A few creative things to do when you don't feel like doing anything.
Re-introducing joy and whimsy into your life.
This summer, I’ve been completely exhausted and burnt out from 1) editing and publishing my book, 2) finishing my second year of college, and 3) moving into an off-campus apartment for the first time. Though I’ve made many attempts to start writing again, I have only come up with bad stories and openings that I’ve decided to scrap. In the process, I’ve become extremely lethargic and depressed. The issue is that being creative gives me energy and happiness, but without any energy and happiness, I’m not able to be creative.
What’s been helping me in these times is to find fun, low-stakes activities to do while I take a break from the difficult task that is writing publishable work. The key to breaking out of a creative rut, I’ve learned, is to let yourself be a kid again. In this spirit, here are a couple of activities that I recommend to anyone feeling lost.
Paint something dumb.
Because I don’t consider myself a visual artist, I find that spending an afternoon painting something helps me empty my mind. Last month I painted John Pork. I’m sure many art teachers would throw a fit over my shabby work, but making this was a lot of fun, and that’s all that matters right now. Doing something you don’t feel any pressure to be good at is a great way to de-stress.
Make graphics for your writing projects.
As a Canva Pro warrior, I love making mood boards, character cards, and magazine spreads for my writing projects. The picture above is from a digital magazine I made of all the writing projects I’ve ever worked on (I never showed it to anyone and just made it for fun). This is a great way to procrastinate on projects while remaining immersed in them.
Film a random vlog.
Whether or not you post it online, filming a “day in my life” video gets me through whenever I don’t feel like doing anything. Even just filming my outfit or meals or aimless walks around the neighborhood give me the energy to exist for another day. They’re also fun to rewatch in a few years. (I love the internet because I can scroll to the bottom of my Tiktok feed and remember what life was like when I was 17!).
Draw like you’re a kid again.
Drawing helps me take my mind off of whatever’s going on in my life. I’m pretty sure art is scientifically proven to lower stress levels or whatever. Remember—it doesn’t have to be good! The point of this activity (and all the others) is to let yourself enter a state of childlike play. Draw, even if it looks funny and the proportions are off.
Follow a makeup tutorial.
If you wear/have makeup, put on a random Youtube tutorial (how to do y2k makeup, vampire makeup, etc) and try your best to follow along. It usually looks bad when I do it, but that’s more than okay.
Do a kids’ craft.
Sometimes we get caught up in trying to be adult-like and take ourselves too seriously. Do a coloring page. Buy a kids’ craft kit. Build a Lego set. Challenge the idea that you have to be locked in all the time. This weekend, I plan to make something out of the cardboard boxes lying around my apartment. Making something simply because it’s fun is a fantastic remedy to our self-imposed standards.
These activities are meant to help quieten your inner critic so you can enjoy life a bit more. I’ve been trying to correct my habit of nitpicking everything I make and comparing myself to other writers. When you’re working on a silly, just-for-fun project, all of that disappears and is replaced by joy and wonder. This summer, I encourage you to reconnect with the kid you used to be and to let go of the idea that you need to be productive or that everything you do has to be “good.”
I love this so much!