Getting Through a Creative Block
As a blogger, creative blocks can come frequently and be fairly disruptive. Take today for example, as much as I love writing these blog posts, they don’t always come easily. But you don’t have to be a blogger to know how frustrating these can be. Any personal project, art making or even work-related tasks can feel a million times harder on days like these. So today I’m taking my own advice and working through this creative block and I happen to have a few tips up my sleeve, because I’m sure we’ve all been here before.
Focus on Finding Inspiration
One of my top tips for getting through a creative block is to take your attention away from the task at hand, all together. Instead, let your mind wander through images, text, films, whatever it is, that inspires you! I like to do this a few ways. Digitally I like to scour Pinterest and Tumblr for beautiful images and Bloglovin for inspiring blogs to read. I didn’t mention Instagram because I do feel like it can have a negative impact on your creativity if you’re using it to compare yourself to others, rather than get inspired. Sometimes I prefer to zone out by listening to playlists, especially those “chill study beats” playlists on Youtube (my not-so-guilty pleasure). If you prefer a more analogue approach, it’s nice to have some art books or magazines to flip through for visual stimulation, and a good novel is always apt to transport you somewhere else. Basically, let yourself procrastinate in the name of research because sometimes you just have to take a step back.
Get Moving
I think the worst place you can procrastinate is sitting at your desk. When nothing is coming easily, it can be even more frustrating to sit there and wait until it does. I really think getting up and moving around a bit can really start to get the wheels turning up there. Depending on how much time I have to let my brain relax, I might work on a different task that doesn’t require thought, like washing dishes or tidying up, or I might just get up from my seat and walk around a bit or even change my working environment if possible. I do this at my job too, when I need to break up the monotony of a particularly boring task I’ll step outside a take a quick walk. I find that a bit of movement can sort of jump start my brain and get me excited about a task again.
Lay It All Out
Sometimes I think a creative block can stem from feelings of overwhelm, at how many words you have to write or how great your next idea has to be. But when you step back and look at the task at hand a little more objectively, it will start to feel less intimidating. If you’re trying to write a paper, start by outlining it and putting words down. Once you have something down, you can start experimenting, moving things around, editing and building on ideas. You just need to get something down first. In the same sense that you would get your body moving to generate ideas, you can also get your mind moving to start connecting the dots of an idea. Going through the process of writing/ brainstorming/ experimenting can make the task at hand feel a little more tangible.
Consider Your POV
If you’re working on something creative, it can be helpful to consider the point of view or perspective of the person consuming your creative work. I sometimes like to ask myself, when writing blog posts, what it is that I want to see on the internet. What would I want to read from someone else that would add value to my life? What image would inspire me if it popped up on my feed? That often helps me frame my writing in a way that is more informational and useful to others rather than all about me. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot of value in a personal approach, but it can be clarifying to consider it from a different perspective.
Stay Positive
Some of the most prominent feelings of a creative block, at least for me, is frustration and anxiety. Having a positive and open mindset is much more conducive to thinking creatively. So when you recognize the anxious feelings you can accept them and break the cycle. So how do you change your mindset when you’re up against a deadline, or just completely devoid of creative juices? Focus on something that brings you joy - and through that, inspiration - like music, an inspiring quote, a beautiful image, the summer breeze, whatever it is for you. Allow your brain to relax into a happy thought and it may reward you with a creative one in return.
So those are my top tips for getting through a creative block. What are some ways you’ve learned to trick your brain into a mindset more conducive to creativity? Have you noticed that it helps to adopt a more playful and relaxed mindset? I’d love to trade tips with you likeminded creatives! As always, thanks so much for reading! xx Jessica
