How Artists Can Stay Creative in the New Year

It’s the new year and you know what that means: a fresh start, a chance to set goals for yourself, and an opportunity to make your life and career better.

But if you are like many artists and entertainment entrepreneurs out there, this time of year can feel like a challenge; it is hard enough balancing work, life, family, kids, friends--with creativity in the first place--now we need to find ways to stay creative in the face of a seemingly endless pandemic?

Don't worry. I'm here to help you out with a few tips for staying creative in the New Year.

First, find balance. This is especially important for artists who can feel overwhelmed with all the different things they have going on in their lives. When you're feeling pulled in a million different directions, it's hard to focus on your creative work. So try to create a schedule that allows you time for both your personal and professional goals. Dedicate specific days or times of day specifically for working on art and other tasks, and stick to them as closely as possible. That way, you'll be less likely to put off your creativity altogether because of lack of time.

For example, I designate 6am-8am to work on the projects I'm most excited about. Right now, I'm spending that time creating the curriculum and content for my new course that helps artists find financial freedom by creating a very specific type of business for themselves. If you want to learn more about this new course coming soon, click here to attend my upcoming webinar all about building course-based businesses. 

Second, focus on your health and well-being. Just like finding balance is key for creativity, making sure you are taking care of yourself mentally and physically will allow you to create more freely. Try walking your dog a few more times around the block than you normally do, take a virtual yoga class, go for a run, or whatever physical exercise you enjoy (or at least tolerate). Nutrition also plays an important part in keeping your mind sharp and creativity flowing; try eating foods that are good for the brain like green leafy vegetables and citrus fruits, they will give you energy throughout the day so you don't crash by mid-afternoon. I find that gluten seriously decreases my energy, especially in the middle of the day, so I avoid eat gluten filled foods for lunch. If I don't, I CRASH, which is a serious creativity zap.

Lastly, shake things up. If there's anything artists hate it's routine. Sometimes staying stagnant in our routines can stifle our creativity—which is why shaking things up every once in awhile might be what we need to get inspired again. Maybe take a weekend trip nearby or even just stay in a hotel for a night to experience something different. I took my wife on a 36 hour vacation to Punta Cana a few weeks ago and it seriously helped our mental states after being stuck at home for months on end. It was short and sweet (and we stayed super safe), but just the fact that we were someplace new made us feel renewed.

Or if that's not your thing, try working on a different type of project than you usually do. Trying something new will help keep your mind active and engaged, which is essential for creativity to flow.

The last few years have been tough for a lot of artists and entertainment professionals, so I encourage you to try a few of these tips to keep things fresh in the New Year.

I hope these tips help you out as much as they've helped me. Wishing everyone all the best in 2022 :)