we’ve all done it. as creatives, we get used to the flow of things, our business is going great, inquiries are coming in and there are no complaints. right? wrong! if you’re complacent with your work as a creative…you’re not pushing yourself. it’s so easy to make it to the top. but can you stay there?

every couple of weeks i hit a wall. a creative wall where i just have to step back and take a break! i love what i do. i love it so much that at 2 am when i can’t sleep, i’m online learning about my field…learning new techniques, researching anything and everything on the topic. i’m a little obsessive! but that is how i learn. it’s a family trait 🙂 my parents do it, my brothers do it…it’s just how we’re built. which means it can literally consume my every thought and action throughout the day. it’s a dangerous road to begin too. along with being a boss babe {how do you like that one 😉 }, i’m a stay at home mom. if i spent every second of my day obsessing about my business, my son would get zero time with mommy. i have to step back. working from home makes that so hard!!! i know so many people that struggle with that! sometimes you just have to take a vacation or have a no technology day.

so we know how to step away from it all when it gets overwhelming but what do we do during busy season when things just feel bland? you’re trucking along in your day to day routine and you’re being productive…but there’s no passion in it? this is a creative rut. like i said, i have one every few weeks. i look at my work and think, holy moly…no one is going to like this, i don’t even like this. that self doubt starts to creep in, you start to compare yourself to others in your field. maybe they’ve had more or less experience than you. it’s natural. but don’t let it define you or your business!

i do 3 things when i notice i am starting to get in a creative rut

1} STEP AWAY

i have to get away. sometimes it’s a trip to our farm where there is ZERO {yes, zero!} internet. sometimes it is as simple as a 45 minute trip to target with my son where we go down the toy aisle and play with everything and leave with nothing {that’s mom secret 1,437…play with the toys and leave empty handed}. two years ago it was a trip to Disneyworld with my family. next year it will {hopefully} be a cruise 🙂 you have to take time for yourself, otherwise there is NO point in pushing yourself.

2} SHOOT FOR MYSELF

sometimes i get in a rut because i’m getting the same things over and over again. i post a few newborn images, the inquiries roll in, that’s all i shoot for 2-3 weeks. i love love LOVE photographing newborns…but i need some stuff in between to keep my creative juices flowing 🙂 if i ever feel like there’s a rut coming in…i start a project! i’m in the middle of one now actually {it’s called wedding wednesday…check it out!!!}

3} DO SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE ELSE

i decided early on that my business was going to be my ministry. one of the ways i do this is by showing my clients the love of Christ through my photography. that doesn’t mean i’m spouting off bible verses during a session, but sometimes, there’s a family that just REALLY needs that Christmas picture taken but it isn’t in there budget to book a session. sometimes it’s that lonely bridesmaid, that doesn’t click with the others that just needs a friend on the wedding day. sometimes it’s the mother of the groom that has just felt left out because the wedding day has been between the bride, groom and the mother of the bride. they just need to feel that love!!!

so next time you get in a creative rut…try doing one of these things, or even all three! i guarantee you, you will come back with fresh eyes and a full heart to throw yourself into your craft like you never have before!!!