If you’re having a creative block, this post is all about how to release the pressure to create… so you can get back to the business of creating. If you struggle with high expectations, perfectionism, disempowering inner dialogue, overwhelm or a sense of floundering in your business/creative pursuits… this post is for you.
I write this as I experience a creativity slog. Why? Because my expectations of myself have mutated into this enormous pressure to succeed.
And I’m now paralyzed.
In the last few weeks, I haven’t been “going after it” as usual. This has skyrocketed my anxiety and ironically made it harder to get back into the swing of things.
When it comes to our own pursuits, no one is keeping us accountable but ourselves. It’s important to have rituals in place to release the paralyzing pressure to create and understand cues that bring us back to a state of uninhibited creating.
It’s a muscle I’m still exercising.
This post is not about being more productive. It’s about nurturing creativity. It’s about how to release the “must create” pressure, restore the creative flow, and get back to creating what we love.
Disclaimer: do NOT implement everything in this post all at once. You’ll get overwhelmed and end up doing none of it. Pick ONE thing. Master it. Then add the next thing.
8 methods to release the pressure to create, lift your creative block, and get back to creating your art
1. Act first. Think later.
I recently came across a quote that made me rethink the way I do life.
It’s easier to act your way into a new way of thinking, than think your way into a new way of acting.
Jerry Sternin, The Power of Positive Deviance: How Unlikely Innovators Solve the World’s Toughest Problems
Let’s be honest. How many times have you thought yourself into new behavior or emotions? Sure, it’s possible. But it takes a lot of brain power. Not sustainable on a daily basis.
It’s much more effective to take action.
Next time you feel the pressure, instead of doing mental gymnastics to think differently, what action can you take? Meditate. Exercise. Take a walk.
Don’t know where to start on a project? Set daily micro-actions. As little as five-minute increments. Become as present as you can in the task without all that pesky thinking.
This is called “the flow state”.
2. Nurture a positive inner state
As mentioned above, most people can’t think themselves into feeling better, me included.
Beware of “toxic positivity”.
Nurturing a positive state doesn’t mean forcing positive thoughts over inner turmoil.
It simply means turning up the dial on existing positive emotions. For me it’s simple as the sunlight filtering into my room. I know this gives me joy. But for some reason I don’t stop to enjoy it for longer than a few seconds.
Similarly, I know a friend who, every week, ponders the flowers at the grocery store and never buys any. Despite knowing it would bring her incredible joy to have them in her home.
Why do we rob ourselves of that? Creativity thrives in a positive inner state. If you want to prioritize creativity in your life, get comfortable luxuriating in the things that bring you joy.
Have a list of proverbial tonics, from TikTok videos to a cup of tea and some sunshine. Block 10 minutes (or more) in your calendar and marinate in this sacred space that reminds you of all the good things in the world.
3. Develop self-awareness of your stories
Developing awareness of my self-limiting stories has been the crux of my inner work.
Understanding how our minds operate is key to rising above the overwhelm cycle, scarcity mindset, and everything else that plagues our daily thoughts.
This is tricky work. But see if you can catch yourself in a self-story. Journaling is a great way to track this.
For example, I always feel like there are only so many pieces of the pie. I tend to get threatened/jealous when I see someone else win. It’s an uncomfortable realization. But awareness of this story is the first step to releasing it. The world is abundant in opportunity; someone else’s win doesn’t take away from mine. I’ve journaled that about five thousand times.
Another disempowering story is that my happiness and security depend on the success of my business. How terrifying is that? Why place such horrible pressure on my wee little start-up?
Fear is not a good motivator to get shit done. And it wreaks havoc on creativity.
Every time you catch yourself in a disempowering self-story, grab a journal. Lay it all out without judgement. And ask yourself whether you can guarantee this story is absolutely true.
99% of the time, it isn’t.
An excerpt from my own journal entry:
Drowning in pressure again. I’ve given my business this entire story of what it means about me. About my success. My future. My relationship. Doomsday is coming if I don’t succeed.
Can I guarantee that that’s true? No. I can’t. Grab a chocolate and chill the fuck out.
4. Find the best time to be creative
I don’t know about you but I tend to be more creative at night or out in nature. Not exactly office conditions. It’s why I always carry my notes to braindump when creativity strikes.
Analyze when you’ve produced some of your best work. What conditions led up to it? Were you tired? Was it 3am? Had you just exercised or eaten a nutritious meal?
Everyone has a formula. Work yours out and recreate these conditions.
Research suggests creativity flares when our brains are tired. Other studies found that creativity amplifies after a nap. Here’s a great article from Writing and Wellness dedicated to nap time and its benefits: the best time to nap for optimal creativity.
If you find a nap boosts your creativity, congratulations. It’s now a priority task on your calendar. The science suggests a 10- to 30-minute nap in the afternoon (when you feel low energy) produces the best results.
Don’t overthink this. Creativity can feel elusive so let the answers come to you. And pay attention.
5. Release attachment to the result
The holy grail of all practices, this is key to unblocking the creative channel.
