31 Ways to Re-Inspire the Muse (Part One)

Sometimes, we push ourselves too much. If you insist on doing this frequently, at some point you will reach burnout. This is bad news for your muse.

But fret not. If you're stuck, this list should help your creative self get back on the right track.

1. Listen to music -- have it blasting out, or as a background murmur. Discover something new, or create a playlist of old favourite songs. Depending on what you're trying to achieve, different types of music can have varying effects on the average person. For example, classical music is said to improve concentration, whereas upbeat tunes will more likely energise and boost your mood. And new music can inspire you in wonderful new ways.
2. Go for a walk -- physical activity will get your blood pumping and send oxygenated blood straight to your brain. This will make you feel more awake, as well as help get the creative juices flowing once more. Really take a look at your surroundings. Are they peaceful and serene? Or busy and full of life? Either way, allow them to invigorate and inspire you.
3. Read something -- when you've squeezed every last drop of creativity from your being, you can always rely on words to help you put it all back. Reading a good book will often inspire the muse. Fantasy, horror, romance; mix things up by reading outside of your preferred genre. This will open your mind to new experiences, which may even inspire future projects. While the same can be said for non-fiction too, it's not just books that have this effect. Magazine articles, newspapers and blog posts are just as good for filling up that creative well.
4. Take lots of pictures -- you can do this on a camera or a phone. Whether you have a good eye for photos or not, taking pictures can be a lot of fun. From rolling landscapes to odd looking objects, the right picture can be worth a thousand words. Some of them may even have their own stories. Which leads me to my next point...
5. Make a Pinterest board -- Pinterest is a great place to be inspired. If you can think of it, you can guarantee that there will be board after board of pinned images dedicated to your relevant search, just waiting to be discovered. As a writer, I use this fantastic website to inspire my stories when I need that extra creative nudge. That alien landscape I have in mind for my fantasy book? By typing in a few relevant keywords, I have pages and pages of beautiful, inspiring pictures to search through.
6. Take a yoga class -- yoga is an ancient form of exercise that, through breath control, meditation and body posture, stills the mind and boosts mental and physical wellbeing. While being a beneficial activity all by itself, yoga can also provide  extra insight and help you tap into areas of your subconscious you otherwise wouldn't have access to.
7. Eat some exotic foods -- it's good to experience new things every once in a while, especially when it comes to food. This means occasionally breaking away from what you've come to see as safe, everyday meal choices. There's a whole world of flavours out there. Why not be adventurous and choose something new?
8. See an epic movie -- epic films can inspire in the same way as a good book. But whereas a book requires the reader to use their imagination, a film has already done all the work for you. Visually pleasing, epic movies are exciting and a treat for the exhausted mind. As someone who works with story plot, I like to break down a good film's plot and analyse it. Why does it work? Is there anything that doesn't work? What would I change if given the chance?
9. Start a blog/ post a motivational blog post -- if you don't already keep a blog, then maybe it's time to start one! Blogging challenges you to regularly pump your thoughts and opinions into one coherent piece of writing for others to read. This may sound a lot like hard work and, to be honest, it often is. But when you put your heart and soul into a blog post, not only will it feel great to have your words out there but you may even end up inspiring other people to do the same.
10. Empty your thoughts into a journal/diary -- if you're not keen on the idea of publicising your private thoughts and musings on an online blog, then this may be more your cup of tea. Not only is it healthy to empty your mind every once and a while, but it's also a good way of recording important thoughts that take up too much space. You can then go back and review them any time you want. ​

Like this post? Look out for the second part next week.
Give me your thoughts in the comments below!