Maggie Evans 
Creative outlets can serve us well in a variety of ways. In addition to providing us with a sense of purpose, healthy creative outlets can help us grow as artists, writers, and musicians. Unfortunately, when going through periods as stressful as the COVID-19 pandemic, finding the time and energy to indulge in your preferred creative outlets can be an uphill battle. However, it’s when we’re feeling stressed and distraught that many of us actually need these outlets the most. So, if you’ve had trouble giving proper attention to your creative outlets throughout this troubling time, put the following pointers into practice.
Give Yourself Consistent Pushes
If it’s been quite a while since the last time you indulged in one of your favorite creative outlets, you may need to give yourself a bit of a push. While taking an extended break from something can sometimes be an effective way to rekindle your love for it, it also stands to zap your usual enthusiasm for certain outlets. Should this prove to be the case, you may need to force yourself to devote regular attention to creative pursuits. Of course, this isn’t to say you should feel obligated to go all-in right away, but forcing yourself to spend a small amount of time on creative hobbies each day will help you regain your passion for these hobbies bit by bit.
You can start by spending as little as 30 minutes a day on your creative outlets, and as time goes on, you’re likely to find yourself wanting to devote even more time to creativity. While this will probably seem like a chore at first, it will soon become one of the highlights of your day.
Take Regular Breaks
Just because consistency is important in the pursuit of the most creative hobbies doesn’t mean you should burn yourself out. So, if you’ve been devoting hours of each day to a particular pursuit and feel your creativity draining, don’t be afraid of taking a couple of days off. Just make sure that a couple of days don’t turn into a couple of months – or even a couple of years. While artists should certainly be allowed to create around their own schedules, taking too long a break can make it difficult to return to certain outlets in earnest.
Provide Yourself with a Writing Quota
Writing can be among the most difficult creative outlets to maintain. Since many writers need to be in a certain mindset in order to get the ideas flowing, it isn’t unusual for them to go long periods without producing anything. However, as is the case with virtually any hobby, the more you do it, the easier it becomes. Not everything you create needs to be a masterpiece. Sometimes, the simple act of writing something – anything – can prove extremely cathartic and serve to get the creative juices flowing.
With this in mind, people interested in creative writing would do well to provide themselves with a daily writing quota. If it’s been a while since you wrote on a regular basis, you may want to start small. For example, many writers stick to quotas that range from 500 to 3,000 words per day, with 1,000 words being the average. Conversely, some highly-regarded authors have been known to write up to 10,000 words per day.
Take Care of Your Health
Even outside of a pandemic, your health should be among your foremost priorities. So, the next time you find yourself experiencing physical or mental health issues, don’t hesitate to reach out to the relevant health care professionals. You don’t even need to leave home to get professional advice if you’re open to speaking with an online doctor.
The right creative outlet can pave the way for increased confidence, personal fulfillment, and a host of other desirable results. However, dealing with periods of extreme stress can effectively zap one’s creative energy, leaving them with little inspiration or desire to indulge in their favorite outlets. Although creating while trapped in the throes of pervasive stress can be a tall order, finding ways to power through can help keep your creative energy flowing and possibly even lead to some major breakthroughs. Putting the previously discussed tips to good use can ensure that your creative spirit continues to burn even when things look their darkest.
