Being an artist might not seem like a stressful job to those who have never stretched their creative muscles before, but as the saying goes, the line between genius and insanity is a fine one indeed. Not only this, but the anxiety involved with having your creations examined and often torn apart by others on the various faceless social media platforms is something that can really dig deep into your soul.
In order to alleviate the many pressures upon their shoulders (including the dirty but very real need to make money to support such artistry), measures are required to ensure heads remain level and the creative process remains undisturbed.
The Use Of Certain Intoxicants To Revile Stress And Decompress
Now, we need to preface this initial point by saying that these methods might not be for everyone, but for those who enjoy them, they can be a real boon. Some kinds of drugs are well-known to relieve anxiety and open up new and exciting ways of thinking that are impossible to generate without.
Cannabis is a fan favorite for many, and depending on the strain you choose, it can enable you to get some needed sleep to recharge your batteries or spark an interesting kindle of creativity that helps you think of new things to create. As long as you are responsible and legal in your pursuit of certain techniques, you should be able to reset your mind and put yourself in a position more conducive to the artistic process.
Nature Walks To Find New Inspiration Among The Natural World
Nature is usually considered a panacea for a vast range of ailments ranging from the e physical to the existential. By taking a walk in the marvels of the natural world, artists can take time out of their lives to appreciate the world around them. Like any other job, art can become all-encompassing. If you predominantly create your art in larger urban areas, you can fall victim to the same ailments that afflict those who work in a cubicle behind a desk…the disaster of conformity, which ultimately leads to a lack of imagination that will eventually scupper your career.
Nature can strip away all of the malaise, instill within you a new sense of what’s possible, and provide a massive new set of ideas that you might choose to run with and create something incredible.
Mediation Can Help To Remove The Toxicity And Bring In Focus
Artists can be fragile, and rightly so, especially when it comes to creations to which they have devoted a part of their soul. However, the world has a habit of taking all that is good and nice and telling you how rubbish you are and that you ought to leave your hopes and dreams behind you.
By choosing to add meditation to their list of relaxation strategies, it is possible to remove this toxicity and regain the sort of focus and clarity of mind that is vital to the artistic process. Meditation can involve highly complex processes or a few minutes of the day debited to deep breathing. However you go about it, it is fine as long as it’s done.
Journaling Thoughts And Emotions Frees Up The Mind
Journaling is perhaps the one thread that connects most artists throughout history, and if you look back on all of the greats, it is highly likely that they have journals and journals of musings and thoughts that have popped up during their lives.
The reason is that putting pen to paper and pouring your thoughts into a diary can be a highly cathartic way of releasing a lot of negativity and helping you see which direction of travel is perhaps best to take. While you can journal using a digital device, there is nothing quite like the feeling of physical writing that clears out the pores of the mind.
How Great Musicians Found Refuge in Their Art
Art is often used by those who create it to unwind when the going gets tough. Music, in particular, has a great way of ensuring that you can leave your woes behind and focus on something beautiful. While heading to an art gallery is also a great option, music is so accessible that it is often the best option.
Many artists turn to music not just as a career but as a form of therapy. David Bowie, for instance, found solace in songwriting during his Berlin years, using his creative output to escape personal struggles and artistic stagnation. His work on Low and Heroes was deeply influenced by his attempt to rebuild himself away from the chaos of fame.
Kurt Cobain frequently mentioned how listening to bands like The Vaselines and The Melvins helped him cope with depression and pressure from the music industry. His love for music was both a source of catharsis and a way to momentarily detach from personal struggles.
Similarly, Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails has spoken about how creating music has helped him deal with anxiety and addiction, providing a structured and expressive outlet. His album The Fragile was largely shaped by his need to process difficult emotions through sound.
Even outside rock and alternative music, artists like John Coltrane turned to improvisation as a form of spiritual expression, using jazz as a means of self-discovery and emotional healing. His work on A Love Supreme was as much about personal redemption as it was about pushing musical boundaries.
It can be tough being an artist when you are typically surrounded by others who, while they may have great intentions, cannot fully comprehend what it takes to live this life. By taking the time to connect with those who have similar experiences to you, it is possible to share burdens in a safe space and come up with solutions that can help everyone.
Artistry comes in many forms, but all those who practice it are prone to burnout and stress. Many of the ideas in this post are used by artists to unwind and result in elevated levels of happiness and an increase in creative thought.
