4.1 - TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF

4.2 - MAKE MAKING SIMPLE

How can you simplify the process of creating?

The goal is to minimise the prep work needed to be done for when you have an idea and when you can actually start playing around with it. This most game-changing way to do this is actually grounded in your physical set-up.

Having a desk space where all your tools are ready for you is amazing. It could also look like having a book and your materials in one place. Maybe making sure your camera is charged. Basically, you want to make it as simple as possible for you to begin.

When inspiration strikes, babe, it’s time to act on it - not fumble around trying to find a pen that works.

Even your daily creative practice will feel so much more streamlined when the barrier to entry is minuscule!

If you haven’t already, set up a space or toolkit to have at the ready.

4.3 - TIME OF YOUR OWN

Set aside a morning or afternoon this week and spend a few hours doing exactly what you want when you want to do it.

Make zero plans. Don’t even think about trying to be productive!

Consciously ask yourself: what do I want to do right now?

And DO THAT THING. NOW.

While this might seem simple it’s actually kind of radical to be entirely present and fulfilling to our moment to moment desires.

Here’s why it’s important to practice true freedom with your time: if you feel restrictive about allowing yourself to take a 10am bath with a bowl of ice-cream (if that were what you want to do!) then how the hell do you expect yourself to show up boldly and unapologetically with your creativity?!

Allow yourself to build a habit of listening to your intuitive desires and, most importantly, actualising them for your damn self.

4.4 - BE WASTEFUL

There’s a quote that’s often attributed to John Lennon that I love:

“Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.”

This is basically the summation of what it means to live a creative life.

Taking the pressure and expectations away from how we spend our time allows us to step into the space of relieving pressure and expectations from our work.

Give yourself an hour to create something purely for the sake of creating it. Don’t even to try to make it “good.” Just make it.

4.5 - START WHERE YOU END

Building momentum through your creative practice is the key to welcoming flow.

Take a larger project you’re working on (or one you’re ready to begin.

Commit to sitting with the work every day, once a week, whatever works best.

During each session finish while your energy is still flowing.

Which is to say, finish in the middle of a sentence while the ideas are still coming. Stop before you feel entirely finished.

Cut yourself out and you’ll give yourself something to look forward to and somewhere to start off from when you come back.

This is also what keeps our minds whizzing and eager when we step away from the project. You’re keeping the hunger alive.

4.6 - EXPAND ON WHAT’S WORKING

My favourite way to create flow through projects is to lean into what felt really great to create.

Those projects that feel rich and juicy - expand upon them.

How could one painting be expanded into an entire series? Could that poem evolve into a whole body of work.

You will always have more to say and more to explore, especially with the things that work out better than you imagined - this stuff is your gold. Excavate some more nuggets. Push your creative thinking to see things in new ways.