5 Tips to Get Over a Creative Block

Narrated by Leigh Martinuzzi 

Everyone knows the feeling of being stuck every once in a while—whether you’re a writer piecing together a novel, or an artist stumped for inspiration. In fact, even if you love your job, it’s still possible (and completely normal) to hit a block. However, not everything is a sign that you should give up and throw in the towel. Sometimes, all you need is to take a step back and re-assess your current situation. More than anything, it’s an opportunity to come back even more focused and realigned.

If that sounds like you, here are five things you can do to get over a creative block.

Break it down into small chunks

You might be feeling overwhelmed because you’re faced with a big project or a looming deadline. Often, it’s in the midst of your planning for the final output that you find yourself stuck. But before you try to achieve everything at once, it helps to tackle all the small parts one by one. In event planning, for instance, you don’t immediately think about what the event is going to look like. You first decide on a theme, consider the kind of guests that will be attending, sift through the locations available, and you’ll have the entire thing planned out eventually. All in all, it’s just a matter of dividing and conquering.

Write down your thoughts

Creativity isn’t always about coming up with original ideas. Most of the time, it’s about making new connections between thoughts you already have. In the words of Steve Jobs: “When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it. They just saw something.” So if you’re in a rut, it helps to just sit down and jot down whatever comes to mind. Don’t let them gather dust in your head, as seeing them on paper can help you identify any connections you wouldn’t otherwise notice—even if it’s just a rough sketch or a random idea that popped into your head. You’ll be surprised how useful it can be when brainstorming later on.

Look for a change of scenery

When you’re a freelancer or someone used to working from home, it’s much easier to get burnt out and feel isolated because you’re stuck at home every day. Fortunately, you can remedy this by looking for a change of scenery. Industrious recommends co-working spaces, which are great for freelancers as well as businesses. Whatever industry you’re in, you can benefit from thoughtfully designed spaces, as well as being surrounded by fellow professionals whose creative flow can inspire your own thought process. As an alternative, you can also try your neighborhood coffee shop or even the park if the weather is nice.

Do some creative exercises

Creativity isn’t always a magical thing that just comes to you. To put it simply, creativity acts more like a muscle. A study on Science Direct states that creativity happens when there’s cell activity in a particular region of the brain, the frontopolar cortex. So much like you would exercise to strengthen your physique, creativity can be stimulated and improved too. For instance, one way for writers to get over a wall is by creating six-word stories. This method was made popular when Ernest Hemingway famously wrote: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” It’s a good prompt to start a spark. The story doesn’t have to be big; it just has to be meaningful.

Artists, on the other hand, can benefit a lot from the “Complete the Incomplete Figure” exercise. The activity requires them to draw an absentminded stroke and somehow create a cohesive picture out of it. Of course, there is no hard and fast rule to these creative exercises, and you can always come up with some of your own. The point is to challenge your mind to do something that is outside of your daily flow.

Meditate regularly

Sometimes all you need is peace and quiet. True enough, researchers from Harvard University found that even just 10 minutes of meditation is good for stimulating the mind, boasting benefits like improved problem-solving capabilities and more cognitive flexibility. After all, meditation allows you to push your thoughts and feelings away, giving you the time to de-clutter your mind. If you’re new to meditation, Very Well Mind suggests apps like Calm and Buddhify.

Creative blocks can happen to the best of us, but it doesn’t have to stop you from accomplishing your tasks. Remember that it’s a necessary process that will help you grow. Try some of the above tips to get those creative juices flowing again.

If you’re looking for more career advice, we have guides on The Hidden Why to help with your personal development journey.

Further Reading and Resources 

TED Talks: Ideas worth spreading

Psychology Today: Psychology Today is devoted exclusively to everybody’s favourite subject – Ourselves

Life Hack: Tips for Life

Elite Daily: The Voice of Generation Y

Four Hour Work Week: How to escape the 9-5, live anywhere and join the new rich.

The Minimalists: How to pursue a minimalist lifestyle and be happier.

Mind Hacks: Tips and Tricks for Using Your Brain

Rich Roll: Plantpowered Wellness Advocate

The Art of Charm: Build confidence, feel comfortable and networking differently.

American Psychological Association: The largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United State

The Art of Manliness: Encouraging men to be better husbands, fathers, brothers, citizens.

Tiny Buddha: Simple wisdom for complex lives.

Brain Pickings: An inventory of cross-disciplinary interestingness, spanning art, science, design, history, philosophy, and more.

Mind Body Green: Lifestyle media brand dedicated to inspiring you to live your best life.

Zen Habits: Find simplicity and mindfulness in life.

Creative NonFiction: “true stories well told.” 

Addicted 2 Success: Motivation & Inspiration Website full of quotes and inspiring articles for entrepreneurs.

Barking Up the Wrong Tree: science-based answers and expert insight on how to be awesome at life.

The Positivity Blog: Practical articles on happiness, self-esteem, productivity and social skills.