Have you ever had a terrific idea for a story, a painting, or a piece of jewelry, but didn’t start right away because you didn’t have time, or were in the middle of something else? And by the time you could start on the project, you weren’t interested anymore? This happens to me far too often. I wrote this post after being inspired by Dumb Little Man’s blog post on 10 ways to Keep That Back-to-school “fresh start” Enthusiasm All Semester. Although I’m also starting a new semester soon, it struck me that I have just as much trouble maintaining enthusiasm for the projects I assign myself as for the projects a professor assigns. So here’s my list of 10 ways to keep the creative enthusiasm.
- Just start. Worry about the details later
I find that I’m more committed to a project if I’ve done something concrete, physical, to start it, rather than just thinking about it. Sometimes it’s as simple as writing down that scrap of dialogue that made a whole character burst into my head. Sometimes I need to sketch out a piece of jewelry and make notes on what materials I would use. Often, I think I need to do some research on a new technique or a character’s background before I begin, but I’m really procrastinating. As I research, stumble across another idea and forget to come back to my original project. It works much better to just start before doing anything else. - Once the project is started, pause to define goals and purpose
What do you want to accomplish with this creative project? What are your reasons for choosing this particular project? Keep your goals and purpose taped to the wall in your workspace as a reminder when you feel like quitting. - Give yourself permission to fail horribly
This is a tip I learned from reading Natalie Goldberg. While it’s important to have goals for your project, don’t let yourself get so dedicated to the result you envision that you’ll be completely crushed if it doesn’t turn out the way you want. I sometimes find myself paralyzed by perfectionism, unable to begin because I’m afraid I’ll fail. If I acknowledge failure as a possibility from the beginning and don’t treat it like the end of the world, I can get past this stage. - Break the goal down into steps
What’s the first thing you need to do? What comes next? How will you know the project is completed? I’ve found that if I make a list of steps to complete the project, it gives me a greater sense of control and it’s less likely that I’ll give up. - Figure out what tools you need to get the project accomplished
Do you need a new tool or more materials? Try to keep working on the project with what you have while you’re waiting for a chance to go to the store. Maybe just use what you have on hand. Sometimes imposing restrictions results in greater creativity. - Schedule time for your project
Make your creative projects a priority by designating time to work. Make it the same time every day, if possible. And schedule it for when you will have some energy, not when you’ve done all the “important” things for the day and are exhausted. Make your creative time something you look forward to. - Reward yourself
When you achieve a step of your project, give yourself a little reward. It can be related to your project or not. Sometimes when I get to the point where I’m sure I’m taking the project seriously, I’ll let myself use a little better quality of materials, or put off doing laundry to spend a little more time working. Or I’ll take a break and have some chocolate, if I need a little distraction. - Call in reinforcements
If you find yourself getting discouraged, try talking out the project with a friend. It doesn’t necessarily have to be someone who shares the same interest, just someone who is a good listener. Just talking about your goals and frustrations can clear your mind and rekindle your enthusiasm. - Take breaks when you need them
When I’m really excited about a project, I’ll work non-stop for hours. But then my back, hands, and eyes will be aching from doing one thing for too long, and I don’t want to look at the project again for days. If I take regular breaks, I’m eager to get back to work. - Eat right, exercise, and sleep
Even if I take regular breaks, I sometimes can’t summon any enthusiasm because I’ve been neglecting one of these things. If I can’t focus or can’t even start because I’m already exhausted, it gets easier and easier to put off the project until it’s covered in dust and nearly forgotten.
I wouldn’t create if I didn’t enjoy it, but I often find myself resisting the call of an unfinished project. Following these tips helps beat procrastination.
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