6 Tips to Clear Mom Brain Fog and Jumpstart Your Creative Flow State
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I don’t know about you, but there are so many days that my never-ending to-do list takes up every square inch of space in my brain. What are we going to have for dinner this week? When will I go grocery shopping? What day is my son’s show and tell at school again? Crap, I need to reschedule that doctor’s appointment. IT’S. A. LOT.
It’s no wonder it takes us eight cups of coffee, that tranquil yet upbeat classical music station on Spotify, and the perfect amount of ambient lighting to get started. And by the time we finally get into that flow state? HI, IT’S ME! - Your kid wakes up from their nap.
Here are a few quick and easy tips to implement to get those creative juices flowing again so you can get $#@% done!
1. Take a break.
Do something relaxing that is just for you. It’s hard to feel creative when you’ve got little humans hanging at your feet and you’re surrounded by toys scattered around the living room floor. Before you rush to try to get everything tidied up, pause. Think about something you would enjoy doing if you had no other responsibilities.
For me, it’s a walk outside by myself with no agenda or time commitment in mind. Something about being in nature is so peaceful to me and I can allow my brain to wander. Usually, midway through my walk my mind has drifted back into work mode and I find myself using the voice memo app to dictate my thoughts to my sacred Google Doc as I scurry back home to my computer.
For you it might be a bath, window shopping, or heck even a nap. Whatever it is, enjoy it. Savor it. Let it relax and fulfill you. That calming atmosphere might be just what you needed to inspire you.
2. Brain dump.
If you haven’t noticed yet, I am a list girl. I can’t go to the grocery store without a list. I keep a list on my phone, in a google doc, and in a notebook on my dining room table. I’m sure I would remember all of the things I need to do without all of these lists but something about writing it all down helps me visualize what is actually urgent, what can wait, and what I can delegate.
I love keeping these steno pads around. They’re the perfect size to throw in your purse or diaper bag when you’re out so if the mood strikes you have something handy to write on. Of course your phone works too, but something about putting pen to paper really helps me let go of those thoughts that get me sidetracked.
I also love this planner from Pursuing HER Purpose. I use this for anything work related so I can see what my week ahead looks like. I write down any meetings I have with clients, project deadlines, and of course, what I hope to accomplish that day. I adore the simplicity of it. And I love that I can fill in the dates at the top to avoid wasting pages if I am taking some time off.
It doesn’t even have to be a list. Maybe you got in an argument with your partner and you can’t stop replaying the conversation in your head. That kind of stress can be absolutely crippling to your artistic mind. In order to help you let it go, write down your analysis of what happened or what you wish you would have said differently. (And then shred it into a million pieces because chances are you will change your tune in the next 24 hours and no one needs to see that).
3. Turn off distractions.
For me, this means pressing mute on my tiny humans’ remote control. JUST KIDDING, I wish that was a thing. But I definitely do my best work when they are asleep, either at nap time or night time.
The other biggest distraction for me is my phone. Email, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, the Weather Channel App… there is just so much our phones can do. It can be a huge time suck if we aren’t conscious of how much time we are spending on them. Now maybe mindlessly scrolling social media is your break. That works too. Just make sure you have a clear idea about how much time you want to spend consuming content so you don’t get sucked into the internet’s never-ending abyss.
4. Do something creative that’s not related to work.
This may fall under the same category as taking a break for you. Perfect, you can kill two birds with one stone. When I want to do something creative but lack the mental capacity to handle much, I crochet. Call me a grandma (all my friends do), but something about getting into a rhythm with the needle and yarn and making something I can actually hold in my hand is so cathartic. To top it off, I usually watch a show or movie I’ve watched a million times just to take shut my brain down even more *cue Office reruns*.
Do you like to paint, write, draw, dance, sing? Do that! Heck, they even make adult coloring books for people like us! The key is to make sure your creative project has nothing to do with work so that you can fully enjoy it and relax in it.
Get your mind off of work by diving into a creative that is just for you.
5. Take in other people’s creative work.
If you’re not exactly the creative type to begin with, try taking in other people’s creative works. Read a book (or listen to it on Audible). Binge Taylor Swift’s latest album on Spotify (my fave). Listen to a podcast (my second fave). Let other people be your source of inspiration. Figure out what works best to be your muse.
I just started reading It’s Okay to Laugh: (Crying is Cool Too) by Nora McInerny and man, it moved me. She has such a unique way of writing that is utterly depressing yet hilarious and she talks about topics others consider taboo. I have the rest of her books in my Amazon shopping cart and can’t wait to read more.
You become what you surround yourself with, so enveloping yourself in other creators’ passions can give you that needed boost of energy to want to create for yourself again.
6. Just START!
When I have a case of the writer’s block, I pull out my Five-Year Journal and jot down whatever comes to mind. Usually it’s whatever I did that day but sometimes it becomes deeper and more purposeful. The simple act of starting a task gets your brain in motion and by the time you’re a few lines in you might feel your creative energy renewed. This journal is great if you want to get into the habit of writing more because it gives you space for 5 lines a day to write about. I think this practice is such a cute idea to do as a parent with young kids because it really allows you to cherish those little moments you have with them in everyday life. I hope to one day read back these memories with my grown children and relive all of the good times we had together.
I hope these actionable steps help you say goodbye to mom brain and hello to a renewed, creative you. I’d love to hear what steps work for you to get into that flow state. Below are some links to helpful, creative resources mentioned in this post.
Happy creating!