Separate your Inner Critic

Separate your Inner Critic creative work problems

Separate your Inner Critic For a Better Creative Life

Creative work always comes with our inner critic. The nagging voice that sows doubt and fear. However, there are strategies for separating this inner critic from our real selves, cultivating self-compassion and a more creative mindset.

Start by becoming aware of your inner critic and recognizing when it surfaces. Externalize this voice by giving it a persona, creating a mental separation. Challenge negative thoughts by questioning their legitimacy and countering them with positive affirmations. Sometimes yelling at it helps, too.

Practice self-compassion by treating yourself with kindness amid mistakes and challenges. Identify triggers that bring out your inner critic and proactively address them. Embrace positive feedback and affirmations to maintain a balanced perspective.

Practice mindfulness to observe thoughts without judgment, and use creative methods such as journaling to externalize and release the grip of the inner critic. Set realistic expectations and avoid unreachable standards.

Remember that your inner critic is not your true self. By implementing these strategies, you can navigate self-criticism, cultivate self-compassion, and develop a more positive and creative mindset on your journey of personal and artistic growth.

So separate your inner critic and give your creative work a much better life!

Creativity in Lockdown

creatvity in lockdown. Try something new

The “Creativity in Lockdown” idea came from Siri. Check out her work: https://www.instagram.com/airajoana/

10 Ideas If Your Creativity is in Lockdown

  1. Try out new materials and techniques of your favorite way to do art or how you design stuff.
  2. Learn new programs that you can use in your daily work process.
  3. Go into an art shop and buy something you never tried.
  4. If you work in 3D, do something in 2D.
  5. If you work in 2D, do something in 3D.
  6. Do something you always wanted to try.
  7. Animate the stuff that you design or the art you do.
  8. Create new ideas for projects. Try different ways of generating ideas.
  9. Think about how you could work a story into your art or design. Even if it’s an abstract way you work.
  10. What is something you need or want to improve in your artistic repertoire? Learn or improve it!

Was your creativity in lockdown as well? How did you get out of it? Tell me about it!

Break up Tasks

Break up Tasks Illustration

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to effectively break up tasks:

  1. Define the Main Task
    Identify the main task you need to accomplish today or over a few days or weeks. Make sure you have a complete understanding of what success looks like for the overall goal.
  2. List the Subtasks
    Break down the main task into smaller, more manageable subtasks. These subtasks should represent specific actions or steps that contribute to the completion of the main task. They should be as small as possible. If you think you can make them even smaller, do it!
  3. Prioritize Subtasks
    Evaluate the importance and logical order of each subtask. Prioritize them based on dependencies, deadlines, or any other relevant criteria. This will ensure an efficient approach.
  4. Estimate Time and Effort
    Estimate the time and effort required for each subtask. This step helps you allocate resources effectively and prevents underestimating the overall workload.
  5. Focus on One Subtask at a Time
    By breaking down the work into smaller components, you can maintain focus and avoid feeling daunted by the larger goal.
  6. Review your Work
    Periodically review your progress and adjust your plan as needed. If certain subtasks are taking longer than expected, reevaluate your plan to make changes without feeling stressed.

Get Over Creative Block

Creative Block Illustration

Some additional tips for creative block

  1. Try to determine the reason for the block and apply a solution to it. When did it start? What helped you with similar previous problems?
  2. Try to work on a better process in your creative life. How do you work? How can you improve it? 
  3. Get better goal-setting strategies. Why are you doing this? Find your purpose within your work!
  4. People who are more confident with their work are less likely to build a blockade. Try to build confidence. Worst case: Fake it till you make it! Tell yourself, the work you are doing is awesome (and it probably is). Send me something you have done, if you want to get feedback from someone. 🙂
  5. You need to plan but don’t overdo it. Find a middle ground in what you do in a day.
  6. Build habits with your creative work. Try to start at the same time each day.
  7. Exercise and taking a walk is a good way to get over a block. Try to do this daily, even for a few minutes.
  8. Talk about your ideas and work with other people.
  9. Take a break!

Note: If you search this topic try to use the terms writer’s, art, or creative block. 

Source: Ahmed, Sarah J., “An Analysis of Writer’s Block: Causes, Characteristics, and Solutions” (2019). UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 903. https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/etd/903

How Self-Efficacy Can Help You Succeed!

Do you know what self-efficacy is and how to develop it? I made a visual guide in case you need some information about this topic. You will conquer your fears and get productive if you can develop your self-efficacy. Take this guide and start with it!

Click to enlarge the guide! You can print it out and/or share it.

Self-efficacy Guide

Self-efficacy is defined as people’s belief in their ability to achieve certain levels of performance that influence events that affect their lives. Self-efficacy beliefs determine how people feel, think, motivate, and behave.

In short, you are more likely to successfully climb a big mountain if you believe you can do it. If you doubt your ability to accomplish something, you are less likely to succeed.

This also applies to the creative life: If you think you can’t do something, you won’t be able to do it. This includes things like concentrating for an hour. So be confident in how you think!

How to develop self-efficacy

  1. Push through tough times and come out stronger! You will become more confident and build a solid belief in your efficacy. You will learn from your great successes. Don’t let setbacks derail your progress. Always get up after failure and keep going!
  2. Seeing people who are similar to you succeed will increase your belief that you can do it too. Try to find people to push you or find resources that give you that experience. This visual blog will be one of those resources.
  3. People who are verbally convinced that they have the ability to accomplish tasks are more likely to mobilize and sustain greater effort. Good people around you (or online) can help you with this. If you are alone, try telling yourself “I can do this”. If other people can help you, you can do it!
  4. Reduce your stress response and change your perception of your emotional state. Many people think negatively about certain emotional states when they are struggling with a difficult task. But sometimes it is necessary. Think of an athlete: They can’t do it if they don’t sweat and feel tired after a hard workout. It is part of the job! So when you feel a negative emotional feeling while working on something creative, say to yourself: “Maybe I need that feeling. It is something positive.”

Source: Bandura, A. (2010). Self-Efficacy. In The Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology (pp. 1-3). American Cancer Society. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470479216.corpsy0836