10 Gentle Tips for Pottery Motivation When You’re Feeling Stuck

If that’s you right now, take a deep breath. You’re not alone.
This post is your gentle reminder that pottery motivation doesn’t always come in loud bursts of energy — sometimes it shows up in small steps, soft resets, and simple shifts in mindset.

Here are 10 things I come back to whenever I need to find my way back to the joy of making.

It’s amazing how much a fresh space can clear your head. Give your studio a little love: sweep the floor, wipe down your wheel, sort through your tools. Then go one step further — open a window, light a stick of incense, put on music you love. Maybe add a small plant or something beautiful that makes you feel calm. A space that feels good to be in can gently invite your creativity back in.

Before you sit down at the wheel, stretch. Take a walk. Dance in your kitchen. Moving your body helps quiet your thoughts and brings you back into the present. Pottery is physical — and when your body feels soft and loose, your hands can follow. This doesn’t have to be a full workout. Even ten minutes of fresh air can make your studio feel like a new place when you return.

Some days, the wheel just says no. Your clay won’t center, your form keeps collapsing, and the more you try, the worse it feels. That’s your cue: pause. Do something else. Trim a pot. Wedge clay. Try a new glaze. Or even clean that dusty shelf you’ve been avoiding. Just staying in the rhythm of doing — even if it’s not what you planned — keeps you gently connected to your work without the frustration.

Not to sell. Not to post. Just because it feels good. Try something silly or playful. Make a spoon with a crooked handle, or a cup that doesn’t match anything. Remove the outcome from the process — and suddenly, things open up again. So much pottery motivation returns the moment we stop trying to get it “right” and start getting curious again.

This might be my favorite one. Instead of tracking your productivity, try writing down what you enjoyed. Maybe the clay felt especially smooth today. Maybe you liked the way the glaze pooled at the rim. Maybe it was just the quiet in your studio. Not every win needs to be a finished piece — some are small and quiet, and only noticed when you slow down enough to see them.

It’s tempting to look at someone else’s work and think they’ve figured it all out — but trust me, every potter you admire started exactly where you are: unsure, learning, making mistakes. The difference is they didn’t stop. Every warped plate or cracked bowl is part of the path. You’re not behind. You’re becoming.

Before checking Instagram, before emails or reels — make something. Just a small thing. Let your own ideas come first. When we start the day by consuming, we can get swept up in comparison. But when we begin by creating, even for a few quiet minutes, our own voice stays louder than the noise.

Not for an hour — for a few days if you need to. Sometimes your mind, your hands, and your heart all need a proper break.
Read. Watch a film. Visit a market. Or — maybe most important of all — talk to someone. Pottery can be a quiet, solitary world. Reach out to a fellow maker, or simply have a coffee with a friend who listens well. Sometimes, just saying things out loud brings everything back into perspective.
Stepping away for a while can do more for your pottery motivation than pushing through ever could. You’ll return with fresher eyes, lighter hands, and maybe even a new idea. The clay will wait for you.

And if you're looking for a little extra guidance — especially around finding your direction, staying motivated, or even dreaming a bit bigger — I’ve created a free guide that might help. It’s full of gentle reminders and simple tips I wish I’d had when I was just starting out.

In the end, pottery isn’t just about what we create — it’s about how we keep going, even when it’s hard.

I’ve given up a few times. I even put all my studio equipment up for sale — twice. I was tired, frustrated, and ready to move on. But each time, something pulled me back. Not because it got easier, but because deep down, I knew I still loved it.

So if you’re in that place — feeling stuck, uncertain, or questioning everything — I just want you to know: you’re not alone. I’ve been there. Most of us have.

Whether you’re starting a business or doing pottery as a hobby, your work matters. You don’t need to have it all figured out. Just keep showing up in your own way.

And if you ever need some help navigating the messy, practical side of it all, I’ve written everything I’ve learned in From Hobby to Business. It’s there if you want it.

But more than anything — keep going. One piece at a time.