I think what people hated most about the Covid-19 pandemic is that it has limited our ability to pursue new experiences. Restlessness is one of our main superpowers because it pushes us to get creative when we become bored. I think it played an incredible role in our lives in the past two years as more and more people discovered new hobbies.
Because of this restlessness I succeeded to create my own business. I figured that there’s no better time like the present to go ahead and do what I love. I dedicated an entire blog to this topic a few weeks ago.
What is restlessness
Restlessness is normal in our everyday lives. Certain events in our lives can make us feel more restless than usual. In general, people who experience restlessness describe it as feeling ‘on edge’ or unable to ‘turn off’. This can be also a symptoms of other underlaying issues such as anxiety or depression. It’s important to understand if you’re restless because you might be bored, or if it is a symptom. In case it is a symptom, you might benefit from asking for professional help.
Feeling restless can make you feel like you can’t sit still when you work or relax. Restlessness can prevent you from sleeping good or from getting things done throughout the day. But, restlessness can also support your creativity.
Restlessness and creativity
For me restlessness expresses itself in thoughts. Not necessarily worrying ones, but ones that help me imagine cool stuff. For example, I’m soon going to change houses. The place where I go to next, is completely empty. That allows me to imagine how I would decorate it. But because I still have to wait for the keys, I can’t put my creativity into practice. This in turn makes me feel restless because I have to wait until I make the move.
Also, restlessness sometimes manifests itself in an idea I have to write about. Sometimes I have such a creative boost that I know I have to write then and there. When creativity is your bread and butter, you might have moments when you feel restless. You might feel like you can’t sleep until you write things down or understand a certain situation. You might need to sit with yourself and make a planning so that your mind understands what lays ahead.
Caveat of restlessness
The caveat of restlessness is perfection. if you’re too focused on getting shit perfect each time, then you will become permanently attached to the outcome instead of enjoying the creative process. This in turn can bring about anxiety, self doubt, unease or fear. So what’s your relation to creativity? Do you expect to ace everything? Do you expect to be the best at something the first fucking time you try it? Do you feel disappointed when you fail to meet these impossible standards you set for yourself?
The more you push yourself, the more you want to achieve perfection, the closer you are to burnout, anxiety or depression. Take this from someone who struggled and still struggles with simply enjoying the process instead of achieving the impossible.
Takeaway
Restlessness is a superpower because it is a part of who we are. Some of us have more and some of us have less of it. The bottom line is that it can be an amazing drive for your creativity.
If you happen to feel it more, then let it manifest itself. But enjoy the process and stop worrying about doing things perfect from the very beginning. Learning is a process and it can be fun if you can teach yourself to take it easy. My restlessness has been my best friend for years because it pushed me to create and keep myself busy. Learn to accept yours and use it to do things that make your soul happy.
