As a freelancer, creative, content creator, or business owner, the pressure to come up with brand new creative ideas all the time is super REAL!
Plus, add feeling unmotivated and you’ve got yourself into a severe creative block.
This can often turn into a cycle of not feeling good enough to start your work, pushing it off, then rushing to create ideas, which then leads your to feel like you can’t produce anything good…and so on.
Because I have gone through this many times, today I am sharing…
MY TIPS FOR GETTING OUT OF A CREATIVE BLOCK:
1. MOVE YOUR BODY
I know you’ve heard it a million times, but get your butt up and get moving!!
When you’re feeling overwhelmed and in a creative block, getting up and moving your body will help get your creative ideas flowing, and will give you a boost of energy.
Not to mention, getting up and moving your body can help you focus on something else and give your brain a rest from whatever it is you’re working on.
Moving your body can actually take your mind off of your tasks, while giving you energy and clarity whenever you do get back to work.
My favourite ways to get moving:
getting fresh air outside
going for a walk to my favourite coffee shop (or around the block)
doing a yoga practice
going to the gym
doing an at home workout
Prioritizing movement in your daily routine will help you have more energy, clarity, and focus in the long run, and will help you take care of yourself mentally and physically.
Adding movement to your daily practice can help you get out of a creative rut, and will help you avoid creative block in the future.
2. REFLECTION
When your to-do’s are piling up and things start to feel overwhelming, reflection will be your best friend.
Practicing mindfulness and reflection will not only help you focus, but will help get all of your ideas or thoughts out of your head and out into the world.
If your head is filled with all of the stresses of the last week, your long list of to-do’s, and all of the creative ideas you have for your business…things are going to start feeling very overwhelming and busy.
Just getting all of your thoughts out of your head can make you feel more clarity, focused, and more at ease when trying to complete your tasks and come up with new ideas.
Some ways you can practice reflection today:
journaling (shop printable journals / planners here)
brain dump (dump all of your thoughts, ideas, & worries on a page without judgement)
practicing gratitude (start with listing 5 things/people you’re grateful for)
free sketching/writing
meditating
3. STEP AWAY
Sometimes the best way to come up with creative ideas is to step away from the project all together.
Taking a break and stepping away from your work can actually help clear your mind, and help you focus better when it’s time to get back to work.
Say you are a small business owner and you’re having trouble coming up with content ideas for your instagram…you really want to have an interesting and informative feed, but you’re feeling a little overwhelmed with what to actually post…
Taking a walk through the park to a local coffee shop, then meeting up with a friend for an art show may be just what you need.
Inspiration can be found anywhere, and often times, you find it when you are not looking.
Taking a step back and doing something you enjoy may be what you need to open your mind to new ideas and possibilities.
Maybe on your walk you felt inspired by nature. Maybe you thought about how movement is what connects you to your clients. Or maybe the art show inspired how you want to approach your next project, or even inspired a style for your next product.
Sometimes, all that you need is time away. Prioritizing time away from work and creation is KEY for quality work and for your mental health.
Be sure to make time for:
fun with friends/family
doing things that make you laugh
listening to your favourite podcasts
self care practices
exploring new locations, foods, or experiences
alone time
reading
4. JUST START
This may sound like it’s contradicting the point I just made…but trust me on this.
While taking time away from work and stepping away is important to prioritize in the long run…Just starting is important as well.
When you are sitting on what to do, tossing and turning on how to start, or what the heck you’re going to post on your new blog…you end up wasting precious time and energy on something that has made zero progress.
Just starting on a project often gets you much further along than waiting for amazing ideas to just come to you.
What is the best way to make progress when you keep staring at a blank screen or an empty canvas? JUST STARTING. Just being able to do something…anything…will help you come up with ideas just through the mere act of doing it!
REMEMBER…You don't have to be perfect to be successful.
AND THAT’S ALL I’VE GOT!
Being able to prioritize a balanced lifestyle that listens to your needs, passions, and interests will ultimately help you to thrive in both your personal and business life.
So, next time someone says that taking a break to care for yourself is ‘a waste of time’…just know that these small acts are absolutely helping your mental health and your business in the long run.
YOU’VE GOT THIS! I BELIVE IN YOU!
Let me know what you think on my IG post about getting out of a creative block, and share what things you do to get out of these creative ruts, I’d love to hear!
Holly Grassl
Hollgrafix
hollgrafixdesign@gmail.com
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