Two summers ago, I was in a discouraging place as far as blogging goes. I had just graduated college and my mom and I went up to Washington to visit family. We stayed in a yurt and it seemed like the perfect place to be inspired creatively, but I spent most of the week staring at the blank pages of my notebook. I wanted to add DIY projects to my blog but I didn’t know where to begin. Also, I felt like all of my ideas were too unoriginal or just plain boring. I remember feeling so sad and frustrated.The next few months were crazy as most after-college months are (or is that just me?). I’m pretty sure I had my quarter-life crisis early, so I’ll just skip over that season. ;) Eventually the ideas did start flowing. I went to the Whole Foods cafe one day that winter and filled a notebook full of potential blog post topics. I wrote down everything that came to mind and the ideas ended up building off of one another. Here are my favorite ways to stay inspired: 1. Keep a notebook with you all of the time! All the time. Even if it’s just on your phone. Make sure you can easily write down random ideas. Lots of my creative thoughts come to me right before I fall asleep. I have found that if I don’t write them down, there’s no way I will remember them in the morning. So I always sleepily grab my phone and make some notes of whatever comes to mind. It’s worth it. 2. Pin. A lot of people say things like, “Oh Pinterest, I waste so much time there!” However, I think it can be used as a very helpful resource. I have begun to discipline myself to go on Pinterest and pin a little every day. It’s funny to say that I’m making myself look at pretty things each day. Oh no, NOT pretty things! Haha. There is definitely a way to stay focused and productive while on Pinterest.

a) Only pin things that you genuinely love/are willing to try.

b) Organize your pins and refer back to them. Try thinking of it as “thoughtfully curating” rather than just gathering a hodgepodge of pictures.

c) Make a private “for the blog” board. I have one and I pin things that I want to use for my future blog topics. It helps me remember what posts I need to complete.

3. If you think of a blog post idea that has already been done, keep it on your list. It’s one thing to see a DIY project on a blog and replicate it exactly, and it’s another thing to think of the project before seeing it all over Pinterest. Sure it might be a bummer to find out that so many people have had the same idea as you, but remember that your perspective is original and unique. Think of ways you can modify the DIY project, recipe, etc. to make it your own. I experienced this while working on my Knob Wine Cork DIY. I realized that so many people had done it before, but I’m glad I decided to go through with it and figure it out in my own way. I talk to customers at work about this project almost every week and I have a few tips and pointers that worked well for me (that maybe weren’t listed in other tutorials). You never know what people can learn from your point of view. 4. Seek beauty in every day life when you’re away from your computer or creative workspace. I work in retail and sometimes I have to scribble my ideas down quickly on the back of receipt paper. I’ll be inspired by the pattern on a skirt or a layout in a magazine we sell. Getting ideas from places other than blogs, Pinterest, etc. results in more original ideas. Inspiration is everywhere if you look for it. Hint: it helps to go outside. :)Hope these ideas help you the way they have helped me! How do you usually go about seeking inspiration?