I asked my close friends what they do to get out of a creative/productivity rut -
Here's what they recommended:
Take a shower
Read a section of your favorite book
Change your scenery -- could be simply doing work in a different room in your living space
Create an agenda/to do list
Move your body!!!
Wake up early and get right to work - because then you KNOW you’ll have the afternoon and evening free
Listen to inspiring podcasts about people who worked hard and are happy about it
Restart! Acknowledge that you got distracted, then start fresh
Clean up your space so it feels new and comfy
Light a candle
Make tea or coffee
Focus on one thing at a time
Give yourself scheduled breaks
Go on a drive
“I go on Instagram and look at people who are really good at what I’m working on. It motivates me - especially when it comes to creative stuff like cooking
Create a mood board
Do yoga or stretch
Buy yourself a coffee
Journal!
Make your bed
While these responses are pretty darn amazing, I also received a lot of additional comments sharing the same concerns I had about their productivity. Lots of friends also felt like they were stuck in a rut. People felt generally unmotivated and lost in this new pandemic world.
After having a few longer conversations, I began to understand that going through phases of feeling stuck, uncreative, and unmotivated is completely normal. Sometimes, that headspace lasts for a few hours or a day. Other times, it can last for weeks. Maybe even years. But what we do know is that all of these suggestions are tried and true. Try one out! See how you feel. Maybe a spark of energy is all you need to complete your task or solve your creative puzzle.
Here are my personal contributions to the list:
Blast fun music and dance around/sing along (fun with roommates)
Get outside. Exist in sunlight
Grab a beer with friends
Call someone you haven’t talked to in a while
~Talk to ya later! Gotta go make tea, listen to an inspiring podcast, take a shower, and go for a walk all at the same time!
