The COVID-19 lockdown is starting to take a toll on many of us. Dads everywhere may be struggling with the realities of working from home. Not to mention taking a pay cut of at least 20%. They may be struggling with their sense of identity having been laid off. Or they may be using this lockdown as an opportunity to take stock, reassess and focus their efforts on what brings them the most contentment and fulfilment. For many Dads, this is an opportunity to re-engage with their creative side. To dust the cobwebs off the manuscript they’ve been working on, take their art supplies out of the attic or start retuning their guitar.
However, creativity doesn’t always come easily. And it can be a source of huge frustration when creative block strikes during the one time when they actually have time to invest in their creative endeavors. Here we’ll look at some practical and workable tips to overcome creative block while on lockdown.
Remember, it’s important to consume before you can create
That creative spark is rarely ignited in a vacuum. Sometimes you need to ingest what other have created in order to inform and shape your own work. You can either draw inspiration or learn the glaring errors in others’ work that you can hope to avoid in yours. Fortunately, in the digital era, content is easy to come by. A little too easy in fact. With so many ways to watch TV online, we have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to movies and TV shows not to mention games and music. Use a guide as a tool to find out what content is available on which streaming services and curate your experience to inspire rather than distract.
Get some fresh air… you can totally still do that!
The recent lockdown may see us spend most of our days indoors. Nonetheless, it’s important to remember that you can and should still go out for an hour or so every day. A brisk walk can be just what you need to get the creative juices flowing again. You need to put some distance between yourself and your page / canvas / music sheet. Otherwise you could spend hours just glaring at it and getting increasingly frustrated. The act of walking gives you some distance while also liberating your mind and improving cognitive processes.
Install distraction blocking software
Often we’re not so much afflicted with creative block as we are burdened with so many other things to keep us occupied. As such, we can potentially lose minutes or even hours to social media or browsing online stores when the creative well runs dry. Consider installing distraction blocking software to keep you on task. And keep your phone in your desk drawer.
Try not to overthink
Often we fall into the trap of perfectionism and hobble our own creative efforts before they’ve even had a chance to get off the ground. Try not to overthink. Write, draw or paint from the heart without giving much thought to the quality. You can always go back and make changes. Once you’ve unblocked the creative well, then you can start thinking about creating something good.
