Be Awesome | 8 Ways to Find and Keep your Creative Mojo

Do you ever wish you could be more creative? Do you look at creative people and wonder how they do it? How did they come up with such great ideas? Have you ever lost your creativity?  While I do believe that creativity comes easier to some people, I think that everyone has the capability to be a creative person. Like most things in life, the more you put into it, the more you get out.  Here are 8 ways to find and keep your creative mojo:

1.  Reduce noise.  It’s hard to be creative when there is a lot of noise around.  Kids screaming, Sponge Bob blaring from the TV, your phone is ringing, etc.! Who can think like that?!  I am the most creative early in the morning or late at night when the house is quiet and I can think.  Maybe just some music and that is it. Don’t forget to turn off the  “noise” from your virtual world. Turn off Facebook  Twitter, Instagram… anything that is going to distract you.  Step away from the computer, smart phone, iPad.  Quiet is good.

2.  Stop looking at other people’s work.  Now I am not saying that you can’t find inspiration in other’s work and sometimes that is a good place to start when you are feeling uninspired, but at some point you need to walk away. Don’t sit and compare yourself to others. Don’t copy other people’s work. Do what feels right to you and speaks to you.  This is how you will find your creative style. It makes your work different compared to everyone else.  Strive to be unique not like everyone else.

3.  Limit your supplies.  Ever feel overwhelmed with the amount of stuff you have? You can’t even think because you are drowning in stuff! So instead of making something, you end-up sifting through piles of stuff, organizing your stuff, or even worse, buying more stuff.  I have done this  with scrapbook supplies.  I have significantly reduced the amount of my scrapbook stash.  For my Project Life album, I put my monthly Studio Calico kit and my Becky Higgins Core Kit  in a small tote, and that is all I use.   Try to think of different ways to use products. Give yourself a challenge, how many different ways can you use  washi tape (or whatever product you are using)? Stretch your creative mind by limiting your supplies.

4. Throw perfection out the window.  Creativity isn’t perfect. It isn’t meant to be stressful.  Just start doing without worrying about messing up. If you do “mess-up”, find a way to fix it or use your mistake to make something different.  Learn from your mistake and move on. Dwelling and obsessing over mistakes is not productive.  Ask yourself what you could have done differently the next time and move on.

5. Walk away.  Sometimes you just don’t feel it. You can’t find your creative mojo. That is OK.  It happens to everyone.  There is an ebb and flow to creativity. If you aren’t feeling it, don’t push it. Just walk away. Do something else. Get outside for a walk,  read a book, talk to a friend, go thrift shopping, take a trip, etc..  Don’t get down on yourself. Your creativity will come back, you just need to give it time. Warning! When it comes back  (and it will) it might not look the same as before, which is great!  It means you are growing creatively!

6. Listen to your creative voice.  Sometimes that voice is loud and sometimes it is a very quiet whisper. Listen to it. Trust your gut. If something is telling you, “I want to paint”,  paint! Or that you want to take pictures – get out your camera! There is no rule that says you have to stick with one creative outlet for the rest of your life. Keep trying things that sound and feel interesting to you. Keep moving, learning and growing. Let your creative voice guide you, it will never lead you in the wrong direction.

7.  Keep doing it. The more you build on your creativity, the more you will have. Ideas will start flowing when you least expect it (keep a notepad handy at all times!)  One idea will lead to the next and the next. Inspiration will be everywhere. The more you foster your creativity the more creative you will become.

8. Put yourself out there.  After you create something, put your work out there. I know this is scary but do it. You will learn so much. Post it on a blog, on Facebook, tweet about it, pin it – get it out there! People will give you feedback! The positive feedback will boost your self-esteem and make you want to do more.  If there is  negative feedback or criticism don’t take it too personal but instead  learn from it. How can I make it better the next time? If someone asks you how you did it, take this as a huge compliment!  Don’t keep your success a secret. Show them, teach them, and tell them! Your creativity will be contagious and by teaching others, you learn and grow more creatively yourself.

Before you know it, your creative juices will be flying and your creative mojo intact!

What do you do to find and keep your creative mojo going? I would love to hear from you. Leave me a comment below.

Did you find this post inspiring or helpful? Do you know someone who might find it useful? Share it with a friend

Make sure you don’t miss a single post from me…subscribe to my blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. (sign up in the menu bar to your right). Thanks!