How to Overcome Creative Block

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March 17, 2020

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2 min read

We all experience road blocks.

Whether it’s from burnout, self-doubt, roadblocks, or rejection, we’ve all experienced a form of creative block before. Sometimes even once a week! So we know there is no avoiding it but there are ways that we can combat it. Here are my top ways to get my Creative Juices flowing and back on my productive track:

1. Write Down your most random, creative thoughts.

My high school art teacher made us brainstorm thirty-two ideas before starting our next project (he called it a Baskin Robbins 32 Flavors List). This caused our creative gears to start turning and the last 10 “flavors” on our list were much more innovative than our first 5. Nowadays, I don’t come up with this list all in one sitting. I’ll jot down a new idea in my phone while I’m away from my screen.

2. Take a break, Switch it up.

Taking a little walk (or a big hike), running an errand, going to a museum, or working from a new coffee shop can change up your environment and therefore wake up your mind to a new experience.

Plus it’s nice to get out of the house, am I right?

3. Stop looking in the same places.

Pinterest, Dribbble, Behance and Instagram are great for inspo but sometimes I find my favorite pieces on these sites when I’m not actually looking for the inspiration. So stop looking for that awesome style in the same place you find all your other inspirations. New ideas are innovative, so we have to always be evolving too. I reach out to other mediums of digital creative to source my new ideas. Some of my current favorites for creative inspo are: Music videos, Illustrations, and Industrial Design (especially sustainable).

4. Conversations.

Some of my most inspired moments are after chats with my creative colleagues regarding their most recent projects. Keep those creative friends on retainer and reach out when your brain needs a little jog. I love hearing other creatives’ new projects they’re working on just for fun. So that brings me to:

5. We need more Passion Projects.

Best way to avoid burnout in my opinion, too. We love what we do (hopefully) but only doing the paying jobs can become a drag. So what’s your next personal project? Rebranding, painting, photography? Make something just for yourself. You’ll learn something new, I guarantee it.

6. Do your chores.

Wait wait, hear me out… I mean do something totally mindless. Like super boring. I see your dishes piling up in the sink and that laundry basket overflowing. While you do monotonous tasks, your mind is allowed to wander freely. Perhaps you’ll come up with a solution to your roadblock or a more fun project that you’d rather work on.

But also, who doesn’t love a clean kitchen?

The Block is inevitable but we’re dynamic people. You’re allowed to take some time to try a new idea or maybe see an old idea in a new light. That project isn’t going anywhere. I mean, deadlines are tentative, right?

Cheers,

Katie

Need a little more?

Here are some daily preventative ideas:

journaling or sketching
sweat sesh / workout
planning a trip
keep a clean workspace
have a plan going into each project
a new podcast or playlist (Lo-Fi Hip Hop is a personal fave)