armeleia:

Reminders for the Anxious/Depressed Creatives

• You’re more than what you make.
• Your productivity does not determine your value.
• It’s okay to do nothing sometimes.
• Not everything you do has to result in a product.
• Not everything you make has to be important, significant, or even good.
• You can make things just for yourself.
• You can keep secrets for yourself, whether it’s not posting some of your projects or not sharing your techniques.
• You’re allowed to say no.
• You’re allowed to rest.

shinondraws:

I was listening to an art podcast and I heard someone use “creative hibernation” as a term to describe a period of time when your creative energy and flow of ideas is slowing down.

Honestly, it sounds so much better than “art block”. To me, “creative hibernation” sounds less like a negative thing and more like an organic part of the creative process. 

“Art block” sounds very definite. They sound like something you MUST actively fight against to break them down in order to continue. “Hibernation” on the other hand sounds more like a thing that happens every now and then but that will go away on its own when it’s time. It’s a stage of gathering energy for the next creative pursuit. Art block on the other hand is an artificial, mental block that actually just seems to solidify the more you treat it like an obstacle to get around.

All creative people go through this type of slowing down all the time and it is completely alright. I thought I would share this because I think the right kind of mentality is actually one of the most important things of recovering your creative energy.