How to get rid of self doubt, banish artist's block and get back to creating

Artists, all creative types in fact, suffer from crippling self-doubt from time to time. And when the self doubt kicks in,  it's good friend artists block comes to play too. So here are my top tips to banish them both and get back to creating the art,  life or business you love.
1. Take a shower.
Or a bath.
My Dad used to say he got all his best thinking done in the bath, and hey  so did Archimedes!
Sing in the shower, wash away your woes and leave feeling invigorated. It's cheap, it's easy, it's harmless and it's the best quick fix there is.
2. Get back to nature.
Going for a walk in the woods or on the beach is a fabulous way to reset the stress, and get inspired. Sitting quietly in the garden, no matter how small it is, can really help you banish the block. Go to your local park if you don't have a garden. It all else fails, buy some flowers, put them on your table where you see them all the time and remember what beauty there is in nature.
3. Meditate.
Ok, so it's a bit woo woo, and I'm a bit woo woo sometimes and I have to tell you that meditation helps. It's not all sitting cross legged going "Ohmm" (though it can be). Meditation is as simple as sitting quietly and comfortably, with a straight spine, allowing your thoughts to pass by. Don't force them to come, don't force them to go. Let them be.
​ That's meditation in its most basic form. Just 5 minutes a day can reduce your stress levels and for artists, once the stress goes, it makes space for the ideas to come flooding in.
4. Write it out.
Automatic writing or free writing can release your blocks and get the ideas coming. Writing out your problems, fears and worries can also help get rid of them. Are you one of those people that has a magical bed - when you lie down on it, all the million things you have you do come into your head and stop you sleeping? Have a note book by your bed and jot down all the stuff that hits you at the end of a tough day. Then close the book, safe in the knowledge your won't forget anything and its safe now to go to sleep.
5. Go to a gallery.
Whether it's the Louvre, the National, a little local gallery or some artists in the village hall. Looking at art is proven to reduce stress levels and inspire us. We love it. We enjoy looking at beautiful things. even flicking though are really beautiful coffee table book of art can be inspirational.
When you've done all that; get to work.
For me its a case of grabbing my sketchbook and drawing. Drawing anything, anything at all.
Sometimes getting the sketchbook out is because I've been doing one the activities above- taking my sketchbook on  walk, to a gallery, even after mediation.
Keep trying.
It's not a case of fighting the self doubt monster - he's a tough beast; it's a case of feeding the creative fairy and forgetting the monster all together.
For your own inspiration check out my artwork archive page and my new print collection.
To get back to nature and fuel your inspiration fairy, come along to the New Forest show at the end of this month. I'll see you on North avenue opposite the members lawn.

by Dougal Matthews