Reclaiming creative expression after eliminating social media “inspiration” ?

[u/Free-Path9621]

I’ve been off social media for a few months now (will only occasionally pop onto Reddit), and like many posts on here I echo the same sentiment about rediscovering how to navigate boredom, and reclaiming my life.

However, what I’m struggling with is how much I relied on social to influence my creative process. I love to create, wouldn’t say I’m a master at any craft more of an enjoyer of many things; writing, drawing, DIYing, trying something new. Social has in recent memory guided me creatively and since I’m no longer being constantly influenced by something I kind of find myself craving to be stimulated in that way again.

There would be days where I felt myself in a mental rut and in scrolling, something exciting would find me in my feed and draw me to act upon a creative impulse, changing the entire course of my day.

Anyone have any tips for rediscovering their creative side again? What are some ways you draw inspiration from other sources in your day to day?

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[u/K-Dave]

I've never stopped creating, just releasing. Inspiration and reason are the same - dealing with the strange place this world has turned into. 

[u/Comprehensive_Yak442]

I design fonts for a hobby and rather than get ideas from social media and websites, I collect very old books from the 1800s on scripts and typefaces.

[u/bootstrap_this]

Good post.

What helps me is to keep something to create with within easy reach. This may sound obvious, but it’s helpful. So if someone plays an instrument, keep it out if possible. Have a few art supplies at hand, or whatever you write with. JMO, but seeing those tools staring me in the face reminds me to get on it, no excuses. The materials themselves inspire taking action. After that first step, something usually flows.

I keep notebooks filled with ideas and return to them, sometimes making variations on a theme, instead of wasting time looking for still more stuff online amidst ads and other trash. Like a painter using a limited palette, sometimes focusing more narrowly is helpful. I get easily overwhelmed by info overload and notebooks help. Story ideas, music composition, dance routines, design, and so forth, all of it goes into a notebook as it occurs to me.

Your point about being inspired online is interesting. When I asked myself if I was really inspired by social media scrolling, the answer was no. It overloaded me with derivative nonsense. It didn’t help me to know what I wanted to create. Finding that took quiet reflection until I could hear the voice within once more. Do you find it really inspires you to see what others are doing? If so, it may be worth partaking in a limited way.

Hope this helps a little. Wish I had a magic answer to get everyone to be more creative, but I’m just stumbling through myself. Best of luck for a productive and fun new year.

PS. Came back after being gone four months yesterday. I plead temporary insanity.