Being in a creative rut is one of the worst feelings and is frustrating when making a letter. You are all the sudden halted from a form of expression and everything seems off. Your brain is bursting with ideas, but you're speechless. I know when it comes to finding ways to decorate and add personal touches to letters that I often find myself in this situation.
Writing letters isn't just writing cute notes to your friends, it is also a way of self expression or in other words you are creating art. There are a ton of tutorials online and aesthetics to follow, but sometimes those just don't seem to be right. Even when it comes to writing and creating letters you can be in a creative rut.
According to a study done in 2004 by Harvard Medical School neurology instructor Alice Flaherty, the frontal lobe of the brain during a creative rut has decreased activity. The frontal lobe is responsible for voluntary movement and cognitive skills. The interesting factor to the study is that when there was a decrease of activity in the frontal lobe during a creative block, there is an increase in the temporal lobe of the brain. The temporal lobe plays a role in processing object recognition. Your brain is simply trying to express something, but is unable to proceed with the activity.
Being in a creative rut doesn't mean that you are no longer creative or have ideas, it just means your brain is having a hard time expressing those ideas. The good thing about a creative rut is that it isn't a permeant thing. You can do a few activities to feel inspired again when in a creative rut. Here are 3 tips to help you feel inspired again when making letters.
Change Your Environment
Sometimes the cause of a creative rut is our surroundings. Staying in a stannic work place and cause a stannic mind. You subconsciously develop a routine that doesn't allow
inspiration to flow when in a familiar place. It can be as easy as rearranging your workplace or if you feel up to the mess, painting a wall a bright color.
Changing your environment isn't just limited to changing objects around you. Feel free to change your physical surroundings. Go to a different room or to the nearest coffee shop. Seeing a different scenery can allow your brain to get out of routine and recognize that there are different things around you. Your brain is able to start processing different objects.
Another thing to do is to go outside on a walk. This can make all the difference and spark new inspiration. You are not only seeing new scenery, but you are also getting exercise which produces endorphins.
Take a Break and do Something Else
Just like mentioned before, our brains get into routines subconsciously and cause creative ruts. Find a way to break the routine by doing something else. Don't force yourself to finish something if you know it want be your best work. Allow your mind to breath and focus on something else.
Do something that you love to do or a hobby that you adore. Find something that you know that you enjoy. This is a great time to catch up on a Netflix show or to grab lunch with a friend.
Allowing your mind to take a break isn't procrastination, it is actually productive in healing your mind. Allow your mind to heal and then get back to work.
It is through what makes us happy that we are able to create. You never know you might be able to view things a different angle.
Find Inspiration Elsewhere
Seeking inspiration outside of our own style can allow creativity to flow again. Pinterest is my savior when it comes to being a creative rut. Being able to view other's work and see how they add their own personal touches to things has helped me gain inspiration again.
Try listening to other types of genres of music when working on a project. Music easily effects our mood. By sending different wavelengths to your brain, you are increasing activity and allowing your brain to process things again.
View other's art for inspiration. Think of your favorite artists and creators that use techniques and styles that you admire. I know for me I will often look up some of my favorite bullet journaling channels on YouTube when I don't know what quite to do for my next letter. I can find new ideas and inspiration from other artists. That is why they create, to inspire others.
As to go through your creative journey in life, there will be insistences where you feel lost and uninspired. You don't quite feel like what you are making will be your best work. Even if you a running a small business of making handmade letters or just trying to make a Mother's Day card you might feel creativity blocked. By using these three tips you will be able to find your inspiration again and continue to create.
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