I Was in a Slump

Recently I had a rough couple of weeks. I lacked motivation, felt sad, and just altogether didn’t feel good. My list of “shoulds” would pile up and the guilt that followed would consequently push me to further avoid all of the things that usually help me. I didn’t make art for a couple weeks, which felt like a long time. In moments when I feel this way I will ask myself, have I lost the spark? Will my motivation ever come back? It’s so easy to feel like I have always and will always feel sad and unmotivated.

However, that is not the case!

I have compiled a list of things that are helpful in getting out of a slump–specifically a creative slump.

1: Plan out a detailed design for a big project

Make as many lists with as many details as possible. This cannot be a small project, think big and go bigger. Don’t start making anything yet! This is purely research and organization.

2: Read an autobiography or memoir of someone aspirational

History is full of people who have done the unthinkable. Read their stories and find motivation by diving into their lives. What are your problems compared to a man with no legs completing an IronMan (obviously I think about that book to this day…)??

3: Look at as many art accounts on social media as possible

Take notes about all the things you notice other artists are doing. Nothing brings you out of a creative slump like spending a good amount of time looking at other’s work for inspiration.

4: Make a list of unfinished or anticipated projects

You know you have been putting these off, so it will be good for you to have a visual representation to really get motivated about finishing up some loose ends!

5: Ask for feedback

Whether it is a stranger, family member or close friend, getting some feedback while you are feeling down can really shock you into action. Just go ahead and try it.

If you’re not uncomfy after reading this list, then hopefully you can at least hear some of the sarcasm…

Of course none of these things work–well they at least have not worked for me. These things aren’t inherently bad things to do in life, but when I am feeling down, the last thing I need is to pile on more guilt and comparison!

I logically know that these don’t sound like the best suggestions, but guess what?

I have done all of these things. The first thing I do when I feel bad is go on social media and doom scroll on all the cool accounts I see. In the past I have thought if I just have enough willpower and I muscle my way through, then I can forcefully drag myself back to my goals. Maybe for a bit that would occasionally help, but it eventually left me back where I started or worse off.

I have been drawn to videos that offer advice saying, “just do this thing to [insert good habit]” and I have viewed my highs and lows in life as an equation that needs to be solved. I want to find the answer for how to prevent the lows. But I think…there is no way. Talk about feeling a burden be lifted. If I always think that something I do causes the hard days/weeks/months in life, then I don’t think I will ever be truly kind to myself.

I am not trying to say that certain habits/activities don’t contribute to our mental and emotional state, I just think that I need to let go of trying to control every emotion I experience.

So, in the hopes of reminding myself of this in the future, I have compiled a new and updated list of things I can do amidst a creative/life slump. I know I just got done saying there is no equation, so hopefully this list feels more like positive reminders for giving yourself space and shifting perspectives/expectations.

If you feel similarly or disagree with any of these points, I would love to hear your perspective!

1: Remind yourself that it is okay

It’s okay that you don’t feel like making something, it’s okay that you are having a really crappy week. It is okay to feel sad or mad or tired. Have compassion for yourself. Being mean to yourself will solve nothing.

2: Remember that you don’t have to “fix” hard emotions

There may be a very specific reason for your mood or it could just be one of those weeks. Instead of trying to push it away, maybe think about how to adjust your day so you can do what needs to be done while having low energy. It makes sense that your high energy days and low energy days don’t look the same.

3: If you have been thinking of creating but haven’t had the energy, is there a medium you can work with that is easier or faster to use?

For example, I currently have a painting I am working on in my office. When I am feeling unmotivated, it feels like a lot to get everything out, work on it, and still have so much more to do to actually complete the project. Instead, I carve stamps out of rubber. I can make small stamps in as little as 15 minutes and then I have fun piecing things together with ink on paper. Or I draw something that doesn’t require much thought. Or I play the piano, which isn’t necessarily related to my artwork, yet it is still a way to creatively express myself. Many times these kinds of digestible activities help to spark the joy I feel for creating and leads to a further desire to do more. And if it doesn’t and I continue to feel unmotivated, then that’s fine too.

4: Re-evaluate the reasons why you are creating

For me, it helps to get rid of unnecessary mental clutter by letting go of things that are bogging me down but aren’t really necessary. A prime example for me is social media. When I am not creating as much, I start to feel this pressure because I know that if I don’t post frequently, then less people will connect with my account. However, I am not making art to create content. The content naturally comes from my love of making artwork. I mentally let go of that worry about posting and tell myself that posting is not a motivator for me, therefore it is not high on the list of things that need to get done. Obviously if you have different goals or responsibilities, this will vary, but prioritizing jobs that reflect inner goals or values seems to get me further.

This is obviously a pretty loose list, as I believe it should be. Like I said before, I am trying to move away from trying to “fix” my emotions and instead learning to give them space. It has been something I have been thinking a lot about lately and am curious as to what others think. Have you had similar experiences? Or maybe something in my first list actually did help you? Let me know in the comments.

As always, I appreciate anyone and everyone’s support and hope you are all being kind to yourself and are finding value in both the highs and lows of everyday living.