3 self-kind tips to normal creative blocks, when doing part-time creative work
3 common creative blocks for part-time creators, and 3 self-kind tips for dealing with these normal challenges. This post is aimed specifically at you working on creative projects in your spare time, besides your day job.
This blog post, and all other Creators Process blog posts are free from AI, and written by me. I share my opinions, knowledge, experience and typos with you gladly.
If you’re exploring your creativity outside of your day job, I applaud you! Also if it’s once in a while. Honestly, life is full on, and there are always so many chores. So, to live an intentionally creative life, I salute you! Your creativity is a gift that keeps giving, however, life tends to get in the way of creative work. More specifically, our own inhibitions, thoughts, and fears can get in the way.
From coaching creatives for 10 years, I can tell you, if you recognize some, or all, of the following creative challenges, you’re in good company. They are completely normal.
I don’t know what kind of baggage you carry with you, or what bad stuff you’ve been through in your life, but I know self-kindness is a better creative motivator than harsh self-talk.
That’s why self-kindness is one of the foundations of my creative coaching.
I still grabble with these challenges most weeks, so it’s not you. There’s nothing wrong with you. Overcoming creative challenges is the trade-off for all the lovely benefits we get from engaging in the creative process.
Normal creative block: finding time and energy
Between work, commuting, food shopping, being available to kids, partner, friends, family, work, having a wee moment to ourselves is a stretch, let alone time to be creative.
But create we must!
I get cranky when I hear marketers say we have the same 24 hours as Beyoncé. How patronizing! Let’s not compare ourselves to a superstar, or anyone else, shall we? Let’s just deal with our own lives.
You’re unlikely to get less busy, and more energized, so I recommend you work with what you have, and see if you can find 15 minutes for your creative project in your week.
Saying that, I know life can sometimes knock the wind out of us, so even 15 minutes is not doable. If this is where you find yourself sometimes, you’re going to like my self-kind suggestions.
Normal creative block: overcoming resistance
Scenario: you’ve decided to go on a creative adventure. You’ve even planned when. The intention is there, but then you’re overcome with resistance.
What’s this? You want to work on the project, but it almost feels like there’s a thick wall between you and creativity. You just can’t seem to…. get to it.
Meet resistance!
Resistance can be a build up of criticism you’ve received that has internalized as “I’m not good enough”, and so creating becomes too risky.
Resistance is a trickster. There’s an underlying tone of stroppiness to creative resistance, a bit “I don’t want to and you can’t make me” attitude.
It’s your brain trying to keep you in a straight line, and not do anything crazy, like write a blog post. And it’s sneaky. You may not even notice you feel resistant, because it might have dressed up as starting dinner, or hanging up that wash that just finished. Sneaky, I tell you.
Normal creative block: not knowing which creative project to focus on
Probably one of the most normal challenges for creatives, yet I find it’s personal, and can actually be very difficult for some not to be able to focus on one project at a time.
You have so much potential, and all the learning you do, all the research and knowledge you gain, is sooo satisfying.
The excitement when a new idea, or project, comes alive. That enthusiasm is so infectious, so attractive. We get all the good feelings in our body, it’s addictive.
The other side of that, is that we never seem to get anywhere. We don’t stay with projects and jobs long enough to reap the rewards of success, and that can do a number on our self-worth. I know it well.
You may have, like me, a ton of unfinished projects behind you, that you haven’t followed through on. Another charming side effect of a highly creative mind, but don’t feel bad, because many projects are not meant to be finished. They have been a necessary part of your process to get to where you are today.
You can try and work on a few projects at the same time, and set time aside for each one.
You can work on the one that speaks to you loudest right now, and have the other projects in a queue.
In this post I go into creative coaching tips for finishing a blog post.
If you’re at a place where you need help with this, feel free to book coaching with me. I offer a 1-hour session, and a full coaching service.
3 self-kind tips when doing creative work part-time
Ok, so now I’ve listed 3 normal creative blocks for creatives, and you, doing creative work beside your day job.
I have gone through many versions of these challenges with clients over the years, and every one’s journey is personal.
Self-kind tip 1: Make your creative time a date with yourself.
Whatever time you manage to set aside in your week for your creative project, shift focus from the project to yourself.
There are a few reasons for why this works for some.
a) You remove pressure from having to produce and perform, which can be a creative block in itself.
b) Creativity needs space to breathe, and maybe you do too?
Honestly, how often do you make time for yourself where no energy is needed, and expectations are left at the door?
Be it 10 minutes or an hour, this is a time where no protective shield, or filters, are needed. It’s all about joy and hygge. Breathe!
Self-kind tip 2: Give yourself permission
Maybe an odd advice, but you’d be surprised how effective this simple tip can be.
I tend to get in my own way, maybe you do too? Making up obstacles, washing that needs doing all of a sudden, you name it. Thoughts of not being creative, not having what it takes, etc.
Give yourself permission to feel joy and a childlike curiosity.
I get quite serious and worry too much. My forehead frown easily.
Yet another bill finds its way to your inbox, or letterbox. Inbox and letterbox, if you’re lucky :D
With a loose attitude of not-getting-serious comes less control. Scary! As a recovering perfectionist, letting go of control is haaard. But there’s something beautiful about surrendering a little to a creative process.
Give yourself permission to have a creative date with yourself.
Give yourself permission to practice.
Give yourself permission to respect your inner calling, listen to it, and allow it to speak through you.
If you take tip 1 to heart, and make your creative time about self-care, what you create isn’t as important as how you feel during those 15-60 mintes.
Self-kind tip 3: Keep it to yourself
…at least at first, and here’s why:
a) It removes pressure from the work you’re doing.
When trying to live a creative life, doing work you don’t normally do, other people’s opinions may have too big an influence on you.
If you tell no one what you’re creating, then it can be as bad as can be and it doesn’t matter. In fact, I recommend you purposely make it bad and silly. It’s freeing.
b) Keeping your creative project to yourself will help drown out the voice of influence of “I know such and such would like this…”
We can get so used to seeking validation from others that we cat hear our own spark that points to what we like - despite what others think.
If you suffer from please-decease or good-girl-syndrome you’re probably not used to putting your own inner joy first.
Telling people what your creative project is about, especially in the beginning before it has grown roots, is too vulnerable, too risky.
Also, nobody has to know what you’re up to 24 hours a day.
For some creators, sharing their process is part of their work, and it’s a healthy, fun thing for them to do.
I think it’s interesting to be allowed a sneak peak into a creators process.
But it’s not for everybody, and it’s not for every stage, in every project, so don’t feel pressured to share, if it’s not for you.
Ok, dear creator, I hope you get a sense, from reading this, that you’re normal, if you find it hard to get creative projects done. I can’t even tell you how many times I went to and from this blog post, and how many days it’s taken me to write it. But I got here in the end, and it’s probably full of typos, but that’s ok. It’s written by me, a Danish gal, and not AI.
One last tip for you; asking a small question. The same question over and over.
E.g. How can I make this easier?
More creative coaching resources for you
I have several blog posts on using kaizen small steps in your creative process and small business.
Here’s a post on using kaizen to overcome creative resistance.
Blog post on why a single small step will help you build a creative practice
There’s also an E-book on using the kaizen approach to creating.
Does your creative project need a little help?
Whether you live in Greenland, Kenya, Cannes or Alaska, if you’re creatively stuck on a project, and what you’ve read in this blog post resonates with you, feel free to reach out via my contact form here.
