A creative rut is when you feel a lack of inspiration for being creative. This can be any type of creativity, from art and writing to using your imagination and thinking outside the box at work and in your personal life. This type of slump can really affect your confidence, your joy, and how you feel overall. Here are some signs that you might be stuck in a creative rut.
You Can’t Stop Dreaming About Getting Away
This is something everyone does occasionally, as it can feel good to fantasize about being in another place, enjoying the sights, and spending quality time with loved ones. However, people who are creative ruts tend to think about this much more than others, and it isn’t just vacation, but completely getting away from your current environment for good. If you think about just getting in your car and driving, you might be feeling a little desperate for a change. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing! It is just a sign that it is time to work on why you feel so stuck right now.
There Isn’t Much You Look Forward to
If when you have a few minutes alone, you don’t really look forward to anything, you can’t see your goals in sight, and you have no passion for any of your hobbies, it is another sign of being in a creative rut. This often is from feeling stuck and uninspired. You don’t find much joy in what you are doing now, and there is nothing you are working toward. When you don’t have much to look forward to, it makes your actions right now very difficult to deal with.
You Feel Like Everything is Forced
Do you feel like everything you do is completely forced? From getting up in the morning to go to work to participate in social events, if you don’t feel like anything is fulfilling, then it is a big sign of being in a creative slump and feeling stuck in your life. This is another good reason to reinvent yourself, learn something new, and find other things you might be more interested in.
Your Accomplishments Aren’t Fulfilling
Lastly, another way you might not be completely fulfilled is when you get something done. If you just crossed off something big on your to-do list, but you feel no different than you did before, you might be in a rut right now.
