Many creatives are all too familiar with getting on a roll with their creative work, only to eventually hit a brick wall. A common theme with many creators, getting into a dry spell happens to everybody now and then. A normal occurrence, but a frustrating one at that, since it can be difficult to get ideas flowing again after you’ve hit a mental roadblock.
Getting over a creative block can stem from a lack of inspiration, criticism, or from being burnt out. However, while overcoming a mental roadblock can be a challenging feat, there are ways to get out of a creative slump.
Change it up – Doing the same thing, day in and day out, gets old. When things get old and stale, that can stunt your creativity. In many cases, changing up your routine can spark something inside of you and get the creativity flowing again. The best part is it doesn’t have to be a major change. A minor change can go a long way in mixing it up and keeping it fresh.
Prevent burnout – Sometimes creative blocks can happen because you are stretching yourself too thin. You can’t perform at your best if you are running yourself down too much, so make sure you set aside some time in the day to recharge. Even if you are limited on time, even taking 10-15 minutes to yourself daily can go a long way in preventing burnout.
Be around creative, inspiring people – Like it or not, the people you associate with have an effect on you. So if you find yourself temporarily creatively challenged, surround yourself with creative, inspiring people so they can rub off on you. Plus, creative people are great for bouncing off ideas and can help keep you on track.
Know when to step away (temporarily) – If you find yourself staring at a blank canvas or at the computer screen and can’t seem to get anything down in front of you, walk away. Sometimes just stopping when you hit a brick wall and going off to do something else can prevent frustration, and allows you to come back to your project with fresh eyes.