I resisted this idea when it was first suggested. How can I release attachment to the result when I was so… well, attached to the result? What people might say, how they might feel, whether the client will be happy. Money, success, prestige.
But future-thinking adds pressure. It detaches you from the present moment: creating your art.
Let it leak out of you, unplanned and without goals. Ask yourself “What would I create right now if no one ever saw it?”
This is how we start to release our fear of failure.
For example, I’ve accepted that not everything I do will be a masterpiece. I’m not that special. My work consists of 90% average content, 10% incredible content. I’m happy with that.
Accepting that we’re absolutely ordinary is liberating.
Release the pressure that every piece needs to knock someone’s socks off. Or what your pursuits might mean about your future or your success or your self-worth.
Create for the sake of creating.
6. Understand what feeds creativity in your life and prioritise that
As mentioned, if creativity is an essential element to your pursuits, it should be prioritised.
Get rid of all distractions. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll see I recently unsubscribed from all news channels across the web. It drained me, stifled my creative flow, and frankly made me miserable.
If it doesn’t serve your higher purpose, off it fucks.
These days, my social media is nothing but inspiration. Art, photography, poetry: this is what I want my head filled with.
Refer to section 2: creativity thrives in a positive inner state.
Implement rituals to reduce your mental load. I find it helpful to meditate first thing in the morning to stretch my brain before entering the chaos of the day (here’s some research that links meditation to creativity).
Another tip is to disrupt your routine. This clears cobwebs in the brain and opens opportunity for new ideas.
Understand that creativity is a wild creature. It doesn’t adhere to routine. It can’t be plugged into a task management system. And it doesn’t spill forth just because you really want it to.
Flexibility is key. Rest is key. Understanding your own creative process is key.
7. Put distance between yourself and your work
First, I’m aware how impossible this sounds. I’m obsessed with my business. I literally can’t sleep thinking about it.
But inspiration doesn’t happen behind a desk.
Think of it like this. Are you more likely to be inspired sitting in front of a blank canvas, waiting for creative ideas to strike? Or do ideas exist out in the world, where life is happening?
Art is an expression of self. So it’s important to be entirely present in our lives, aware of our own complexity, absorbing every drop of the human experience.
This way, there’s a sense of delayed gratification when we return to our art.
Instant gratification isn’t the best for mental health. I find myself going crazy if I tweak my website every day. And I’m still training myself not to check Instagram first thing in the morning.
Reconnect with your surroundings and living your life.
Get drunk. Go into nature. Go see friends. Create empty space, get bored. Lift your inhibitions. Sample all the wonderful and horrible things life has to offer.
Then make your art.
8. Remember your “why”. Plaster it everywhere.
The “why” is the backbone that drives everything we do. And if you don’t have a strong “why”, expect to flounder for a bit.
Take moments of stillness to really nail this. Why does your business exist? What does it do for you and for others?
Once you figure it out, plaster it everywhere.
Research tells us that when we find meaning in our work, we have more capacity to be creative, no matter the fatigue or time pressures.
I have a myriad of “why”s. One of the simplest is I just need somewhere to release all the buzzing in my head. That’s enough to get me out of bed in the morning.
Remember, you’re feeling all this pressure because you care. And it’s okay to care. It’s okay to be devastated by failure. It’s okay to want to be seen and understood. To be overwhelmed and not know where to start.
Focus on the joy of pursuing your passions. No matter what comes of it, the act of pursuing what we want in life instills a level of satisfaction and inner peace that no amount of “results” can create.
I gave myself permission to care. Because there are a lot of people in this world who are afraid of caring, or afraid of showing that they care because it’s uncool. It’s uncool to have passion. It’s so much easier to lose when you’ve shown everyone how much you don’t care if you win or lose. It is much harder to lose when you show that you care. But you’ll never win unless you also stand to lose. Basically… I’ve said it before, don’t be afraid of your passion. Just give it free reign. Be honest. Work hard. And it’ll turn out just fine.
Tom Hiddleston
Release the pressure to create… and get back to creating.
There’s a lot going on in this blog post. Take the time to absorb each section at your own pace.
I hope this impassioned rant helps you release the pressure to create so you can get back to the business of creating and marinating in all of creativity’s joys.
2 comments
A great article Pamela. I will reread again and again to remind myself of all the points you’ve mentioned! Number 4 is a funny one for me as I find I have my most creative thoughts when I’m either in the shower or swimming – both are not easy places to jot down a note – and once I emerge I forget almost all of what I was thinking 🤷♀️ I try so hard to remember and nothing seems to stick. Over time I’ve taught myself to try and remember just one thing and write it down as soon as I can. Surprisingly, when I return to this thought the other thoughts tend to come back to me without trying. It’s such a funny thing being in a creative place one minute and gone the next!
I’m so glad you were able to glean something helpful from this post Nicole! I get awesome ideas in the shower too, there are waterproof notepads that you can stick to the shower wall specifically for this! But you’re right, creativity can sometimes feel like an elusive creature, passing through our fingers like water. I always tell myself the ideas will never stop coming. If one is forgotten, it will either come back eventually or another better idea will take its place. All part of the process!