When Inspiration Keeps You From Creating
Have you ever been so inspired by endless projects that you never actually start anything? Do you have over 500 inspiration posts on Pinterest? Do you look at patterns, imagine the perfect fabric for it, look up tutorials for new techniques… but never buy the pattern or fabric, therefore never getting started?
Here’s what to do when you have all the inspiration, but none of the motivation.
The procrastination of endless inspiration can come in many different forms:
- Starting a new project every time you get inspired and ending up with a huge WIP pile
- Waiting for the perfect idea and never getting started
- Changing your mind constantly which leads to ALMOST getting started… but then never actually following through
- Collecting supplies (specialized rulers, fabric, patterns, etc) but never actually using them
- Using inspiration as avoidance (constant scrolling and saving) or using it as inspiration overload (I WANT TO DO ALLLLLL THESE PROJECTS).
Every new idea feels exciting because your current project has reached the boring middle. Starting a project is exciting; finishing one is often not as exciting. Perfectionism gets disguised as inspiration because keeping yourself in the “idea phase” feels safe.
When is inspiration genuinely useful? Ask yourself: Am I gathering information I actually need, or am I just avoiding making a decision? Sometimes collecting references, experimenting, and letting ideas sit is exactly what you need. Other times, it’s just an excuse.
Give yourself an inspiration limit:
- Save 10 examples
- Choose 3 colors
- Pick a pattern
Instead of endlessly consuming, set yourself some specific goals.
Make a parking lot for ideas: Write down all the ideas you get inspired by and just let it sit. When you find yourself wanting to start a new project with no idea where to start, look at your list and pick one from there! ONE! If you look at your list and find something you are no longer interested in, cross it off and say HASTA LA VISTA IDEA!
At the end of the day, inspiration is supposed to help you make things, not keep you from making them.
You don’t need to find the perfect project. You just need to pick one and start. Give yourself permission to make something imperfect, change your mind later, and, most importantly, finish something.
So go look at that inspiration board, pick ONE project, and actually make it. Your Pinterest board will still be there when you’re done.
What project have you been “inspired” by forever but still haven’t started? Tell me in the comments!