Being stuck in the same routine day in day out can narrow your creative vision. You see the same things, hear the same sounds and life feels a little mundane.
When you sit down to brainstorm ideas, your paper fills up with doodles of nothing in particular, and your attention is soon drawn to life outside the window.
Sound familiar?
For me it’s quite a common situation. Growing up, my mother was forever trying to keep me entertained. So by nature I think I’m easily distracted and I need to shake life up a bit from time to time to keep myself inspired.
If only we could turn a switch and creative thoughts would flow… but as anyone in a creative field knows, it doesn’t quite work like that.
So what can we do to feel inspired and get our creativity flowing again?
Exposing yourself to interesting and unfamiliar sights, sounds and tastes through travelling is one way that I find works wonders.
Immersing yourself in another culture can open your eyes to how others live and interact in society. The landscape and architecture are different, the way people talk sounds different, and the food looks, smells and tastes different.
If you’re a designer, you can benefit from observing the typography and signage, local magazines, street posters and art throughout the city.
If you’re a photographer, well you’re in heaven. There are so many unique details to document and create your own story.
If you’re a writer, travelling can clear the mind, leaving room for fresh new thoughts and stories, or perhaps clarify an idea that seems a little disjointed.
Just like a vacation rejuvenates and helps you unwind, an overseas journey can inspire and clear your mind, allowing for fresh new thoughts to flow in.
Besides this there’s another positive of travelling: it can improve your confidence.
For me this is a big one, since I’m a very shy person and being in a creative field requires a bit of boldness from time to time. And when I return home after an overseas journey I feel as though I can conquer anything.
Travelling isn’t always smooth sailing and can challenge you in many ways. You’re forced to communicate with others, not always in your mother tongue, and navigate your way around a foreign land. While stressful at the time, when you return home the feeling of accomplishment is elating.
Here are some things you can do to ensure your journey is a creatively stimulating experience.
1. Notice the details
With the nerves and excitement of travelling, you may overlook things. So remind yourself to look around and observe.
Look at the details in things as you walk … How the buildings above look … the way locals interact with one another … how food is presented and the ingredients they use … how windows, doors and stairwells are unique to the city you are in.
It’s these details and differences to what you know that you will carry away and use as inspiration later.
2. Talk to others
Whether it’s a local or a fellow traveller, talking to another can provide insight into things you may not have heard about or know about the place you are visiting.
Perhaps there is a small gallery or a great view of the city not mentioned in your travel guide. It’s always good to get inside tips and advice from those who have experienced them.
3. Be adventurous
Remember, the reason you are travelling is to find inspiration. Breaking out of your comfort zone will ensure a more stimulating experience…
Try foods that are not in your usual meal plan. You might be pleasantly surprised at how they taste.
Take part in an activity that might scare you a little! The feeling of accomplishment will help boost your confidence.
Don’t be afraid to lose yourself. Sometimes the most amazing sights and experiences are found when you least expect or plan for them to.
So next time you’re in a creative rut or find yourself staring at a blank piece of paper, consider a change of scenery. It could be an overseas journey, or even just getting in the car and going for a drive to somewhere fresh and new. It might just be what your mind needs to see clearly again…
You and your creative horizons
What are your experiences with travel and creativity. Do you find it helps to inspire you again?
What are some things that you do when travelling to find inspiration?
Which part of the world did you find inspired you most?
About the Author: Chantelle Grady’s passion for interiors, food, travel and photography led her to create Sourced Cities – travel guides based on her personal journeys through different cities, sourcing the details that make them unique, and helping you discover memorable experiences when you visit them yourself. Learn more at SourcedCities.com and via Chantelle’s pages on Facebook and Pinterest.
That’s wonderful! I realized the fact that when I go out with a pen and paper, it would be more productive than with all productive tools at desktop
And travel always helps to take vital breaks and to energize myself to get back to the task at hand.
I agree Gokul. There is only so much inspiration you can find on your desktop! It can do your mind wonders to break away from it for a while.
That’s true Chantelle!
We need to swap and swing among two extreme of productive environment 🙂
Thanks Chantelle for a great reminder about getting out of creative ruts!
I got one of those creative jolts in 2006 when we took a trip to Italy. At the time I was making a record with my band, Citizens Of Contrary Knowledge. Bush was president. We were in the middle of the “Shock and Awe” invasion of Iraq. I was not feeling like a proud American at this time. I needed inspiration.
But to be in Italy and see all the usual suspects (The Coliseum, St. Peters, Venice, Florence. Seeing Michaelangelo’s David in person) was amazing! The combination of history, architecture, art, food, wine, style is so over the top there.
One of the coolest things that happened was staying in Lucca. The restaurant owner saw our dilemma with a fidgety daughter and how we couldn’t relax and enjoy our incredible wine and his amazing food. So he just took her away in his arms into the kitchen and showed her the whole restaurant and passed her around the staff. She had a ball. We got to finally chill out. It was awesome! Such warm people.
I was so inspired creatively, I wrote a song called Italian Shoes that completed the songs for our record. (http://arbinsongs.com/fr_contraryradio.cfm).
There’s nothing like travelling to stir up the creative juices and fill you with fresh ideas.
Thanks for allowing me to reminisce.
Wow, that’s great the trip inspired you to write a song about it! I bet your daughter would have loved the attention and I’m sure you appreciated the time to chill out.
Thanks for sharing. I’m glad you found inspiration through your time in Italy. It’s a beautiful place and very good food!
This is a really great tip… thanks for sharing.
Travel has always been an eye opener for me. I think we are fooling ourselves if we think that travel means visiting another country.
Think about it…
Going to chinatown or harlem for a meal for some people is “travel enough” to get them out of their comfort zone.
Also…You can travel anytime in your imagination… imaging being in another place and free write/day dream about the experience.
You can go somewhere else when you close your eyes any time you want.
Geoff Talbot
Commenting & Blogging in only Seven Sentences
Good words Geoff.
My parents haven’t travelled much but when they can they take a drive to a beach or park to have a picnic. They return happier. I myself find just getting out for fresh air can do the world of good.
That is true also about travelling in your imagination. Some people (including me) need a bit more than that from time to time though. Perhaps I’m a little impatient if the creative thoughts don’t flow straight away when I close my eyes! 🙂
Our month in the west of Ireland in 2005 changed me forever. Fired off my songwriting, inspired my first mystery, and all in all, turned a ginormous corner for my life and everything in it.
That’s fantastic Joel. Good to hear it inspired so many creative projects.
This is quite true. Thanks for posting this Chantelle! Sometimes, we just need to change our perspectives. The things that are new to an artist’s senses brings inspiration and will eventually find ways to channel that inspired vibe.
When I travel, I am inspired by watching the people. It’s fascinating to see how people in different cultures aren’t paralyzed by the same issues I am–how effortlessly they have broken chains I have decided to wear. At the same time, it is unifying to find similarities in humor and habits–to see universals when you are far from home.
Love your idea about noticing details. I am trying to consciously attend to those in my projects. Thanks for the great post!