Author: The Achelois Collective, edited by Sarah Christianson – 8 minute read
Fall is here! The crisp fresh air, the reappearance of your flannel shirts, and pumpkin EVERYTHING all point to this exciting transition from summer fun to autumn coziness. While we’re busy replacing our summer habits with those more appropriate for the season, one can’t help but feel the urge to start fresh, whether you’re a student doing your best in school, a teacher implementing new lesson plans, or an office worker trying to be more productive on the job. All of us in the Achelois Collective want to celebrate this season of fresh starts with you!
So…care to join us in taking up a new habit? Specifically, a new creative habit?
A creative habit is a practice done regularly that exercises one’s imagination and/or ability to form original ideas. The goal of practicing creative habits is to become more well-rounded artists and appreciators of art. As musicians or artists, tapping into the imagination creates new possibilities for how we do our craft. Whether the product of your creative habits is new to you or new to the world, these practices will help you see both your own work and others’ work differently and cultivate a more comprehensive appreciation for that which is unfamiliar. And if you’re not an artist of any sort, exercising the imagination has practical applications too. Creative habits can help you think outside the box and develop your critical thinking, and they also spice up your life by helping you see the world differently and explore new, uncharted territory.
So, how do you go about adopting a new creative habit? We have some ideas for you! Each member of the collective has shared her/their thoughts on starting a new creative habit.
Anna:
Domplatz in Mainz, Germany
In the past, creative habits have helped me from completely breaking down, especially when dealing with burnout. It's always been a relief to give myself a break by exploring other avenues of creativity even though I may be completely burned out musically. For instance, watercolour painting was a creative outlet that I rediscovered last year, and it became my Covid-19 lockdown pastime. I did not realise how much I'd missed painting or it’s positive effects for my mental health until I started up again. I often feel a large amount of joy mixed with overwhelming frustration when starting a new creative habit. It’s still quite difficult for me to pull myself out of my competitive headspace when painting, and I still find myself struggling to view a project as a success if it does not perfectly resemble the vision I had in my head. (Yes, I know, I know.) I have been making an effort to remind myself that: 1) Whatever I am painting doesn’t need to be perfect; 2) I'm painting to give myself a mental break, so, take the mental break! 3) The whole point is to simply create something, in my own way, and in my own time, even if I feel it sucks.
Anna’s painting of Domplatz in Mainz, Germany
Jade:
Something that I make a point to do everyday is to have what I call “bowl time”. It has been my little midday escape since starting work from home! I turn off my notifications for a bit and put in headphones with some music that matches my energy that day. Then I purposely make a pretty and nourishing snack for myself in my favorite bowl. I usually do some variety of a smoothie bowl with fresh fruit arranged in intentional shapes! Sometimes I’ll do some rice with veggies on top in the same way. For me it’s about a number of things: 1) Taking time for myself; 2) Feeling creative in making different flavor and aesthetic combinations everyday; 3) Intentionally doing something kind for my body by taking a break and feeding myself with some great nutrients! It seems simple, but working full time with various other life and work responsibilities means that sometimes you take that creative time where you can get it.
Kathryn:
When I attempt to pursue or develop a new creative habit, it actually brings a lot of stress onto my plate. Over the years I’ve attempted and attempted to do something creative outside of my composing, but it always ends up making me feel frustrated and I can’t keep the habit. It’s one of the most frustrating things about a neurodivergent brain - not having the executive function to do something that has no instruction or end-goal. Even if something does have steps, if they aren’t specific I have trouble interpreting what they mean and it adds even more stress. Even within my composition, I struggle without a plan - with each piece I have to pick a time and plan out the whole timeline of the piece, create my own deadlines for myself, plan out the progression of the piece, etc. or else I won’t know where to start and will only feel frustrated. With other creative outlets, I have yet to find one that sticks due to the stress that the lack of bounds creates for me. I have found comfort with a similar daily schedule that works for my brain and keeps my stress levels low so I can pursue my endeavors in composition.
Momo:
I feel like I’ve become a child whenever pursuing a new creative habit. My body and mind feel clumsy around my ideas, I find myself a stubborn idealist about my own work, and when I close my eyes to sleep all I can see is my new venture unfolding behind my eyes. It can be really frustrating to have ideas but lack the necessary skills to execute your intentions. But as you learn and explore, creative habits are also a way to enjoy your other interests in a fresh light. How we think shapes our minds, so to develop a habit of creativity is to develop the extremely rewarding habit of self-exploration and growth!
Nicole’s painting
Nicole:
I cannot tell you how much paint, how many canvases and how many paint brushes have passed through my hot little hands. I love to sketch and draw, and the idea of relaxing with some watercolors en plein air sounded (and still does sound) divine. Well, my work looks more like what Rothko had for breakfast than an inspired Klee, so painting has become my low-stress-we-suddenly-need-an-art-somewhere-in-the-house activity. I also discovered that large and simple abstract wall paintings are SUPER FUN and am currently fighting the urge to use all of my leftover paint samples to mural the whole house. So, I’ve not become a successful “painter,” nor have I studied and practiced it for years, but I have become a successful “designer” in my home of oddities and curiosities and bits and bobs and a cat and dog. And no, I refuse to do a second coat: we’re going for “Rustic Ikea” here.
Nicole’s painting
Sarah:
Thinking about creative habits is a little complicated for me. I love improvising and exploring new music, or at least, I love those concepts. When I actually try to improvise or play something unconventionally, I find that I often feel self-conscious. I worry that the sounds I’m making sound immature, or that if other people heard me, they would be unimpressed. I think the key to overcoming self-consciousness in creativity is to separate yourself from judgement (whether good or bad) and focus entirely on the task at hand. Literally manufacture a judgement-free zone and create from there.
Victoria:
To be honest, the emotions that come to mind when I think of creative habits are apprehension and the fear of failure. Although I value my education, the process of receiving so much criticism from well-meaning and not-so-well-meaning mentors extinguished the spark I once had. We just don’t realize how much long-term damage can arise from constant judgment for the sake of education until it’s too late. Unfortunately, I’ve found that this fear has crept into other creative ideas. To remedy this, I need the mentality of remembering that I am my only judge in what I do. Assuming that there is no physical or mental danger, there is no “right” or “wrong” way to do something creatively. Rather than seeking some intrinsic endpoint for everything I do, I try to focus on how I feel when I actively create something. Whether it’s meant as an outlet for stress or a way to nurture my overall ability to create, I remain focused on just how holistic and encompassing a creative pursuit can be.