Have you ever sat down at your computer to finish your lengthy to-do list\u2026only to realize that, frustratingly, you felt unmotivated and unproductive? You may have looked at the long list of things you needed to finish, which gave you instant overwhelm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But you couldn\u2019t help it, right? You just weren\u2019t feeling inspired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, you either forced yourself to create mediocre, uninspired work, or you just did a whole lot of nothing (and probably felt guilty about it!). Either way, you weren\u2019t operating as your highest, most creative self, and you probably wasted a lot of time in the process. (Can you tell I\u2019m speaking from experience here?!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the first things to suffer when we start experiencing burnout or overwhelm can be our creativity, and whether you\u2019re in full-blown burnout mode, or just feeling a little stuck around your creative work, the result is the same:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When I was suffering from burnout, I ran head first into a huge creative and writer\u2019s block. I normally love to write, but back then, I would log into my blog and just stare at the blinking cursor while it put me to sleep. My mind was so clogged, nothing seemed to come out right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eventually, I started to figure out what was stopping me from connecting to my creativity and productivity, and I have a feeling you might be experiencing the same exact problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, let\u2019s chat about 5 reasons why you\u2019re feeling unmotivated and uncreative\u2026and how to fix them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
True creativity is about your own honest expression, and getting too much input from social media, friends, and family can mean that your voice gets diluted and starts to sound like a replica of everyone else\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And Too-Much-Input Syndrome can creep in unexpected. One minute, you might feel like a creative genius, and the next minute (usually after some Instagram scrolling), your subconscious might decide that everything you\u2019ve been working on is garbage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And you\u2019re not alone. It\u2019s why some writers avoid reading books similar to theirs when they\u2019re writing, to avoid being influenced by other authors. And why some musicians stop listening to other people\u2019s music when they\u2019re trying to write their songs. In the same way, you might need to tune out the noise in order to be able to hear your own creative voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Have you ever noticed that some of your best ideas seem to show up at the strangest times \u2014 like standing in the shower, taking a long walk outside, or even sitting on an airplane with no wifi?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our most creative ideas generally don\u2019t come when we\u2019re running ourselves ragged, and that\u2019s because the part of our brain that\u2019s good at generating new ideas needs space and time to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019ve been busy nonstop lately, first ask yourself \u201cwhy.\u201d Is it because you genuinely have a zillion things to do everyday (hey, some people do \u2014 I get that!), or is it because you\u2019re filling your calendar in order to escape something you don\u2019t want to think about or deal with (like, perhaps, your lack of creativity or zest for life)? #ouch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When I found myself stuck in a creative rut, it was because I was having a hard time connecting with my authentic voice. I repeatedly asked myself, \u201cWhat do I<\/em> want?\u201d Yet, I could never quite think of an answer. I was so disconnected from myself that I had no idea what I wanted to do, say, or create.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maybe you\u2019ve lost touch with your inner voice \u2014 or maybe you\u2019re not sure you\u2019ve ever really been in touch with your authentic voice because you have so many other voices layered on top: friends, family, coworkers, society, etc., all telling you what you \u201cshould\u201d be or do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Find ways to reconnect to yourself. This is best done solo and away from technology. Talk honestly with a friend, exercise, go for a walk, go on spotify and listen to some meditation music and just breathe for 10 minutes, or even take a solo trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whatever you do, try to use the time to be quiet and tune in to what your inner voice has to say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Use these journaling questions to help you tap in to your inner voice:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When I\u2019m overwhelmed, it generally happens for one of two reasons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n While these might seem similar, the experience of them is actually completely different. See, when you DO have a lot on your plate, the solution might be to eliminate things from your hectic schedule to come back to balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But oftentimes, it merely FEELS like you have a lot to do because you haven\u2019t organized and streamlined your schedule. So, all those tasks feel like an overwhelming mess because they\u2019re all sitting in your brain instead of broken up into smaller chunks in your schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Want more strategies to help you get rid of overwhelm and feel motivated again?<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m hosting a 100% free online workshop on October 10th all about how to get your SPARK back when you\u2019re feeling unmotivated and uncreative.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTHE SOLUTION:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
4. Your ideas feel like a jumbled mess.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
THE SOLUTION:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
5. You feel alone.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
THE SOLUTION:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n