The Importance of Having a Creative Outlet

There was a time for the majority of us when we were twiddling our thumbs in an elementary school classroom, itching for the bell to ring so that we could get outside for recess. It was either 15 minutes or 30 minutes of uninterrupted time to play. Whether it was to play four square, “house”, trade Pokémon cards, build snow forts, or just hang out with the fun of your own imagination.

Somewhere along the way, we grew up. We no longer have a pre-scheduled “recess” in our work day to look forward to. Our responsibilities surpass our free time, and we forget how to tune into our imaginations. Having to focus and stress about the demands of everyday life makes us more realistic and less imaginative as we need to be conscious of what we are doing, how we’re using our time, and so on.

If you were to ask a child to create something, it is typically full of colour, random ideas, or anything that comes to their mind, because to them, the sky’s the limit. No barriers or judgemental blocks are stopping them from creating. Sadly, this is not the same when you ask an adult. Often, reality kicks in, and with that follows self-doubt, fear of failure, and judgment. It is harder to tune into our imagination as we grow up, however, there are ways to find it again.

To combat these imagination barriers, it is important for adults to carve out time (consistently) to enjoy a creative outlet.

In my own experience, while attending graduate school full-time, a lot of my time and energy is consumed. Sometimes, without even realizing it, it becomes routine to live each day to be productive and to get things done. When I do have the urge to create something, I deem it as less important and push it aside.

Since I started my film account, this has become a creative outlet that I can go on each day, find ways to be creative with my work, feel inspired by others and so on. I have started to feel more imaginative because now I am giving myself time to be creative, prioritizing it daily, and letting myself form ideas, plan, and eventually create without fear of failure or judgment.

Through this account, I have followed Venice Photo Club from the start, and I think this team has done a great job at giving individuals an inviting space to create. Planning mixers, meet-ups, and photo walks around parts of Venice Beach creates space for adult photographers to gather, meet others, feel less intimidated to create, and be creative with each other. I really love the photo walk concepts and I will go on my own solo ones at home because it is a great way to wander in a new or familiar area, finding art in ordinary things that you might pass by each day without noticing.

Creative outlets can look like any of the following or even more things beyond this list:

★ Taking yourself on a date to explore your city, get a coffee or treat, sit, write for an hour or two, and find joy in observing your neighbourhood and finding inspiration from what you see.

★ Planning a dinner party & paint night with your friends. But there is no guide to follow; everyone has the necessary supplies, but the only rule is to have something on the canvas by the end of the night (whether it is spectacular or not, you’re having fun!).

★ Bringing a mini sketchbook or notepad in your daily bag/purse so that whenever you are out, you can take a moment to sit and sketch things that stand out to you.

★ Carve out time in the morning or evening to sit for 30 minutes (or even 15!) to doodle, write, read, edit content, plan something creative, whatever it may be -- as long as you are blocking out a consistent portion of time in your day to sit, listen to music, and be creative without interruption or barriers.

★ Riding a bike for 30 minutes to get fresh air, clear your mind, and create space for any ideas or to be in the moment.

★ Bringing a camera or camcorder with you so that you can make a little video diary of your daily life. Whether you share these online or keep them to yourself, it will allow you to shift your perspective and be more creative with what you think is a “good shot” or moment to document.

Try one of these, and hopefully, you will begin to feel more inspired, creative, and imaginative than you may have been previously.