5 Ways To Create With Intention
With winter drawing near and the days becoming shorter, I find myself turning inward in self-reflection. As creatives, we often can get swept up in a myriad of ideas with clippings haphazardly pinned on the wall and notebooks full of scribbles. Of course, that unbridled passion should be honored, but sometimes it can pull you in too many directions. And it's completely natural to feel that way! Creativity isn't linear, and some days the spark isn't there. I've been feeling a lot like that lately, a little jaded in this fast-food type of consumerism of social media content. There is subliminal pressure to constantly create new content to satisfy the algorithm or attract clients, but quality far outweighs quantity - especially to potential clients. Quality and beautiful photography will stand out to clients, regardless of your audience size. I've worked with well-established brands on a social media following of less than 1k! Your creative eye and professionalism will stand tall as brands need your talent. Rather than stressing about finding new clients or growing my audience, I've realized the power of the quality and integrity of my work. It has allowed me to step back and create with intention and ultimately attract my dream clients - or have the confidence to pitch to them!
Not yielding to the content creation pressure and slowing down has brought me so much clarity. Like the coziness found during the winter season, there is value in rest and self-care. Slowing down to create with intention has allowed me to focus on what's important and, most importantly, where I want to go. It's ok if you don't post today. It's ok if you take a day for yourself to recharge. And it's ok if you take one more day to finish your recipe shoot. The creative path is a long and winding one with ups and downs, but equally, a beautiful and rewarding one if you allow it to be. Rest is natural and essential to reorientate and adjust your creative coordinates. But the most important thing is don't give up! Just take a minute or two if you need it…
I want to share a few ways that have helped me immensely in slowing down and creating with intention. You may practice some of these already, but I hope they help you if you feel uninspired and lackluster in your creativity. Little slow, reflective moments add up and perhaps will provide clarity with renewed creative vigor! The key, I found, is consistency in just one practice - even if it's five minutes! Maybe pick one that resonates with you and make it a daily practice…and see how it feels or if you notice a change in your perspective or work. It just takes a little disciple to commit to a new practice! I'm still working on implementing these throughout my day, so don't get too hard on yourself if you find it challenging to make a habit. Incremental changes are by far the longest-lasting!
5-10 minute morning or bedtime meditation
Before bedtime, I sit or lay down in a comfortable position, set a timer, and meditate on my vision board above my bureau from anywhere between 5-10 minutes. (My vision board is the big picture of what I want my life to be and feel like, not project-related.) You can also take just 5 minutes and intentionally focus on your breathing. I find it calming, and it leaves a smile on my face before falling asleep. Meditating or envisioning how you want your future to be or your goals is a nourishing practice before bed, especially. I like to think of it as programming your subconscious mind before sleep! As Tony Robbin says, feel it as if (your goals or vision) it already happened, and it's done. This is a fantastic exercise for goal setting too.
Journaling
I'm trying to get better about this, but journaling is a very thoughtful way to begin or end the day. Writing down your thoughts in any way they spill onto the page is very cathartic and reorientates you with yourself and your goals. It gives you the time and space to reflect on your feelings, what inspires you, and what challenges you're working through. Don't stress about writing or how it sounds...or, least of all, grammar! Just get it out and out of your head. You're the only one reading it, so who cares how jumbled it sounds!
Mid-day Walk (without phone)
Taking a mid-day break in nature is one of the most reinvigorating things to do - without your phone! I love walking my dog Winslow because it allows me to think, process, and get inspired without noise or distractions. If I'm feeling stuck or in a creative rut, a good walk in the fresh air lifts my spirits and clears my head. Leaving your phone at home is the key, however, as tempting as it is to bring it. Allow your mind to wander without the notifications and pointless scrolling that turns our brains into overstimulated tizzy. Use the mid-day walk to be whatever you mentally and creatively need…meaning if you’d rather not think about your work, focus on your senses or surroundings. Or if you’d like to mull over some ideas or unsure about a decision, use this time for that. (Also, on the point of social media, try setting a time limit on the apps! I allot 15 minutes for Instagram, and that's it unless I need to use it to find an email or message someone. It helps you focus on your task at hand and improves your attention span!)
Daily Goal Setting
This is powerful, especially if you lack motivation and feel uninspired. Writing down your goals, however grand or small, is a very empowering practice. There's something about seeing them on a piece of paper in front of you instead of some abstract idea that constantly takes different shapes and colors. I like to write my goals down every so often, even if they are the same ones, simply to reinforce internally what I want to achieve and where I want to go. Keep these by your desk as reminders! You will go where your eyes take you!
Work Backwards
This sounds odd, but let me explain further. On the same note as goal setting, I like to choose one specific goal and work backward. Meaning - what do I need to do in order to get from here to here? If you know you want to be or go here, what are the necessary steps you need to take? Working backward from your desired outcome or goal is a beneficial process as it removes the unnecessary fluff from your to-do list so you can focus intentionally and efficiently. This is particularly useful if I'm working on a project where I know what the end result I want to achieve is, but I'm unsure of the next step to take. It's by no means a new idea, but it will help you work your way out of creative tangles or define your direction even further.
I hope these tips help you if you're feeling a little creatively defeated or pulled in too many directions... slowing down isn't easy, especially as our world functions at high speeds and favors immediacy. But slowing down and creating with intention will propel you farther and faster than what you hope for! It intuitively feels counter-productive, but you will have far greater clarity, precision, and thoughtfulness in your work. If you’d like to propel your growth and need a creative sounding board, my mentorship program may be a good fit for you. You can learn more about it here - I’d love to work with you!
Aloha
Alanna x
