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Thats not to say creativity and chronic illness are totally incompatible.
Galina Kamenskaya/master1305/Getty Images/Amanda K Bailey
Whatevers blocking your flow, here are a few ways to stay inspired.
Journal through all the feelings.
When I start working on things, a lot of the inspiration is taken from that.
And scribble down all the ideas.
Lots and lots of lists.
I can try and take a pile of disjointed thoughts jotted down and organize it slowly.
Get creative (lol) about finding a new creative outlet.
I found that I hadnt lost all avenues to being creative, and I found comfort in that.
Break activities down into steps it’s possible for you to spread out.
Even after you find the right fit, there will still be instances when you gotta scale back.
Its really empowering to make my artwork with my energy levels instead of against them.
Organize your supplies so theyre easy to access or store.
For me, the activity itself often isnt the hurdle I need to overcomeits the setup and cleanup!
Little caddies likethis one($20, Amazon).
Try literal art therapy.
It wound up being good on both fronts.
When Moore is struggling with motivation, she focuses on undemanding jobs on her to-do list.
Lean into small acts of everyday creativity.
And scale things down when needed.
Flexibility in how I am creative on a day with a larger pain flare-up is important, Kelsey says.
Or I might feel up to a quick sketch instead of the repetitive movements of cross-stitching.
11. attempt to worry less about finishing everything or hitting milestones.
I know, easier said than done.
Recently, I have changed my perspective about myself as an artist, Reni, 33, tells SELF.
Look for something totally immersive so you might tune the worldand your symptomsout.
A big reason Emma fell in love with paint-pouring?
It doubled as amindfulnessactivity.
Embrace the delightfully shitty craft.
Im raising my hand.)
At times like that, I reach for things I dont mind doingbadly.
Swap from tech to analog (or vice versa).
On the other hand, maybe moving away from tech is the way to go.
It got to the point where I couldnt work on the computer at all on flare-up days.
Track your symptoms to find what supports and hurts your creativity.
But it can also give you lots of useful info for making adjustments and decisions in your creative life.
All that said, dont force it.
The good news is, thats kind of how creativity is in general: ebbing and flowing.
Finally, remember that rest is important.
Not just for reasons related to your illness, but for your creativity too.
Kelsey echoes the sentiment.
