If you’re a hawk, you’re the type of creative that is laser-focused on one creative medium, diving deeper and deeper into that medium. You approach every single day with a commitment to continued excellence on the creative path you’ve chosen. Over time, you’ve become an expert in your field and people come to you for your expertise and craftsmanship.

Life as a hawk can be incredibly fulfilling, especially with the confidence you build as you become more and more skilled in your craft. At a certain point, you’re even able to reach a flow state—losing yourself so much in what you do that it’s become meditative.

Still, there can be drawbacks to a “hawkish” creative approach and being open to new sources of inspiration is key. Here are some thoughts on how to enjoy life as a hawk to the max.

1. Seek inspiration outside of your chosen medium.

I know a hawk who is an actor and he literally eats, sleeps, and breathes his chosen profession. It’s a beautiful thing. If he’s not in front of the camera, he’s diligent about going to class, working on his voice, writing his own short films, auditioning, and watching classic movies. It’s rare that I see him doing anything that isn’t directly related to being an actor.

This kind of focus is crucial in becoming a true master at any craft. But I think it’s also important to seek inspiration from other mediums as well. Checking out a new art exhibit may not be directly tied to acting, but seeing a particular painting may result in you looking at a situation in a different way, or it might plant a seed for a great short film. Inspiration can come from anywhere and if hawks have their blinders on constantly, they could be missing out on some really juicy stuff to bring back to their lab.

2. Make friends with a hummingbird or two.

They’ll expand your perspective and help you breath new life into your work, without you needing to pick up an entirely new skill yourself. Hummingbirds are voracious when it comes to seeking inspiration. If you’ve found that you’ve hit a wall creatively, just talking to your hummingbird friends might put you on to a new book to read or a new artist to listen to. Heck, if you show them what you’re working on and where you’re stuck, they might have some ideas to get you unstuck.

3. Know when to step away.

Even hawks get burned out from their medium. When you feel yourself starting to get glazed over, apathetic, and cranky—it’s time to step away. Give yourself a genuine day of rest away from your chosen medium and do something completely out of your comfort zone. I have a friend who keeps a bucket list of things they want to try and I think this is a great way to prioritize shaking things up in your life.

4. Keep a journal.

I believe every human being should take 5-10 minutes a day to journal. The world is noisy and it gives provides a tiny moment in the day where you can really connect with yourself and process whatever is happening in your life. This small commitment can make a big difference in combatting hawk burnout, because it forces you step away from your work and regain perspective.

5. Sprinkle creativity into your personal life.

Depending on what you do for a living, you might be at the point where you are using your craft to create for others. (A music producer composing music for commercials, for example.) In this case, I think it’s really important to sprinkle creativity into your personal life. (I did a whole article on that here.) You may not have the luxury of extra time, but you can always tweak your approach to things you already do in your personal life. This helps keep your perspective fresh when you get back to your craft.

6. Move your body in new ways.

When I’m in the zone with music or writing for a few weeks, I notice I start carrying a lot of tension in my shoulders and hips. To counteract this, I’ve incorporated different yoga poses when I start feeling a little tight. Hawks tend to do the same motions in their work, so your energy overall gets a bit trapped with the same muscles being used.

Think of how to move your body in new ways. Try different forms of exercise: going for a walk, yoga, basketball, dancing around like no one is watching, it doesn’t matter—the variation in movement will keep your body flowing as well as your creativity.

7. Collaborate with creatives from other mediums.

If you’re a working hawk, why not take on a passion project with a creative in a different medium? And even if you pursue your craft strictly as a side project, bringing in a collaborator to co-create with is not only inspiring—it can be a whole lot of fun. It can open the door to new ideas, future collaborations, and rewarding friendships. It can also help you grow in new ways in your chosen medium.

As I mentioned in a previous article, hawks and hummingbirds are at opposite ends of the creative spectrum. Some “rare birds” are all hawk or all hummingbird, but I believe most creatives will fall somewhere in the middle, with either hawk or hummingbird as their primary inclination. 

So how about you: do you consider yourself a creative hawk mostly? Tell me about your chosen creative outlet in the comments below.