Well, it’s been over a month of quarantine. It’s a weird time to be alive, to say the least.
I work in the service industry and have been out of a job for a little while now. As soon as I heard about quarantine, I knew I would have to find
I started making to-do lists on day one. They started with little things that I could use as a way to structure my day and check something off a list. It gave me vision and direction so I wasn’t aimlessly wandering my apartment trying to figure out how to spend my time. But it didn’t take long before I found projects I was truly passionate about that helped me set goals and gave me something to work toward. I’ll get to all of that at a later time.
“It gave me vision and direction so I wasn’t aimlessly wandering my apartment trying to figure out how to spend my time.”
I realized that one thing that drives a lot of productivity is the space we’re in. Right now we don’t have much control, so we have to make our homes that space.
For instance, my little bedroom in my apartment has a few art pieces on either side of my mirror. Looking up and seeing those gives me a bit of inspiration for my day and makes motivating myself easier. My desk is next to a bay window in my living room with a window seat and lots of light streaming in. I keep my polaroid camera, a calendar, and some photos of my travels on the desk. It inspires and reminds me of some sweet adventures I’ve taken. My apartment as a whole is open and lets in a lot of light. There’s something about the atmosphere that makes me want to create, whether that’s in the form of writing, music, style, or photos.
Here are a couple helpful tips to help cultivate that creative space:
First, look at your social media. Look at the accounts you follow and the things that inspire you. Look at the photos you’ve liked on Instagram of apartments or offices and mimic that. Pay attention to the tones you’re drawn to. Do you like a busy atmosphere with stuff covering the walls or do you like more sterile and simplistic decor? For me, it’s fashion and art. I love simplicity and symmetry. I love bright warm earth tones and that fuels how I want my space to feel. Then step out and find decor that matches. In a time when there is so little that we can actually control, the space you create for yourself is something that you can.
“In a time when there is so little that we can actually control, the space you create for yourself is something that you can.”
Second, think about the places that you want to be. If traveling inspires you and you long for that, find some maps or blueprints that you can use as decor to inspire you. If it’s bright colors, find ways of incorporating that. Even throw up Bible verses or poetry on your walls or desk to bring your heart to life. Whatever it is that inspires you is what you want to surround yourself with, and that will look different for everyone.
Third, be mindful about the scenes you create. I’ve found that during quarantine, even just pouring myself a cup of hand-brewed coffee into my favorite marble mug or some homemade kombucha into a mason jar is a little highlight in my day. Walking over to my desk or kitchen table and opening my laptop looks a little happier when I have that added treat. Create scenes that look like art to you and you’ll find your life looking more beautiful.
“even just pouring myself a cup of hand-brewed coffee into my favorite marble mug or some homemade kombucha into a mason jar is a little highlight in my day.”
Fourth, be intentional to wear something that makes you feel bomb. Whether you are still working your normal job from home or trying to motivate yourself to hustle on your side projects, putting on an outfit every day that feels like you is everything. We all have those articles of clothing that we feel the best in; that just screams “you”. And that doesn’t mean it can’t be comfy. Find the look that makes you feel the best of yourself, and rock it even if no one is going to be seeing it. For me, that’s one of the most important parts to fuel continued creativity.
We are living in a time of weirdness and any way to avoid the mundane is crucial. Even when this is all over, eventually we’ll once again get caught in our busy schedules and find ourselves caught in the craziness of life. Cultivating a creative environment will always be a crucial part of living.
I hope my little tips could inspire and help you. I would love to hear the ways you’ve cultivated your creativity in your home in this season.