In a Rut, It’s Easy to Rot.
This week has been a hard one. As a student, you’re expected to be in “grind mode” all the time and push through burnout. Not to mention extracurriculars outside of classes and possible personal life problems.
But, thats a part of the process… Unfortunately. The only way to maintain momentum is by taking breaks and sparking that creativity. I, myself, have relied on these the last three years in university, but especially this week.
Tackling a rut can be due to a number of factors, but I believe these five things are applicable to a loss of creativity or just pushing through an overwhelming week.
Number One: Write it Out
What is the main source of your problems? What do you have to accomplish? What are the most urgent things to attend to?
Create a to-do list with everything that needs to be accomplished. Include the fact that you need to wash your dishes, because you probably do. The finished to-do list can look scary, but it moves the pressure from your shoulders onto paper.
Next, explore your feelings. This can look like a journal entry, a chat with a close friend, a video diary entry, or a rant on your private instagram account. We’ve all been there. This exercise is similar to the to-do list, as it moves the problems from your shoulders onto an external source. Just allow yourself to complain!
Number Two: Go to your people.
This is applicable to some, especially the extroverts. If there is a group of people you find yourself constantly smiling with or inspired by, immerse yourself with them. It can be club meetings, friend groups, or even your favorite class. It’s a way to feel better without really doing anything.
If this is not available, I turn towards my comfort online creators. Chicken Shop Date or Pretty Basic Podcast are my (not so) guilty pleasures that brighten my mood and can be great background noises while I wash my dishes. Just saying…
my (not so) guilty pleasure
Number Three: Clean space, clean mind.
I hate to say it, I really do. But I fully live by this. In such a rut, it seems almost impossible to worry about the cleanliness of your space when there are other responsibilities to tackle. If that’s the case, consider cleaning as a form of procrastination. My most effective strategy is blasting high intensity music to get me up and suddenly I can’t sit still.
Number Four: Move your body.
In a rut, it’s easy to rot. Especially if you are away from home, no one is keeping you in check besides yourself. It can be refreshing to walk outside in crisp weather or sit in a sunny park. Either way, you can consider moving your body as another form of procrastination or as your brain may see it, you running from your problems. Body movement is just an overall benefit and no matter how you see it, it’s also a form of self care. Sometimes it just takes a shift in perspective and recognizing the privilege one may have to move their body, in order to tackle a rut.
Number Five: Let go of perfectionism.
Do you wait until you’re in “the zone” to get started? Do you struggle with finishing things because you know you’re capable of better? I mean, I do. But shifting that perspective is really important. As a student or a person with many moving parts, the only way to move forward is to just get what you need done, done. When you feel better, go back and improve it. But leave perfectionism behind, as you just might not be capable of it in that moment. Just get it done and move on, for a lack of better words. Prioritize what needs to be prioritized, but go easy on yourself.
I understand it is a privilege to tackle a rut using some of these methods. But a rut, creative or emotional, can only be tackled in a way best suited for the one struggling. And when the world seems like too much, sometimes that walk to the sunny park or washing your dishes is the biggest accomplishment of the day. And that’s okay.
Creativity is not something you are born with, it is teachable and ignitable. But, it’s not constant. I hope this can help you, because for me, this was ‘Number One.’
