How To Overcome Creative Constipation

Ever feel like you're full to bursting with creative ideas and aspirations, but you can never seem to get them out into the world in any useful form? So you mope around with a proverbial aching belly, wondering if you'll ever create freely again...

Help is at hand! Here are 5 steps to overcoming that feeling of creative constipation:

1. Pick one thing. Trying to start multiple projects at once means your creative energy is unfocused and you end up getting nowhere fast with any of them. Instead pick ONE project, then commit to working on that alone for the next 7 days. As soon as you make this pledge, your creative forces can all begin to align in one unified direction instead of being scattershot and random.
2. Start small. Whichever creative project you choose to begin, don't then overwhelm yourself with something too complex. Hoping to complete a 7-painting series in the next week is ambitious, especially if you've not created regularly for a while. Either pick a small project, or a distinct part of a large project. For example, writing the first chapter of a new book, rather than the whole book.
3. Take baby steps. This naturally follows on from starting small. You want to be kind to yourself and build up gradually, not place unnecessary pressure and expectation on yourself. Writing 250 words a day for the next 7 days is great. Aiming to write 5000 words on day one, falling short and giving up completely is not so great. Take it a step at a time, enjoy your creating.
4. Create every day. The backbone to any creative consistency is creating every day. Make creating a daily ritual, an essential and unquestionable part of your day to day life as eating, sleeping and breathing! Find a time of day that works well for you, and start with just 15 minutes each day. Once you've got this daily habit going, extend the time to 30 minutes, 60 minutes and more.
5. Recognise your progress. Each week or so, acknowledge how much you've created, the effort you've made and the commitment you've shown. If a friend of yours was embarking on a new daily creativity plan, how would you encourage them? Apply the same caring and supportive approach to yourself, and you'll feel proud of what you've created and motivated to continue your steady progress.

Follow these 5 steps and you'll never suffer the agony of creative constipation again!