I tried something creative every day this week

In my essay last week, I asked many of you what you’d like me to discuss in greater detail, and many of you wanted something regarding how to nurture and feed creativity.

So, as words best written come from experience, I decided to challenge myself to do something creative every day for a week. If creativity is like a muscle, then I must admit that recently I have had neither the sneakers nor the sweat to show for it.

There seems to be a particular pressure we all put on ourselves to be creative in the right way. As if consistency or talent have anything to do with being creative. Maybe on social media it does, but what of ourselves? Does being creative in a messy, unpolished, confused way not feed us just as much as anything?

So, armed with old supplies and a creative eye, I began my journey of finding creative outlets beyond writing. First an hour of doodling things I found of Pinterest, then of making a bracelet with leftover materials I had from a Christmas present I’d made from my brother. No grand scale planning, no new supplies - just myself and a real desire to create.

Some of my creative tasks I’d start in the bus, continue at the office in between meetings. Some took time and planning - such as the free Vino cut workshop I attended at Copenhagen’s queer bookstore The Pond. Some made me happy, others left me indifferent. Regardless of any of it, I persisted.

What I noticed wasn’t necessarily a growth in talent, but rather a change in perspective. By giving myself no other alternative but to be creative, I did much more than I possibly could’ve imagined. I saved plenty of videos and tutorials of hobbies I knew nothing of, I made a list of resources and courses in my city, I actually signed up for a free workshop and got accepted. I finally allowed myself to spend money I have on an expensive camera I’ve been eyeing for over a year. Having no other choice gave me the choice. To be brave, to step outside my comfort zone. To fail, to succeed, to stagnate.

I started with no rules, then saw a possibility of engaging in a different art form every day and took it. I didn’t do it every day, allowed myself days off and started up again without feeling shame. I started posting my art boards on TikTok - something I’d felt too shy to do before. I discovered a new bookstore, followed new artists. I nurtured and fed my creativity.

I gave myself five days to be creative every day. Engaged fully in one thing one day and turned to something else the next. It may not be feasible every week, but there’s no harm in trying every month, or every other month.

So for everyone wanting to be more creative this spring and summer, please try this out and let me know how you find it!

Details on what I did every day:

day 1. drawing

day 2. making a bracelet

day 3. decorating/ threading my earphones

day 4. trying Linocut

day 5. making a video for an art board

Hidden under a paywall:

• links and resources I found and used for each day

• photos and scans of the process and result

• bonus day

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