Creativity in Crisis

When we’re going through a major crisis, like we are right now with COVID-19, it can be surprisingly difficult to be creative.

We tend to romanticize creativity and think that when we’re struggling, we’ll pour all of the pain and fear and despair out into a song and it will be this wonderful cathartic release that will help to heal the collective pain of the world. 

But the reality is that we often feel creatively and emotionally stunted during hard times. We are tired. We feel lethargic. We sleep more than normal. We are too anxious to even consider writing a song. We are too depressed to even speak the words. 

That’s completely normal.

And it doesn’t mean that you are missing out on an opportunity to write something meaningful about this profound time in your life. There will be a time to process it creatively, and it doesn’t have to be right now. 

Of course if a song spills out of you, then roll with it! But don’t try to force it right now. When we’re in the thick of a crisis, often what we need is some space to grieve and to just feel our feelings. We need the freedom to process it however we need to process it and for however long it takes. Usually, once we’ve had a little distance from it we can write about it with a bit of perspective that only time can provide. 

But there’s another side to this. And that’s the fact that creativity is healing. 

Studies show that creativity helps us deal with anxiety, stress, depression & trauma. It also boosts our immune system! So if we can, we do want to find a place for creativity in our lives during trying times without adding additional pressure and stress.

Remember that creativity doesn’t alway mean having to write a song. There are a myriad of ways to feed your creativity; we want to highlight a few things you can do that will help you to express yourself and heal yourself. 

Here are 5 ways to be Creative in a Crisis:

1. Journal. Doing this can help you release some of the difficult feelings you’re processing. You can just sit and write a stream-of-consciousness ramble, or you can list details of your day in a more literal and factual way. It can be two sentences or it can be 5 pages long. Whatever feels right to you in the moment is right!

2. Just play and sing. Pick up your guitar or sit down at your piano and play a song that you know like the back of your hand. Feel what it feels like to make music and let the vibrations fill your body. You can also learn a new song, just for fun. If you enjoy going down a rabbit hole of shedding, you can challenge yourself with something difficult. Or you can just pick something simple and enjoy the ease of it. The important thing is just to do whatever makes you feel good and to do it with no agenda other than for your own enjoyment. 

Fun fact: the act of singing or humming naturally stimulates the vagus nerve, which is a key part of your parasympathetic “rest and digest” nervous system. It’s literally good for your physical and mental health! The vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve that runs from the brain to your abdomen (and to your vocal cords along that path). It helps regulate many of your body’s important functions, and also influences your breathing, digestive function and heart rate, all of which can have a huge impact on your mental health. 

3. Save your ideas for later. If you’re having the thought, “I really want to write a song about x, but I just can’t bring myself to do it right now,” jot down your initial idea and then tuck it away for safekeeping. Make a little voice memo and agree to come back to it in a week, a month or 6 months. This could be a great time to become a collector of fragments, song seeds, titles and lyrics that you can tap into when you’re ready.

4. Write something light. Don’t write about what’s going on. Write a silly song. Write a children’s song. Write a sexy pop song or jolly holiday song. You’ll get all the benefits of creativity, without any of the pressure. Plus, it can be a great opportunity to take your mind off of the hardships you’re going through and bring a much-needed smile to your face. 

5. Explore different creative outlets. Have you always wanted to paint? Get a set of watercolors and give it a go! Do you love to cook? Bake some cookies or develop a new recipe! There are endless ways to be creative, and trying out a new outlet can inspire you, lift your spirits and give your immune system a boost.

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And if you don’t feel like doing any of these things, that’s ok too! Songwriting and creativity will always be there for you when the time is right. The most important thing is to take good care of yourself. Listen to your body, your mind and your heart. We all process stress in different ways, and as long as you are not doing something detrimental to you or the people around you, there is no wrong way to process it. 

Happy writing (or not writing),
Allie & Bess