What do you do when you run out of inspiration?
This is a tough one.
I think I'd describe it running out of steam rather than inspiration. I tend to work towards inspiring goals and do a lot of groundwork before I start the actual progress, so actually I work to boost inspiration before I begin, not when I ran out of it.
When I'm running out of steam, as I describe it, it feels a lot like running out of inspiration, because the flow, enthusiasm and inspiration are gone. Then creative process comes to a standstill, or the results are forced and clumsy.
Usually this is because the deadline is too close and I haven't had time to sleep enough. The best thing to do then is to eat a lot of high calorie foods, sleep as long as the body wants (without an alarm clock or another reason to wake up) and then finish the project in a sprint with caffeine and small snacks to keep the blood sugar levels consistent (I like grapes and ice tea). Usually I have to go with an attitude: "I will not rest until this is done", because I just spent 14 hours sleeping and the deadline was too close to begin with. If the deadline isn't close and project somewhat finished, I rarely run out of steam, because I can take care of sleeping as much as the body wants me to during the process (which I think is essential for sustaining creative processes).
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/29/94/05/29940511f378175cdf64dbbca4a7115d.jpg
Things that are not creative and don't need inspiration, can be done closer to personal limits, like exercises, recording and producing (if no improvisation or arrangement is not included), colouring already thought out images, checking for mistakes etc. When the process is just hard work, that requires the 99% that's perspiration rather than the 1% that's inspiration, I don't experience running out of steam, just normal tiredness that should be respected to maintain efficiency and avoiding burn out.
But with running out of creative steam the key factor is rest. Not just sleeping and eating: especially in longer projects mind needs to wind off in some other way, like a walk in the nature, immersion in a video game or meditation. Of course other requirements for inspiration must be met for the rest to be effective like enough reference and background material fed into the conscious and subconscious to act as building blocks and a mindset guided by enthusiasm and curiosity rather than fears and demands.
I think I'd describe it running out of steam rather than inspiration. I tend to work towards inspiring goals and do a lot of groundwork before I start the actual progress, so actually I work to boost inspiration before I begin, not when I ran out of it.
When I'm running out of steam, as I describe it, it feels a lot like running out of inspiration, because the flow, enthusiasm and inspiration are gone. Then creative process comes to a standstill, or the results are forced and clumsy.
Usually this is because the deadline is too close and I haven't had time to sleep enough. The best thing to do then is to eat a lot of high calorie foods, sleep as long as the body wants (without an alarm clock or another reason to wake up) and then finish the project in a sprint with caffeine and small snacks to keep the blood sugar levels consistent (I like grapes and ice tea). Usually I have to go with an attitude: "I will not rest until this is done", because I just spent 14 hours sleeping and the deadline was too close to begin with. If the deadline isn't close and project somewhat finished, I rarely run out of steam, because I can take care of sleeping as much as the body wants me to during the process (which I think is essential for sustaining creative processes).
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/29/94/05/29940511f378175cdf64dbbca4a7115d.jpg
Things that are not creative and don't need inspiration, can be done closer to personal limits, like exercises, recording and producing (if no improvisation or arrangement is not included), colouring already thought out images, checking for mistakes etc. When the process is just hard work, that requires the 99% that's perspiration rather than the 1% that's inspiration, I don't experience running out of steam, just normal tiredness that should be respected to maintain efficiency and avoiding burn out.
But with running out of creative steam the key factor is rest. Not just sleeping and eating: especially in longer projects mind needs to wind off in some other way, like a walk in the nature, immersion in a video game or meditation. Of course other requirements for inspiration must be met for the rest to be effective like enough reference and background material fed into the conscious and subconscious to act as building blocks and a mindset guided by enthusiasm and curiosity rather than fears and demands.