It’s easy to be inspired, motivated, “on fire” when you first launch a project. When the glow of excitement fades though, you need to fall back on your habits to keep you moving in the direction of reaching your goal and completing your masterpiece. Here are a few habits I rely on to keep my imagination factory pumping and propelling me forward.
“Motivation is what gets you started, habit is what keeps you going”–Jim Rohn
What habits do you rely on to stir your imagination? Please share! When I wrote #5 on my list, I was thinking of many of you who often inspire me by the way you view the world.
I agree on every point! I make lists all the time. They help me to focus and motivate me to do the items on the list. Taking a step back to run or walk or even take a nap can definitely boost imagination and inspiration. Along with reading anything. I also listen to a lot of music. Music is always sparking my imagination.
Napping and music are great additions to the list. Music is high on m list too. Thanks for swinging by to share your thoughts, Chrys!
Hard to beat #2 and #3 on your list . . .but I’ll add these:
Looking at art
Listening to music
Drinking coffee (it’s all in the brew and buzz)
Doing yoga or going for a walk
Music and coffee were high on my list too, as I usually indulge in both as I write. Making yoga a habit (as opposed to my “if I feel like it,” way of approaching it) would probably make a huge difference in how my body responds to sitting at the computer for hours. It’s always good to be reminded about what helps others be their best. Thanks for sharing our habits with us.
I agree with the importance of habits–it’s something I’m working on, including habits in my daily life that lead to good things, including good writing.
I’m in a dry spell right now. I’m not excited about any of my projects.
I’ve been working on some lists and trying to spend time alone, thinking. On the other hand, some of my best ideas float along when I’m focused on doing something else.
I, too, get motivated by others’ writing about the creative process. And reading your blog always makes me want to be creative!
It’s so easy to get out of the habit (of an anything) and so hard to get back into it. I read somewhere that it takes 21 days to create a habit. After that it becomes engrained in your routine. It’s just starting, or re-starting. We all go through dry spells. Sometimes when I flip through design/art magazines or poke around Pinterest, those visuals spark my imagination. By the way, you’d never know you’re in a dry spell. Your blog is as creative as ever.
Often, I don’t feel creative, but I force myself to sit down to write (as you do in the early a.m.) and more often than not, my creative juices begin to flow–or at least at the time I think they’re flowing. More often than not, when I go back to read it the next day, I realize they were not flowing at all (but that’s another story.)
I think that being consistent is always the key. If I make it my goal to spend two hours a day writing, then something good is bound to come from that, even if it’s just a sentence or two.
I also surround myself with lovely people like you, my friend!
Consistency is absolutely the key, and that is one of my biggest challenges. I often go in spurts, then take a break, but I’m trying to stay more focused even as I get pulled by the distractions of a bazillion other things. Two hours a day is great goal, especially considering you work full time! When I read your writing, it flows effortlessly. It’s hard to imagine that you don’t feel creative. There’s magic in those two hours!