I Lost My Creative Spark and This Is the Stupidly Simple Strategy I Used to Rediscover It
You will wonder why you didn’t think of it sooner
I used to pride myself on my ideas.
It was definitely my superpower and the fuel that drove my career.
But somewhere along the line, I lost that spark.
The very thing that once brought me joy had become a chore, a very mechanical and regimented process.
One day I remember just staring blankly at my laptop, trying to force ideas out for a client project.
But there was this niggling feeling that I couldn’t escape.
I realized I was depleted.
In my pursuit to turn creativity into a business, I had forgotten the most crucial ingredient.
Creating for yourself.
Pressure Cooker Professionalism
Like many creatives, I fell into the trap of perfectionism.
Every project became a high-stakes endeavor and a chance to prove my worth.
This mindset was rooted in a deep-seated belief that in order to be loved, I needed to be perfect (super toxic, I know).
It was what turned my play into work.
I remember when I was younger ideas would flow freely.
I’d be on the tram looking out the window, and suddenly, inspiration would strike.
Or during a late-night drink with friends, a new project would materialize out of thin air.
But the problem was that these moments of serendipity became increasingly rare as I tried to confine my creative process to a 9-to-5 schedule.
My Awakening
The turning point came during a really stressful period.
Deadlines were looming and I had clients demanding revisions.
My well had run dry.
In desperation, I had to take some time off.
During that week I found myself at a cafe with a notebook and no agenda.
For the first time in years, I just started journalling without purpose.
The simple act of putting pen to paper with no judgment unlocked something.
It was messy, imperfect, and oddly liberating.
It made me realise that our minds need space to wander.
By trying to regiment my creative process, I had been stifling its very essence.
Creativity requires incubation time.
Finding Play
Embracing play wasn’t easy.
I definitely said some weird things to my business partner, and he responded blankly with “whatever man”.
Years of professional conditioning had made me skeptical of anything that didn’t have a clear ROI.
But I committed to carving out time each week for myself.
I started small:
- Took myself for a coffee each morning before work
- 10 minutes of free writing and bullet journalling
- Letting myself break into song if I felt like it
- Randomly talking to myself to work through ideas
It was not suppressing anything that felt like an urge.
Gradually, I felt the walls start to crumble.
Without realising it, I was nurturing my own inner child.
I was giving little Alex that space and freedom to explore without judgement.
The Power of Vulnerability
Perhaps the most profound realisation was the importance of vulnerability in the creative process.
I had been so focused on being “the best” that I had lost touch with who I had become.
By allowing myself to create without the pressure of perfection, I rediscovered the unique perspective that only I could bring to my work.
Your creativity is not just a tool for work.
It’s an essential part of who you are.
By nurturing it through play and self-expression, you’re not just becoming a better professional; you’re becoming a more fulfilled human being.
Step away from the pressure to produce.
Give yourself permission to play, to explore, and to simply be.
You might be surprised at what unfolds when you let your inner child take the lead.
