Stuck in a rut? Freelance creatives are no exception to writer's block or artistic slumps. If you happen to be having one of those days where you're just staring at the screen trying to figure out how to form the right tagline or arrange a website layout in an eye-catching way, here are a few activities to help you get your creative juices flowing:
A Change in Scenery
One of the perks of the freelancer lifestyle is the option to work from home. We avoid long hours commuting, spend less because we aren't eating out all the time, and we don't have to do as much laundry. But tapping away on your laptop in the living room, or "home office" if you prefer to call it that, can get boring.
If you feel like it's a slow day at work, consider taking your work someplace else. According to the Cleveland Clinic, even brief moments outdoors can lessen stress, increase mental clarity, improve mood and calmness, while prolonged time away from the outside world and nature can have negative effects on all these attributes.
So go touch grass, literally! Take a walk in the park. Check out that new cafe you've been interested in and set up shop there. Take in the solace of the public library.
The fresh air, sunlight, new sights and sounds, can stir the creative juices. The act of traveling to these locations, even if it's just around the block, will help reset your mind as you take in the scenery, people-watch, and simply see the world unfold beyond the confines of your abode.
Keep Current
Scrolling through social media doesn't mean you're slacking off, it can be a way to stay updated on ongoing events that can impact on your work or give you the inspiration you need to find that creative angle you've been looking for.
- You can capitalize on viral trends for your social media posts
- Check out what's fashionable or anticipate demographic preferences
- See what keywords or phrases audiences are using to use for your content
This is also one way to take initiative and stay updated on what's going on around your client's location. You can get information relevant to their business in real-time without waiting for the client to personally update you, such as local events, holidays, and even weather conditions, which you can include in your social media and Google My Business posts. So keep an eye out!
Coffee is a Must
Good news for freelancers everywhere, the American Heart Association recently announced that drinking up to 5 cups of coffee is safe for most adults and might even have cardiovascular health benefits. Plus, consuming caffeine has been shown to enhance problem-solving capabilities.
So if you feel stuck creatively, a nice warm cup of coffee or two.... or even five can give your brain the fuel it needs to focus and lock in on the task at hand while still being within healthy limits.
You'll be part of coffee's rich history of fueling creative aficionados in their endeavors. Freelancers engaging in creative work are in good company because throughout history, coffee has been used as a source of liquid inspiration, from the pilgrims and philosophers of the Arabian peninsula in the 15th century, to French Enlightenment thinkers hanging out in Parisian coffee houses, to modern-day Silicon Valley yuppies chugging artisanal fair trade single-origin brews.
Move That Body
Sometimes the body has to flow before the creative juices follow suit, meaning that a bit of physical movement can be beneficial for freelancers experiencing a creative dry spell.
Studies show that acute physical activity enhances cognitive functions, including creative thinking, probably due to increasing blood circulation throughout the body, especially the brain, as well as providing novel stimuli to the nervous system.
Go for a few matches of pickleball, or review those quick indoor work from home workout reels you've saved on Instagram. Dig up that old kettlebell and do some squats.
Are you a low-key adrenaline junkie? Then head to the gym and hit the mitts or roll for a few rounds, that'll jog the noggin for sure.
A good workout will let you get you out of your head for a while, allowing you to return to your creative headspace in a refreshed state, ready to process new ideas.
Cuddle Your Cat
One of the benefits of freelancing is that we can work from home and be there for our loved ones, including our fur babies. According to UC Davis experts, our pets provide a variety of mental and physical health benefits, such as:
- Reducing stress and anxiety
- Decreasing feelings of loneliness
- Providing love and support
- More exercise time due to walkies
- Improving blood pressure
Dogs and cats (yes, feline friends can be clingy) love it when their parents are at home all day. But they can get impatient when their favorite humans don't give them enough attention, if they're on the screen all the time instead of providing mandatory belly rubs, we all know how they love to interrupt video conferences.
So take a break from work, take your pet out for a walk, or give them some much-deserved cuddle time. Enjoy the benefits of pet ownership, boost your dopamine levels, remind yourself what all this is for (namely, to give your kitty more treats or a new set of adorable pet clothes), before you go back to the grind!
Diversity is the Spice of Life... and Creativity
Routines are great, they help us organize our lives into reliable patterns, sparing us from the stress that comes with hectic or unpredictable schedules or lifestyles. But too much of a good thing can have drawbacks as well. If a routine gets set in stone, it can stymie creativity because your life activities become rote and repetitive, making the mind go on autopilot.
Once in a while, a dose of new and novel activities can prevent freelancers from finding themselves stuck in a rut. Now and then, going out of your routine can help you find unexpected sources of inspiration as well as provide physical health benefits. So don't be afraid to shake things up and try out something new.