If you are a maker, I’m sure you’ave had times where you’re just in a funk. You can’t create anything you like. Your writing seems dull or maybe you’ve tried to draw something 50 times and it’s just not coming out right. How many pieces of paper have you balled up and tossed in the trash? Maybe that pattern isn’t working for you and you keep frogging your stitches, I’m with you. I’ve been there a lot and I didn’t want to admit that maybe I was unmotivated, but the truth is I was.

Crocheting was my main craft for many years and though my crafty hobby has evolved, I still sometimes struggle to get my groove back. I might crochet or knit a couple of rows and stop or stitched a little ornament, but didn’t finish it. I just couldn’t go any further. It’s happens

Why do creatives have these moments?

It feels so crippling. I have a few theories:

• Burn out. It happens when you have a full plate. Or, if you’ve been creating a lot of products with barely time to rest.
• Physical problems. Sometimes, an injury can affect motivation especially when you’re forced to temporarily give up the craft. It’s hard to get back into it after the injury has healed.
• Personal problems. Let’s face it, it’s hard to concentrate and have fun creating when you have challenges in your life. Sometimes crafting helps to take your mind off your problems but not always.

Now, sometimes nothing is going on that affects your creativity and still you feel stuck in a rut.

Tips to get the “Mojo” Back

So here’s some of my tips to re-awaken those creative juices:

1. Be real and admit it. First off, realize that as a creative person, you will have moments of “creative blocks”. Much like writing blocks, nothing seems to come together. The best thing to do is not panic and don’t think you’re not an artist. You most certainly are! 
2. Give yourself time off. We all need to replenish and recharge our internal batteries so allow some time to do other things. Perhaps try a different craft altogether.
3. Browse other works of art. When I’m challenged, looking at other artwork helps get me thinking of ideas. Write those ideas in a notebook so when you’re ready to craft again, you’ve got a starting point.
4. Re-assess. There are times when I’ve had to go back to the basics and start over again. Nothing wrong with going back to the beginning and re-defining what you’re doing and why. Purpose is extremely important so you’re not wasting your time in a medium or area that you’re not fulfilled in. Rediscovering why you love the craft or artform that you chose can help you decide to continue with it or make any changes or shifts in your creative journey.
5. Don’t stop creating. Everyday, I try to do something creative to keep my juices going and my mind afresh. That might be watching a crafty video tutorial, start a new blog post, read a magazine, cut out shapes or play with my new Mini sewing machine. This is a time that I’m not trying to make a finished project, it’s a creative time for me to explore, imagine and have fun. I recommend this for any artist. Do NOT stop creating altogether. Just make some time to create for fun and not for work.

I hope these tips will help you if you’re in a rut right now. They sure help me! I have quite a few pending projects on my craft table that I’d like to finish. Working on them even doing just small things to push forward brings me closer to getting them done.

So, share with me any of your tips for how you get out of a creative block! And, thanks for reading!