What I Do To Find Authentic Inspiration
“Where do you find inspiration?” asked no one of me, ever. But here I am to tell you all about it! And to find inspiration, I am always guilty of immediately doing the thing I know I shouldn’t do. I have a kneejerk tendency to hop on Pinterest. Instagram. The internet in general. If I have an urge to redecorate my entry table, try a new hairstyle, design a container planter, or do a DIY craft, you better believe that Pinterest is the #1 place I go. But I happen to think that these sources can kill inspiration, too. Think about it: they are programs, enhanced with algorithms, pre-populated with other peoples creativity. On the internet, I often compare and adapt instead of actually creating and developing new, original ideas. What about your own ideas? If I am seeking inspiration for, say, a recipe, I almost always find that the internet distracts me and I am 20+ minutes down the rabbit hole until I realize that I didn’t search for my original recipe. Inspiration can be a form of productivity, in a creative sense. I hate it when I let myself kill it without even realizing it!
I often think of the days 100 years ago when people had the exact creative or inspirational itch I have. What did they do? A hundred years ago, people could find inspiration in stories, books, music, movies, and socializing. As an early 90s millennial, I also think of my screen-free childhood days which absolutely teemed with imagination. It’s not impossible to go back to the old, tried and true analog ways to find inspiration out in the real world. Here are my top AUTHENTIC ways to find inspiration when I am feeling cagey, stagnant, or encouraged to shake things up.
Spend time with a friend.
I would say I have the opposite of “close-knit” groups of friends. My friends are spread out, and we are all so busy that it is oftentimes MONTHS that pass by before we can get together again. But my friends and I don’t seem to miss a beat when that happens, and that is why I love them. I love picking their brains for what inspires them, what they’re currently into, what project(s) they are working on, and what their goals are for the future. A conservation with these people almost always leaves me feeling inspired. I love chatting with my friends about their house plans, their own family stories, and our overlapping interests. If it’s a quick pizza date, or a long weekend away, it seems like there is no minimum time for me to effectively find inspiration in my friends.
Travel.
The funny thing about travel is that it is almost never possible in this season of life, due to either work, money constraints, or simply being a toddler mom. But travel doesn’t have to be impossible, far or expensive. Sometimes my favorite inspiration comes from simply getting out of the four walls of my house and perusing the aisles (in PERSON) of a favorite store. I particularly love walking through garden shops, clothing boutiques, and home stores. If possible, a weekend away (as often as once a year or once a month) is a great goal to have. It’s such a reset to see a new place and stretch your eyeballs — my grandmother’s phrase, not mine. Often, a short overnight trip can easily feel like a week away from home because your brain is processing so much. There is nothing better than hitting the “refresh” button mentally with travel. If going to a store or traveling away is too much, maybe a 20 minute drive down a not-so-frequently used road might do the trick.
3. Try a new recipe.
I think the challenge of a new recipe mixes my brain up and forces it to think differently! I am not particularly gifted in the kitchen but I do appreciate the finer things about a good meal, like flavorful sauces, artful garnishes, pretty plates, and new-to-me pairings. A lot of times, I will try my hand at a recipe after tasting it at a restaurant. It can be an adventure, from creating a grocery list to actually getting into the kitchen. For an even bigger challenge, set a date a month ahead to host your friends to try your recipe out: have a recipe exchange party, try pairing it with a delicious mocktail or cocktail for a girls’ night in, or do an old fashioned dinner party (I hear these are “back in”). Eating nourishing, in-season foods also keeps me inspired and appreciative what we have and where we are in the world.
4. Go for a walk.
And I mean a no phones, no podcast, no music kind of walk. Allow nature to wash over you and find inspiration in the trees, the sky, the way your body moves! It really all is a miracle. I swear by a nice brisk walk, and need to take my own advice more often. A walk blasts me out of the doldrums real quick, and the endorphins don’t hurt, either. Sometimes your typical neighborhood route is repetitive, so try a local nature center, high school track, or hiking trail. I’m talking 15 minutes. If I can’t go for a walk, a quick Pilates set is always a good idea. I sometimes sneak this in when I am even watching the baby and have my hands totally full.
5. Clean up living space.
This may not be the most popular tip, but you can define cleaning how you’d like — for some, it is a bucket and mop, and for others, it is just a quick tidying of items strewn about the house. I thrive in a clean area. I find the act of cleaning to be mindless, and yet full of mindfulness. I get totally absorbed in it and find that it is a great way to clear my head. Before I know it I am moving decorations around and rearranging furniture. It’s a life-size puzzle that I enjoy, and it’s a little therapeutic.
6. Clear my to-do list
Time management, workflow, and schedules is an endlessly intriguing topic to me. I am always interested in how people operate on a routine (or not) and how they find the time to pursue their interests, hobbies, and creative impulses. Personally, I seize up when I have a jammed to-do list. I find that stress inhibits my inspiration (doesn’t it for everyone?) and it totally blocks my creative flow. Simply put: I can’t work best creatively when I have a lot of other obligations hovering over my head. This means that sometimes my creative to do list, like filming short videos for Instagram or blogging, or watercolors, or editing photos, has to be intentionally paused. As I type this blog post, I realize that I am working in a totally free mindset uncluttered by all the things I didn’t do. My surroundings are clean, I am caught up on work, I exercised, and I feel like my mind is organized. Interestingly, my phone is also out of sight so I am really able to focus ;)
7. Write down my thoughts and goals
I have doodle-journaled, journaled, and blogged for decades if you count them all up cumulatively. I swear by it! The physical act of putting an actual pen to paper is in itself a form of inspiration for me. I think the most inspiring part of it is going back on old entries, posts, and sketchbooks and looking back at myself in glimpses that only I get to see. It is satisfying to look back on old goals that you have met, or exceeded. It may also reignite a fire to pursue those goals if they are not quite met yet. Journalling can be very meditative, and I know I am not alone in enjoying the benefits of this practice.
This list contains 7 practices that I genuinely follow (and have followed for years) to find authentic, true and powerful inspiration. Whether it is just a hit of dopamine or my next creative vision, these are simple and totally healthy mindsets that help me to reset and dream creatively.
Let me know what methods work for you, or what you are willing to try!
ciao, xo