lightbulb moment pa

When your creative juices get depleted it’s definitely not an easy task to write a song. Life happens, everyday stresses get in the way and you may realize that nothing is inspiring enough to get you started. As pleasurable as the creative process may be, when the muse just isn’t there, well that’s a tough nut to crack. We’ve all experienced a lack of inspiration, but if there’s anyone who understands the struggles of keeping inspiration running, and constantly trying to be original, it’s got to be Senior Writer at NoDepositDaily, Joyce Tannehill:

‘Yeah, being given that label of a ‘wordsmith’ comes with certain expectations, which can be daunting. This is especially true when creativity levels are pretty low on certain days, not gonna lie. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve found myself staring at my screen for a good half hour before a brainwave strikes me! And it’s not like I’d end up churning a 500-word piece, let me tell you! Sometimes it results in a one liner. But the way I see it, if it’s a sentence or phrase that packs a punch, it sure as heck beats an article composed of sheer drivel!’

So how exactly do you mitigate a lack of inspiration? Are there any actionable steps to feed the muse?

 

How To Keep Those Creative Juices Flowing

We all enjoy that state of creative flow, where we simply get immersed in our art and the inspiration keeps on giving. But when the inspiration isn’t there, it’s not the end of the world either. Here are five ways in which you can kickstart the creative process, just to set the ball rolling and make way for that creative flow to naturally come to you.

#1. Find An Alternative Setting

To change the outcome, you need to make some necessary tweaks first, otherwise, you’d be nurturing the same conditions that are causing your undesired effect. By changing the setting, you might be putting yourself in the right conditions that stimulate your inspiration.

Say you always work in your studio, perhaps it would be a good idea to go to a public garden or an adventure park instead...anything that fosters novelty is a great channel to creativity. Similarly, if you’re always surrounded by your family, why not call an old friend or open up to a conversation with a stranger while you’re running your daily errands? It’s incredible how inspiration can work your way to you simply by introducing some tweaks to your daily routine!

#2. Explore Different Kinds Of Music And Other Art Forms

Aren’t we all guilty of listening to the same genres of music, a fixed set of artists and albums? Challenge yourself and open up to a different music genre, be receptive to other artists… anything that can take you outside your comfort zone might pave the way to something new. Who knows? Perhaps you’ll discover a new technique, an interesting sound, or even a new favorite music genre.

Introducing a new element to your daily consumption need not be solely tied to music. Sources of inspiration can be found anywhere. Reading a short story, visiting the theatre or an art museum might be great sources of nourishment for your muse.

#3. Shed Those Expectations - Play Uninhibited

Our expectations can be our greatest enemies. The less pressure we put on ourselves, the more our inspiration can flow naturally. Go back to basics and just grab your instrument and start playing for the heck of it. Play anything at all, even it sounds plain awful. The trick is to show up for your practice, which probably is the hardest part of it all. But once you’ve shown up, even if you don’t like what you’re producing, you’d stand a much better chance of hitting a cool guitar riff or humming a tune that you can start working with. 

#4. Start Small And Work Your Way Up

On the same note of being unhindered by expectations, starting small might actually work in your favor. Rather than aiming very high, you can set yourself simple tasks. Say you want to write the lyrics to a song, you can set a timer and do some free word-association. If, on the other hand, you’re composing the melody, you might want to record a few spontaneous notes, then listen to them again and improve them as necessary. The aim is to get yourself started; the rest will slowly make its way to you.

#5. Make Space For Rest And Pure Enjoyment

Since the creative brain works best in low-stress environments, taking the necessary breaks and resting as necessary is key. On the other hand, if we try to force ourselves into finishing a song, the added pressure would most likely work against us as it generally worsens the quality of the work. If you take a look at the most creative people, you’ll find that they take rest pretty seriously. And since music is ultimately a way to express oneself, it’s very important to nurture that pure sense of enjoyment so that our art can remain a source of joy for us, instead of an added burden that reminds us of our lack of inspiration.