Struggling with my mental health recently and fallen into a creative slump. I'd love to hear how you guys bounce back if you've felt it too?

Replies31

  • Over the summer I took a couple weeks off overseas - I had a complete change of environment to reset.
    It’s since taken me several weeks to ramp back up and into my creative self - snowball effect gathering momentum.
    Going for runs and cycling through nature since has also helped me nurture the self of me that was otherwise deprived in being in constant creative/business mode.
  • Creative individuals work depend on the mind and talent. It has happened to me and I re-evaluate where did I go wrong. I do not do the same mistakes again. It is difficult and try to develop a supportive network who appreicate and offer paid work for your creative work.
  • Thanks @Mike McCoole glad you enjoyed it!

    Hey @Gemma Buss - a really inspiring book I've read when feeling the call to reignite my creativity is - "The Creative Fire" by Clarissa Pinkola Estés (the audio version is magic too).
  • god yes it is tough and it really helps to know others are also suffering. I have two businesses, Simon Trewin Creative - an agency where I manage the careers of authors and The Garage Press where I use tradiitonal vintage printing presses and type to print all sorts of fun stuff. I manage the challenges by spending two days a week printing and losing myself in inky creativity and the other three days supporting my authors own challenges. I find this switching between selfish and selfless sides of my mind really helps. I also realise that meeting and talking to new people sparks my creative juices when I most need it. SO if anyone reading this fancies a coffee at Soho House 180 Strand London let me know!
  • @MARIE GUIRLET Came here to share that exact same thing Marie!

    There are/have been some good webinars recently (iconic offices worked with @Georgie Browne on some bitesize, feelgood material on mindset) about making small changes that have a profound effect over time.

    Something healthy to clear the head like a long walk or run (or - on the other end of the scale - a good blow out with friends) will do wonders. A more content you definitely is more creative you.

    (Cécile Dormeau's vid really does capture things beautifuly though )
  • After working in the industry for over 20 years now I've come to accept that creative black spots just happen and, contrary to what many say, you can't just force a restart. Personally I just lean in to them. Enjoy the freedom that switching off can bring. Delightfully, I've found that accepting the slump for what it is is precisely when I tend to get a sudden burst of energy.

    That said, it's a bugger if you're on a deadline - in those instances I walk a lot, tune in to some choice non-design related podcasts and take a quick spin through Behance to get the juices flowing.
  • Hello Gemma, I can't advice more to watch this video by the illustrator Cécile Dormeau. It's exactly what you are talking about: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CUFnTy5FOoW/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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