Start the Creative Process

A year ago, did you imagine that we would be in quarantine for 30 days??!  This is obviously something that none of us have ever imagined could happen. But it did. We could not plan for it. I don’t know about you, but as I watched the world start dealing with this virus, I just kept hoping it just would not get here.

But! HOPE IS ON THE HORIZON! It looks like we will get to enter back into civilization soon. I am so excited to start doing portrait sessions again! Sure, it will be different than before and life is always uncertain. But we can start to prepare to enter into a normal schedule soon (prayer hands!!!).

So, something I have been doing this past week is making a plan of action. Okay, that doesn’t sound verrry creative… but did you know that some of the most successful artists, authors, musicians, scientists, engineers, architects, photographers… and so on accomplish their dreams by starting with a plan?!

Contrary to popular stereotypes, many creative people DO NOT THRIVE in chaos. They actually need clean workspaces and brain-spaces to be creative. Clutter actually can squash creativity. How about you? Do you live in organized chaos, or do you thrive in structure? I need routine to be productive and creative. I thought I would share how I make this happen, especially the starting part, because it is usually the hardest!

 

Ideas to START the Creative Process in Quarantine:

DECLUTTER YOUR BRAIN SPACE: 

Start with a blank piece of paper, and then write everything down that comes to mind. Sometimes this means taking 30 minutes straight to do this. For me, this can take a couple days. I leave the paper (or a note in my iPhone notes) out and visible, and write down ideas as they pop into my head.

 

PRIORITIZE YOUR IDEAS:

If you are a creative, you are probably also a visionary – you constantly have new ideas. Write those down and then rate the ones you want to do now, versus the ones you want to put on the back burner.

 

MAKE A PLAN OF ACTION:

If you have a specific creative problem that you just can’t seem to start. Write down all the steps to get it going and then just take one step at a time.

 

DECLUTTER YOUR PHYSICAL SPACE: 

If your desk or work area is a mess, it is extremely difficult to start work there, right?! Get everything you can off or out of your space, categorize it and then throw it away or put it away. Voila! Space to create!

 

GET ON A ROUTINE:

Over the past decade, I have tried a lot of methods for creating routine and Ruth Soukup’s method has been the one that has worked the best for me. Take a peek: Living Well Spending Less 

Ruth also has designed a planner that I am currently trying out. Click here to get $5 off your first planner order: Living Well Planner 

(This is a referral link & I get a few bucks when you use it to buy your planner.)

 

Just doing one of these is a step in the right direction. Let’s stay accountable – comment below when you try one of these ideas. I would love to see your progress and the creativity that flows from this starting point. What are you going to plan for? I’m getting ready to start shooting again next week! Happy planning! See you on the other side soon! Hashtag #lcpstaycreative to stay connected!

 

Lindsay Corrigan is a portrait photographer located in North Carolina specializing in children’s portraits, dance portraits and high school senior portrait sessions.

Portraits of me by Lorri Downs