Welcome back to the Creative Freedom Challenge!
Have you been beating yourself up because you don’t have a regular creative routine?
I’m so tired of seeing famous writers and artists talking about the importance of a regular routine – sure, consistency can be great, if you don’t have another job, and you’ve got someone to do your cooking and cleaning and childcare for you, and if your health and energy allows you to show up every single day.
Many of us don’t have those luxuries.
Plus, for those of us who are neurodivergent, routines can feel stifling. They don’t inspire creativity – quite the opposite, in fact.
If you put too much pressure on yourself to keep up a routine, you’re likely to feel overwhelmed and end up avoiding doing anything at all.
And if you’ve set yourself a rigid routine, if you’re not able to show up to it once or twice for whatever reason, then you can feel defeated and like giving up.
For those of us unsuited to routine, rituals are far more helpful.
Rituals aren’t about forced repetition – they’re about creating intentional moments and putting you in the right headspace, at whatever time and place you feel able to come to them.
A ritual might be lighting a candle before you write. Putting on headphones and listening to the same playlist when you paint. Journaling for five minutes before a work session. These small acts tell your brain: “It’s time to create.”
Rituals are flexible. They can move with you, adapt to your needs, and even become comforting – especially when the world feels chaotic.
Don’t get me wrong – if routine is your thing, go for it. For some people, showing up at the same time and place and doing the same thing every day is really helpful.
But if you’re not that person, let go of the idea that you’re doing it wrong. You’re not. You’re just doing it differently. And different is what art is all about!
So today I invite you to have a think about what sorts of actions could help you achieve that ideal balance of calm and energised.
Worksheet
Make some notes on what makes you feel calm and grounded, and also what makes you feel energised and in the right frame of mind to be creative.
What could you do that signals to your brain that it’s time to create? How can you give yourself permission to open space for your creativity?
Use those notes to design your own creative ritual.
It doesn’t have to be complicated - a good ritual should be simple and easy to perform. It shouldn’t take up too much time, and, ideally, it should be portable so that you can take it with you when you need to.
Perform your creative ritual today, and open space for some creative work, even if you only spend five or ten minutes creating.
As you perform your ritual, remind yourself that this is your signal, and your permission slip to take this time for your creativity.
Remember, rituals can change and adapt over time, so don’t feel you have to stick rigidly to whatever you design today.
Feel free to tell us about your ritual if you’d like to!
Share this post