Fabulous Advice!!

I found this today and wanted to share:  (thanks to Tonya Gibbs @ http://www.psychomoms.com)

Finding Your Creative Mojo

This time of year after the rush of Christmas, I'm so overwhelmed, over stimulated, and sometimes find it difficult to focus. I'm inspired, but can't figure out where to start, or my room looks like a hurricane blew through it. I absolutely lose my creative mojo thanks to ADHD and clutter. I have all these awesome projects that I want to do, but can't focus enough to work on any one thing. So this is how I get my mojo back.

1. Participate in a challenge. A good old fashioned challenge will make you jump start those creative juices. Choose something simple like a tag, atc or charm swap. Most challenges come with specific requirements so they help you focus, and the act of doing something creative helps. This year I started Jan. 1 with Marion Smith's 31 days, 31 videos, 31 goals challenge. In this challenge you can do anything, doesn't have to be creative just set a daily goal, follow through with it, and video tape the process. Some are doing weight loss, cleaning, finishing old projects, and learning new techniques. You can follow my 31 Day Challenge on my YouTube channel.
   
   
2. Clean. When I say my space looked like a natural disaster, I'm not kidding. Look at my goal video on Day 1. You can't get creative mojo from the pile-it system. Cleaning also helps you rediscover hidden treasures. When I shop, I only buy things that strike an emotion in me. When I clean, I find those projects and the creativity begins to flow. Don't try to tackle the room all in one day, make small daily goals, and tackle only that day's goals. You will feel better when you are done, and you won't be overwhelmed. During this process, evaluate your workflow. Ask yourself, "is my work surface cluttered with things that can be put in tubs, does my furniture make sense for my space, is my lighting or wall paint color too harsh? Follow my organization process in the videos from Days 1 - 7.
   
   
3. Finish incomplete projects. I really like this one, because it is usually a no brainer process, and you feel like you have accomplished something in a short period of time.
   
   
4. Visit blogs and watch YouTube videos January and July the Craft and Hobby Association has their seasonal trade shows, and all your favorite scrappy companies are getting their latest and greatest collections together. So their sites are chopped full of yumminess. Local scrapbook stores are purging products to get ready for their new arrivals, so they generally have great projects on their sites. Scrappy people are just starting to get their winter collections and they are creating like mad. So their blogs and YouTube channels are hopping with great ideas.
   
   
5. Take a creative class or attend a crop Nothing gets the creative juices flowing like learning something new. If you have never stamped, take a stamping class. Never made a charm, visit a bead store and take a class. Never used dimensional art, GO FOR IT!. Just get out there. Classes at local scrapbook stores are generally expensive. But my experience is that they include loads of product, and it is usually a lot more than you need for the project. Plus the relationships you build with the instructor and other class mates are more valuable than the cost of the class. Crops are a great way to get ideas. I find that I never create anything at a crop I spend a lot of time socializing and laughing. But I walk away refreshed. 

I'd like to think that our yearly gathering would do alot to help - especially to satisfy #5 :)