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hello you beautiful people you, i have a feeling this blog post is going to be a short and sweet one because my motivation and inspiration has been at such a low these past couple weeks. not only has my blog been suffering, but i have noticed that i am not being as productive in other projects as i would like to be. part of it is because most all of my projects involve being on my computer whether that be editing photos in lightroom or working on my blog, but with the recent sunshine filled days i have been spending as much time outside as i can. ya girl needed a tan and plus i love getting a good book and enjoying a relaxing afternoon soaking up the sun. regardless of the weather though, i still can not say i would be the go-getter to these projects as i was a few weeks ago. the start of quarantine i was using the new found free time to really hone in on my extra projects, and while there is still plenty i could and probably should be working on the drive to do so has slowly withered away. i absolutely dislike it, but sometimes it really be like that. creative and unmotivated ruts are the worst and i wish i had a guaranteed answer on how to get out of them, but unfortunately i am still trying to figure it out myself. while i don’t have all of the answers here are a few things to remember when feeling unmotivated and not inspired. i need to remind myself of these more often too!

  1. it is okay: i know it sucks not feeling as if you are doing all that you can or should be doing, but it is impossible to always be motivated. we are bound to have days where we don’t accomplish everything we wanted to do or we don’t feel as passionate about projects as we hope. we are humans, imperfect beings, it’s time to stop being so hard on ourselves. plus, if there is no active deadline that you have to meet there is no need to force something that isn’t ready. sometimes all you need is a bit of time and self love.

  2. it won’t last forever: sometimes our ruts may be a few days and others could be months. not having a date to when we will feel motivated or inspired again is tough, but place ease in knowing that nothing lasts forever.

  3. push yourself: energy fuels energy. if you are feeling lazy and continue laying around chances are you will not suddenly decide to go on a 5 mile run, but if you choose to get up and go on that 5 mile run, even despite not really wanting to, you will likely feel more motivated to do things after, even if it is just the laundry and cooking some dinner. maybe you won't, but often all you need is that extra push to get going. just the other day i went on a run after going back and forth with myself. i really was not feeling up for it, but having decided that the weather was perfect for it, i wouldn’t have to wake up as early to run the next morning, and it really had been awhile since i ran, i got ready and headed into town to run along the promenade. to my surprise it was the best run i have had in a long time. once i got going, i found my groove, and it felt so good. i ran three miles in 28 minutes meaning i had been running 9.3 minute miles which compared to my 11 minute miles lately was absolutely amazing. when i finished i felt empowered so much so i added a couple extra leg workout moves to end it. now this wasn’t an overall best time, but it was my best time in quite awhile so it is a win in my book. i was blessed to have had such a good workout. it’s always nice when it works out that way. now chances are it won’t always be the greatest workout, but either way you still got up and did it which is something to be proud of! that doesn’t just go with running or working out though, but on any task you may be doing.

  4. change your perspective: this one is more directed to being uninspired, but i think one of the biggest things i have learned to try when in creative funks is to try something different. back in the summer of 2018 i was really struggling with my photography. not only was i really hard on myself and my work, but i lost all desire to even try to better my photos, thus i avoided picking up my camera up all together (obviously not helpful). then that december when i was back home i decided (with the help and encouragement of a friend) that i would do a shoot with a couple other photographers and a model. i was skeptical and not confident heading into it, but having found a lens (50mm) that i had not even used before i decided i might as well try something new out. i had nothing to lose seeing i was already in such a creative funk. it was just what i needed - a new perspective. all situations and circumstances will not be as easy as changing the actual lens, but trying new ways to tackle projects and task, even ways you think may not work or that you might not like, can help you find just what you might need to spark that creativity again. you really don’t know unless you try.