Creative block is incredibly frustrating.
Sometimes I feel like I just can’t speak or write in a way that conveys what I’m thinking/feeling. It’s uncomfortable and borderline painful. Almost like when you need to sneeze but can’t.
A few weeks ago, I sat down to write my weekly Substack article and couldn’t come up with anything. I had selected a topic I found interesting, but I just could not get into writing about it. Unable to develop something new, I ended up reworking an old blog post. As someone who considers herself a creative person, I found the experience extremely upsetting.
Ironically, I also had a hard time writing this very post. Putting my thoughts into words felt like pulling teeth.
All that to say, I’m working through this in real time.
The good news is, you can take action to regain creative inspiration.
Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash
Ways to Spark Creativity
Stay calm
You can’t force creativity. The more you try to, the harder it feels. You have to approach creativity with kindness and patience. It might seem like it has disappeared, but you just need to learn to look for it in new places.
Reframe creative block
It’s easy to fall into a spiral of defeat and self-doubt. But that response isn’t helpful (take it from me). A more useful and interesting perspective is to view creative block as an invitation to slow down and reconnect with your creative self in a meaningful way.
Photo by Estée Janssens on Unsplash
Reflect
Take some time to reflect. See if you can identify where the disconnect is coming from. If there is an obvious cause, then you know what to focus on. But if you can’t determine the source, that is okay. This is just a place to start.
Remember your reason for creating
Remembering the motivation behind your creative pursuits can provide the energy you need to keep moving forward. For me, this looks like reminding myself that I write to make sense of the world and to inspire my readers to find meaning in their experiences.
Let go of expectations
“Focus on the process, not the product.”
Overthinking and putting pressure on yourself kill your creativity. It’s hard to tune into your inner creative when you’re worrying about the outcome. Do your best to leave your self-criticism in the other room and give yourself space to create for the sake of creating.
Start somewhere
Take small steps at a time without worrying about the end result.
If thinking about the big picture feels overwhelming, try breaking your creative projects down into manageable pieces.
Write a few words. Doodle for a few minutes. Let small actions be enough, even if they don’t make sense at first.
It’s amazing how much easier it is to create once you have a foundation to build off of.
Give yourself permission to be unoriginal
Have you ever found yourself wondering, “What do I have to say that is unique and helpful?” I know I definitely have (often).
Thankfully, this Wild Geese episode reached me just in time to shut down my limiting beliefs.
Developing new, novel ideas and deepening existing ones are both valuable pursuits.
It’s okay (and I would argue, beneficial) to create what you need in this world. If that means expanding on existing concepts, that is lovely. Odds are, if you need to engage with a certain topic, someone else does as well.
Take a step away
It feels counterintuitive, but one of the most helpful things you can do might be taking a break from your creative endeavors.
There is a reason you often get your best ideas when you’re in the shower. A study found that our brains are more likely to come up with creative ideas during activities that require low levels of mental energy.
This explains why creative inspiration often strikes during passive activities (think showering, driving a familiar route, etc.), not necessarily when we’re trying to be creative.
Giving your brain a break by going for a walk or talking to a loved one is often more helpful than trying to strong-arm your creativity.
Pursue different creative practices
Experimenting with different creative mediums can also help you re-engage the creative part of your brain. This is a great time to tap into a beginner’s mindset and play around with new forms of self-expression.
Switch up your routine
I love my comfy, cozy routines. But there are benefits to changing things up once in a while. New inputs can help you get your brain thinking in new ways. As I mentioned, I was having a hard time writing this post, so I took myself outside my apartment (where I usually write). I was curious to see how writing in a new environment would feel.
It was interesting to be in a different location. I think it was helpful, and I’d like to continue experimenting with switching up my creative process. I encourage you to try this as well!
Engage with other works
I love getting inspired by other people’s work. You never know when you might read something or see a work of art that sparks something within you. This is not about copying. The ability to develop something new out of your experiences is a beautiful skill to have. This very post contains tips inspired by other works.
Review your past work
You can also look to yourself for inspiration! I’m so glad this Substack post reminded me of the value of revisiting old work. When I start doubting my creative abilities, it’s nice to remember how much I’ve already created. Looking at your past work can help you spark some new ideas.
Photo by Antonio Uquiche on Unsplash
Journal
Journaling helps me understand my thoughts, so I can communicate them clearly. Journaling also allows me to offload any worries or ruminations that are weighing me down. This can provide more mental energy and clarity for creating.
Get plenty of rest
You need energy to create. Make sure to prioritize all of the different types of rest you need.
Look for inspiration everywhere
I don’t always get to spend as much dedicated time on my creative pursuits as I would like. My solution to this is to bring my creative practice into my day with me.
I like to pick my blog and Substack topics ahead of time, so I can find inspiration throughout my day-to-day life in preparation to write.
When something sparks my creativity, I add it to my notes app to refer to later.
Start by honing in on some topics/questions that interest you. Open yourself up to how the world wants to answer them. This requires you to pay attention.
When you do this, you start noticing things that align with those topics. It becomes like a fun game.
Develop a sense of faith in your creativity
When I was discussing this topic with my therapist, I resolved to develop a sense of faith in my creativity. I set the intention to trust that my blog post will be ready when I need it to be (on the first Saturday of the month). If you take anything away from this, let it be:
Learn to trust that you will find a way to create something even if you don’t see how in the present moment.
I hope these tips help you. Do you have your own practices for sparking creativity? Share them below to inspire others.
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Life by Julia 