August is almost over. And to some, that means summer is over. How do you feel? Are you prepping for school, another quarter, or some other life change? I always use this time to check-in. This week’s been full of creative connections. I’ve had many conversations that led to, “how do YOU do it?” The object of this question? Usually managing multiple creative projects with life like working full-time, exercising 4X weekly, writing weekly, serving monthly… And I have plenty of answers, all over this website.
But the heart of that question? These folks, whether the inquiry is from friends, colleagues, relatives, or strangers, is that they are stuck. Somewhere along the way, they stopped prioritizing what they wanted to do. And while these lovely people did what they “had to do”, life got in the way of ALSO working on passion projects. Naturally, those had-tos are often necessary, like working, eating, sleeping, helping and/or socializing with others. And so the interests came second, third, last, and then ultimately stopped showing up, in favor of everything else.
So, my dear reader, how do I consistently show up? How can I keep my creativity alive? I start by asking myself these core questions.
HOW AM I USING SPACE IN MY LIFE TO CREATE?
I have written about this before, here. As an introvert, I need to give myself time away from others to hone in on my crafts. That doesn’t mean I become monkish. Rather, I am looking for safety, friendliness, and wifi. In fact, I’m writing this from a coffee shop: the music is muffled, the tables are sturdy, and a non-dairy smoothie fuels the words. I am content.
If you need quiet, take some inspiration from me: your home might be your sanctuary. Perhaps each nook represents a different project. When I’m crafting my brain board, I’ll perch on a porch. Inside, my desk has all the necessary tools to plan my next projects, complete with color-coded calendar notes. I’m working on a gallery wall.
Your creative safe spaces can be public or private. I attended a local music show this week and brought my journal to write. Consider attending shows to spark creativity. At the event, I watched a dance team kick and twirl their way across the stage, listened to 2 bands (1 on their farewell tour), and scribbled in a journal. Art takes so many forms, and local showcases are especially powerful to see creativity close to home. They’re often hosted at parks, which are great places to write. With so much stimuli (read: people watching), who knows where your mind may wander?
AM I SHARING MY CORE CREATIVE GOALS AND PROJECTS WITH OTHERS?
And if so, to whom? It’s been a busy week, hanging with my best friend from high school at the showcase, seeing family at a bridal party, getting in touch with people from college (reunion planning is already happening, whaaat?), serving at the food pantry, and of course spending quality time with my people.
I am so lucky to have so many people in my life that support my creative goals. But many of them are not in the creative field or do not make space for creativity in their lives. And guess what? That is absolutely okay! But I have learned that sharing my creative projects with others makes my work more real. And it can help others focus on what they want to do, too. I don’t want to start working on passions after I retire or have time, as some of these people shared with me. I’m working now.
And for those who have fellow creative friends and family, are you connecting with them? And not just Facebook likes, sorry. Can you help each other with regular check-ins? How are you sharing your projects? Until recently, I’ve neglected this out of fear, and so I am finally sharing this website to groups I’m already connected to, such as my sorority sisters. Sharing is initially scary because it feels like the culmination of what I’ve done and am doing. But the more I share, my confidence increases, and so does my reach. So this exposure is vulnerable but necessary to keep growing. Which brings me to my last question…
WHAT TINY STEPS HAVE I TAKEN TO CREATE?
I’m constantly writing lists: to-dos, bucket lists for the month/season/quarter, and life goals are my top 3. I think this is because these lists show time sensitivity: what I am doing now, soon, and eventually. But if I’m only list-making, I’m not actually getting anywhere. It’s a crutch because at least my brain’s wanderings are somewhat logical or organized, right? So to get from list to tiny step, sometimes I feel like writing a micro-list, and then I get to it.
As a result of tiny step thinking, I now ask myself, what is the next good thing I can do to reach this tiny goal? I’m working on a portfolio and was stuck on title: do I think traditional like marketer? Or trendy like digital storyteller? Do I consider all roles like editor, filmmaker, journalist? Can I call myself a coach? Which spirals into, should I go back to school? Do I want to get licensed while working? So, instead of letting these thoughts swirl, I get to work: I want to separate my work by medium, and occasionally, campaign. Then, I’ll organize by beat (subject). Finally, I’ll present them. I’m considering an interactive brochure like Flipsnack.
So, what tiny steps can you take to start creating? Maybe it’s finding your people. Maybe it’s recognizing that you have a lot of projects but haven’t given any space, mental or physical, for them. Or perhaps you need someone to shift your schedule. If so, click here to see how I can help with prioritizing creativity. It’s okay to be stuck. But it’s not okay to stop doing or only talk about doing what you love. I’d love to know your tiny steps in the comments!