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one of the best exercises i did while in intensive outpatient therapy was drawing with my non-dominant hand. honestly it releases so much of that perfectionist pressure / need to create “good art.” it also just helps release the struggle to improve or master whatever you create with your non dominant hand because you know it’s not the hand you typically use! i do it now to usually warm up (even though i rarely draw when i create). also working with physical media and emphemera really helps! starting a junk journal can be a great idea! i feel like it allows me to collect everyday items and use them to create something significant to me without too much pressure!! my partner also suggested creating moodboards as a warm up! it helps to think of what feeling you are trying to express. for instance for a moody, dark vibe you could search up “night photography” or “vaporwave” as keywords! pinterest is the best for this in my opinion but i’m sure there are other apps for it as well :) last piece of advice is put on your favorite inspiring playlist to create to! stuff that really gets ya in that “flow state.” sorry this is so long but i hope it helps!
Jul 22, 2025
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🎨Recently I went through a rough patch for a couple months where I was only filling about one page of my sketchbook every week and it felt like buns :(
However, a couple weeks ago I started hyper-fixating on Transformers and I’ve drawn so many of those stupid fucking robots I’m not even lying to you. So basically what that means is try and find something that would appeal to you and draw inspiration from that!
Expanding on the inspiration piece- for embroidery, I have a huge Pinterest board of things I’d like to put on my jackets/jeans/shirts. There’s no shame in taking inspiration!!!!
Finally, if none of these things work (and I know it’s easier said than done) literally just force yourself to do one creative thing a day. When I‘m bored at school I draw random faces and people passing by. Just by forcing yourself to get back into the habit, hopefully that will encourage your brain to return to its former creative glory.
Good luck!!!!!
However, a couple weeks ago I started hyper-fixating on Transformers and I’ve drawn so many of those stupid fucking robots I’m not even lying to you. So basically what that means is try and find something that would appeal to you and draw inspiration from that!
Expanding on the inspiration piece- for embroidery, I have a huge Pinterest board of things I’d like to put on my jackets/jeans/shirts. There’s no shame in taking inspiration!!!!
Finally, if none of these things work (and I know it’s easier said than done) literally just force yourself to do one creative thing a day. When I‘m bored at school I draw random faces and people passing by. Just by forcing yourself to get back into the habit, hopefully that will encourage your brain to return to its former creative glory.
Good luck!!!!!
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➿Pull a joni mitchell and engage in arts that differ from your primary to inform it at a later time.
If you lean more toward visual arts try poetry, song writing, music making, acting/performances for the self, crochet, clay, claymation, videography, sound collection, whistling, discovering new sounds you can make etc.
Often when i want to create but i feel tired or uninspired i try to use still life or my surroundings— BUT If thats boring i ask myself a question and let my train of thought ramble -> connecting that rambling to my pen on paper
Honestly setting your inner critic to rest and creating things that are imperfect is actually incredible!
More often than not letting first drafts be final for a moment allows you to discover what you crave to create.
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🖌This is prolly a therapy practice or smthn and I don't know it lol BUT i think it's v refreshing and healing for the soul to spend 30 mins/day simply creating something from scratch. It can be anything, like:
- A journal entry
- Rough draft of a story you have rattling in your head
- A silly doodle with no rhyme or reason
- A random collage
- Improv on the piano/guitar/instrument of choice
- Embroidering on an old shirt you're trying to revive
It's easy to get caught up in the gears of life and responsibility; getting into the small habit of creating something new is a good way to stay in touch with yourself and remember that you've got that spark in you <3
Top Recs from @wishfulwaltz
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they said no one has taken a photo of them by the sea and it made me really happy that i documented this moment! :”) <3
Jul 22, 2025
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i know these aren’t technically books but some of my fave poems live in both of these collections + an honorable mention :)
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it’s a slow burn, queer coded, and so emotionally vulnerable!! not to mention the visuals are stunning
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