How To Find Creativity During Crisis

The world is in a state of flux, routines and traditional ways of operation have been disrupted, and we're still coming to terms with the effects. This is true for everyone from those working service-based jobs to the more creative pursuits. If you spend your waking hours in the creative space, be it writing, video, podcasting and more, you may need to adjust your creative process.

So how do creatives can find inspiration during COVID-19 times? Let's have a look at some suggestions.

Maintaining creative momentum can be difficult sometimes, but especially so during a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic we’ve experienced this year. Despite this, there are still many sources of inspiration out there for creatives. Here’s how to find yours.

Limitations

There are some understandable limitations to creating during a pandemic. Although we’re now in Level 1 of the nationwide lockdown, there are still significant restrictions that have impacted the tools we can make use of as creatives.

Despite this, creativity has no limits and limitations in the material world only serve to exercise our creative muscles. Finding alternative ways to bring a message across during a crisis is a creative process in itself.

When a limitation de-motivates you, think about the many great works of art and inventions that have been created during times of crisis. Let these examples of brilliant artworks, born out of the crisis, inspire you.

Stress

The stress brought about by the COVID-19 crisis, and its subsequent economic and social impacts are undeniable. However small or large your losses this year have been, it’s important to validate your feelings instead of suppressing them.

To combat the effects of this stress on your creativity, try to create space in your mind. There are various mindfulness, breathing exercises and types of meditation which you can practice daily to quiet the chatter in your mind, and tap into your creative self. If you lack focus in your work, check out this article on how to get into work mode by getting into your zone.

Patterns

As creatives, we can sometimes use our work as a distraction- keeping ourselves as busy as possible, to avoid the worries of the outside world. The problem with this is that we can become robotic in our creative approach- repeating the same patterns we know to be effective, without coming up with anything truly novel.

Recognising the patterns you go into, and whether they’re helping or hindering your creative process, is essential in building better habits. Perhaps, the approach you were using before the pandemic worked well, but it’s now no longer as effective. Don’t be afraid to break up your routine and do things differently.

Empathy

2020 has indeed been the year of isolation, in more ways than one. Due to the significant changes to our way of life, it’s no wonder many of us feel disconnected from others at the moment.

The good news is that we do have the opportunity to connect with others, on a more sincere level than ever before. Through connecting with our own experiences, and opening ourselves to hearing the stories of others, we can show empathy and understanding to our audience. The chance to make someone smile, feel understood and supported during difficult times is a powerful driving force behind creativity.

Confidence

In difficult times, it’s not uncommon for us to lose some confidence in our creative abilities. We may feel like we’re not performing at our best- especially if our main focus is to survive. Remember that your creativity is a gift that you get to share with others and that even on your off days you’re still talented.

You’re human, and you’re allowed to have dips in your creativity- especially during difficult times. Remember that broadening your knowledge by up-skilling, taking an online course, etc. is always a great way to boost your confidence as well.

If Henri Matisse was right in saying that “creativity takes courage”, then creativity during a crisis takes an extra dose of bravery and resilience. Beauty, art and expression make the world go ‘round, in the good times but even more so in the bad. Own your identity as a creative, and believe in your ability to produce fantastic work during this time.

About the author

Zapriana Atanassova is a digital copywriter with a passion for creativity and communication. Majoring in Journalism and International Studies wasn't stressful enough for her, so during her time at varsity she worked with Monash South Africa, Africa Investor and the Show Time Film Club to improve their online presence.

In her spare time, she enjoys writing poetry, making music and talking about the universe. She's the newest addition to the Arc Interactive team- a digital marketing agency based in Sandton, Johannesburg.

Tell us your story

Would you like to write for nichemarket just like Zapriana has? Find out how to submit a guest post and when you're ready, you can contact us.

Are you looking to promote your business?

South African mental health expert can create your free business listing on nichemarket. The more information you provide about your business, the easier it will be for your customers to find you online. 

Registering with nichemarket is easy; all you will need to do is head over to our sign up form and follow the instructions. If you require a more detailed guide on how to create your profile or your listing, then we highly recommend you check out the following articles.

• How to create a nichemarketer profile
• How to create a nichemarket business listing

Recommended reading

If you enjoyed this post and have time to spare why not check out these related posts and dive deeper down the rabbit hole that is creativity in the workplace.

• Workplace Wellness: How to Safeguard Your Mental Health at Work
• 10 Hangups that are Destroying your Productivity
• 11 Tools for Tracking Your Remote Staffs Productivity
• 5 Tips on Time Management for Maximum Productivity
• 10 Hacks to Improve Your Home Office Productivity
• How To Become More Productive

Tags: Mental Health , Creativity , Guest Post