Creatives! How Do You Get Out Of A Lull
CreativesAtWork Lunchtime Session:
It’s Monday, and your calendar for the week is empty. You have no projects to work on, which could be a welcome change, except this also happened last week. And the week before. And for the five weeks before that.
Or, you just spent the last 3 hours cleaning up your house instead of working on the client submission due next week. You’re feeling stumped, like you feel more energised from KonMari-ing your wardrobe than sitting at your desk doing some editing.
Either way, welcome to the lull period. Whether your pipeline of projects is dry, or you struggle to create – read on because we have some tips to get you out of your lull. These wise tips were gathered during our lunchtime seminar on 6 April 2021, when we spoke to 10 creatives to find out how they approach their lull periods. Here are their practical answers.
1. Create something every day
Lull periods are a great time to work on your passion projects, where you have free rein to be creative. Joline Lim, a visual designer, challenged herself to create an artwork every day during her lull period last July to September. She held no expectations on the outcomes, and ended up taking the better pieces to eventually land new jobs.
Drew Pan, an independent game developer, said that it’s important for creatives to always have a project pitch ready in case opportunity comes knocking on your door. He spent 6 years pitching his passion project Teenage Textbook – The Series (now airing on MediaCorp Channel 5) before he met a party who was interested. Lull periods are therefore a great time to work on project proposals.
2. Try new things
Pursue a hobby or things that you’ve always wanted to do. Ong Kah Jing “OKJ”, a documentary storyteller, typically looks forward to lull periods. Last year during his lull period, he dabbled into scriptwriting an animated story. Coincidentally, the new techniques he learnt has come in useful for his subsequent documentary film making projects.
Alternatively, keep yourself inspired by getting out of the house and going for hikes. Photographer and producer Olivia Kwok said lull periods are a great time to change up your routine, and do things like waking up at 4.30am to catch the sunrise in a new spot. Taking this time to exercise will also help work out your mind and body, which is never a bad thing.
3. Connect with other people.
During lull periods, make an effort to connect with other people. Whether it’s spending more time with your children, significant other, family members, good friends, or clients – you never know what inspiration or opportunity might come out of your conversations with them, said Joe Chan, a freelance art director, graphic designer and illustrator.
You could also use this window to make cold calls and send out cold e-mails to canvas for new project opportunities.
4. Keep your mindset positive
Lull periods can be difficult to weather, especially when you have a family to feed. But it’s really important to take care of your mental health and keep a positive mindset. Try to appreciate the fact that you get to rest. And as shared by April Koh, a freelance producer and production manager, whatever gets you down, know that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Be confident that if you have been producing good work, you won’t have trouble scoring new jobs in the future.
5. Organise your workspace and catch up on paperwork and networking events
When you’re busy producing works and chasing deadlines, you may not have the time to organise your workspace. Quiet periods are when Tee Ewe Shen, freelance video editor, organises his hard disks to feel more prepared for the next grind. This activity also helps him reflect on what worked for him during his last project, and what didn’t.
If you have been neglecting some paperwork and turning down networking opportunities, lull periods are also a great time to pursue them.
6. Take stock of where you are
This could be a great time to reflect on your short-term and long-term goals, and to set smart targets for yourself. All big things are made up of small things. M Drako, a musician and a game developer, is a fan of using the Pomodoro technique to get things done. She said that doing something is better than doing nothing.
If you find yourself procrastinating, Carynn Tey, head of marketing at Doerscircle, suggested taking a step back to reframe what you’re doing. Procrastination isn’t a sign that you’re being lazy, but that you’re struggling with the emotional side of a job. Look into how you could make work “suck less”.
7. Lean into the lull
Instead of resisting lull periods, embrace them! Professional emcee Audrey Lim reminded us to understand that we’re not machines and that we need rest. Schedule a break for yourself where you don’t feel like you’re missing out on job opportunities. And also take the time to hone your instrument and yourself, so that you can be better at your craft. Trust that you’re coming back, and that you’ve got a plan.
Conclusion
Experiencing lulls is, for the majority of creatives, part and parcel of our professional lives. Expect them, and instead of resisting them, find different ways to celebrate them. Also take the opportunity to reach out to others so that you can reconnect with your loved ones, meet new business contacts, and establish peer support when your future seems uncertain. You’ve got this!
Catch the replay of the session on CreativesAtWork FB or down below. Follow our Facebook page for updates on the next lunchtime seminar.
Experiencing a lull? Find more helpful tips on how to thrive as a freelancer in our book, The Business Of Freelancing: How To Thrive As A Freelancer.
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