thoughts

this is my life. i get 1. i’m not settling for less.

Why hello there, my dearest readers!

I realized I’ve fallen off the map in recent months.  Life came at me in full force.  I’m talking decisions, changes, and new beginnings.

I’m so excited to say that I started a new position as a designer for the very talented Michelle Tumlin in Austin!  Since I have the hardest time with change, it’s been an adjustment, but also such a giant step in the right direction for my career.

I try to keep the blog a venue for positivity and inspiration, so really only close friends and family know the struggles that were going on with my previous job.  What started out as small frustrations festered into resentment I was carrying around into my life outside of work.  Each day I was coming home from my job extremely frustrated and exhausted, feeling directionless and somewhat used.   I find this so ironic.  Because in a creative field of work, getting burned out totally robs you of your gift to provide unique and interesting solutions…. and well, without those, what can you offer?

If you know me at all, you know I’ve always been a firm believer in setting your standards high and going for your dreams.  I felt it came to a point that I was still preaching this to others, but then wasn’t living it myself.  I had been continuing to get up and go to my job, but I  wasn’t even sure why.  The problem is when you put up with crap everyday, you get comfortable with it.    It lowers your self-esteem and your expectations.  You start to believe that you will not find better and/or don’t deserve better.  And let me tell you friends, this is TOXIC.  Not only to your career, but it starts to effect the rest of  your life too.  Deep down, you know what’s right for you.  If it’s not right – it’s not right.  Never just settle.  In a relationship. In a job.  In life.   If someone does not support you, like you for who you are, or appreciate your talents, then LEAVE.  It took me a long time to realize this in this situation.  I realized I wasn’t being true to myself.  I was shutting out my inner voice.  Don’t shut out yours.

steve jobs quote

Today begins my 4th week at the new job, and I’m so pleased to say I feel like I have my life back.  I have more energy, can think and formulate thoughts better (on most occasions!!), and wake up each day with things to look forward to.   I can’t wait to make this blog as great as I always knew it could be!  I’m going to be bringing back segments on the regular (Color Story, Design Obsession, Thursday Thoughts, etc) and also throwing a couple new ones in there as well!  This isn’t just my creative outlet, it’s yours too.

I’m glad to be back.  If you’re reading this right now then you haven’t given up on me yet!!! Hahaha.  Thanks for being a loyal supporter of the blog!  Now we have a lot to catch up on….. 😉

12 ways to recharge your creativity

12 ways to recharge your creativity - Vim & Vintage Blog

Do you find yourself drained, uninspired, or unable to think? If you said yes, you’re not the only one.  I’ve been in Strugglesville in terms of my creativity for some time now.   I feel burned out, like the spark just isn’t there to create anything.  This is very strange for the girl who used to sketch all through class, scrapbook and craft for fun, and spend hours writing.  In light of my recent creativity crisis, I identified what I feel like has been blocking my creative flow.  Things I took for granted that seemed to have slipped away quietly through the years.  So here’s 12 ways to get back that creative spark.

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1 . Walk away.  Get away from your desk right now (okay, well after you’re done reading this 🙂 ).   Creative types are always thinking, so even taking 5-10 minutes to yourself will refresh your mind and help prevent a burnout.

2. Go out into the wild.  Experience nature. Do something spontaneous.  Live in the moment.

Emerald Lake, Canada

3.  Watch a funny movie.  You probably are not laughing nearly enough.  Smiling and laughing release feel-good endorphins into our system.  These free us, and allow thoughts to free flow too. I heard some crazy stat the other day – how an average kid smiles over 400 times a day, but adults only smile about 20 times a day! I think we can learn something from the kiddos.

4. Sketch.  You don’t have to be an artist. But getting those pretty pictures in your head on paper will help you to visualize your goals and bring those ideas to life.

5. Get lots of sleep.  How do you expect your brain to come up with amazing things if it is overworked and tired?  Try getting at least 7 hours of shut-eye every night.

sleeping puppy

6. Surround yourself with people who inspire you. There’s a study out that says you are a mixture of the 5 people you spend the most time with.  Spending time with great people will bring out the best in you. If you can’t spend time with someone who motivates you, create a list of what inspires you about them, and try incorporate those traits and values in your life.

7. Reflect and remember.  Devote some time just to stop and think.  Take the pressure off yourself and clear your head.  This will allow thoughts to just come to you.  Analyze what worked for you and what didn’t.  Remember times when you succeeded and failed, and learn from both.

8. Try something new.  New experiences bring on unique reactions.  Stimulate your emotions.

when was the last time you did something for the first time

9. Do something you absolutely love.  Whether its listening to music, reading a book, playing on Pinterest, or going to your favorite restaurant.  You must treat yourself every once in a while to keep your spirits up.  If you are neglecting yourself, you will become miserable.  And an unhappy mind is a sure-fire way to kill creativity.

10.  Travel.  A flight halfway around the world would be perfect, but if that’s not possible, even hitting the road to explore a neighboring town could provide you with new insight and inspiration.

vintage suitcases

11.  Keep track of your ideas and thoughts. Keep a journal.  It could just be a simple notebook. Log your dreams, ideas, goals, and feelings.

12. Believe.  In yourself. In your work.  In where you’re headed.  Attitude is everything.  You must believe you can create if you truly want to be creative.

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I want to know – what do you do to help spark your creativity when you’re caught in a creative rut??