do list. This diminishes any sense of accomplishment. Therefore, there's no reward.
Trying to tackle 'more' risks burning out. And this isn't going to make returning to the desk the following day enticing. Usually it's not long before I lose steam in terms of the sensible decision making the day has to offer. I wonder if it's wiser to leave something left in the tank? Skip the 'junk volume' and end on the day a high note. Live to fight another day. Return to work with a spring in your step. Ready for action. When possible, I find it helpful to end work on an enticing 'conundrum'. A post-it note with a single objective for the following day, something fun to draw you back into the studio. Something that'll help you reconnect with your momentum.
Celebrate the little victories, and leave time to nurture yourself. Extracting work from within tirelessly is exhausting, if you're locked away in the studio, where will you find the fuel to ignite the next spark of creativity?
The done list,
To counter the feeling that I'm losing the battle and to protect my sense of self worth I've recently started keeping a 'done list' - as suggested by Oliver Burkeman (on the Waking Up app). Too many times I end the day feeling like I didn't complete the tasks I was 'meant' to complete. The really important tasks were the 'ones that got away'. In reality, when you're self-employed there's no end to these tasks (there's always something else to add to the to-do list). To dwell on this 'failure' devalues my efforts (and degrades my wellbeing). It disregards all the good stuff. It's a miserable way to 'call it a night'. I'm convinced being miserable wastes a tonne of energy. It probably leans towards fight-or-flight and away from rest-and-recover.
When I write the 'done list' it's surprising to 'rediscover' how valuable the day has been. It also guides me towards a more balanced routine. It helps me recognise what's most important. And it helps me celebrate the little victories. Often those are things from outside the realm of serious 'work'. When overly 'work-focused' you might class anything that stands in the way of progress as an distractions. But these 'distractions' could be some of the most precious things the day (or life) has to offer. For example, the quality time you have spent with your family before the working day began.
Don't kick yourself if things didn't go to plan, stick it all on the done-list.
Absent without leave,
I'm losing steam, so to tie this up for now...
If the desk is just too intimidating or uninspiring, perhaps it's time for a change of scene.
After a marathon slog I find my studio becomes drenched in a heavy feeling. It's dull and uninspiring. I've been there too long! Taking my work into a different environment helps change everything, including my mood, perspective, energy and ideas. Working outside doesn't feel like work. It feels like a treat. A holiday even (if the sun's out)? When I'm afraid of writing, I climb into bed... If you're hibernating in bed, there's no way it could possibly feel like work?
A change of scene often shifts the sensation of being 'stuck'. Physically move yourself forward. Or somewhere else. Anywhere else. Then get on with it.
OK - I'll leave it there for now. More to explore on the topic, another time.
Please do let me know if this was helpful.
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