It’s happened to all of us – staring blankly at the page with an accusing blinking cursor as minutes pass without any brilliant ideas. The creative block affects all people, including designers, illustrators and writers. What’s the good news? There are strategies that you can use to break out of these periods of frustration.
We asked creative professionals in our community to share the techniques they use most often for getting over a creative block. Responses revealed an interesting mix of techniques. What emerged is a wisdom tapestry that recognizes the individual nature of creativity as well as universal patterns which help us to reconnect with our flow.
We’ve collected the best tips and advice in the article. You can also read about the entire discussion in The Studio – Creative Boom’s stress-free community. Signing up is free for anyone who hasn’t already joined.
1. Resistance is a part of the process.
Sometimes, creating space is the best way to inspire creativity.
Adrian Carroll, the creative director at D8 and co-founder of D8, has a very straightforward style. “Just work through it,” He recommends. “Eventually, something will spark, and you’ll be off and running. Sometimes you need to get all the crap ideas out of your head and onto the page or screen before you get to something you can work with.”
Andra Bádea, an illustrator, recommends that you push through and let go of perfectionism. “I’d say: draw anyway,” She explains. “Sometimes, if I’m on a commissioned project and I can’t seem to get that exciting idea, so I just draw the worst one that comes up. A quick doodle warms the hand, gets the mind working again, and before you know it, new connections appear. ‘What if I tried this…’ ‘This reminds me of…’ And Boom! Creative block is over.”
2. Structured research using scrolling
Do you like to follow a plan? Take inspiration from Sally Purser. She has developed a systematic approach that helps her to boost creativity. “I tend to do a few minutes ‘research scrolling’ sites like Creative Boom,” She explains. “The first time I stop scrolling because an image has caught my eye, I spend a couple of minutes studying the picture, reading the article or looking further into the creator or subject. Then, in my sketchbook, I literally make one simple mark: a circle, line or squiggle. I find something usually sparks, and the creative process starts to flow.”
3. Collaboration and simplicity
Jonathan White, a branding specialist with HeadSpace, is a firm believer in the collaborative power. “Bounce the brief off a fellow creative in a cafe or over a Zoom for 30 minutes,” He says. “Bashing heads together can be brilliant. Then try to strip the brief back to its bare bones, remembering: ‘If you can’t explain it to a six-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself.'” The two-step approach of receiving external input and then radicalizing it helps you to get at the heart of your idea.
4. You can change your state of physical being
Many creatives cite physical activity as a solution. Tymn Lintell, a multimedia designer and author of “The Multimedia Designer’s Guide to Success” offers a succinct advice: “Go for a walk!” Annelies Stalpaert, a graphic designer who also does lettering suggests the following: “Go outside or do a workout!”
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Adds Munday: “I love a good run first thing in the morning. Get some natural light in the eyes. Take a notebook and write down any thoughts that pop up. Sometimes doing something completely off topic of what I am working on brings up lots of new ideas.”
5. Accept the chaotic chaos of your creative blocks
Abhinav Y. Yadav, a designer of brand identities offers an artistic perspective on feeling stuck. “Creative blocks are like Jenga,” He explains. “Too many bits piled up. Some stem from fear, some from doubt, and some maybe even from pride. All in all, you feel if you pull one, bam, everything will come crumbling down.”
What is the solution to this problem? “Try slowing down; focus on one piece at a time,” Abhinav is a Hindi word. “Feel it wobble, embrace the rumble, accept the tremors of new discovery. Who knows? Maybe it falls, maybe it doesn’t. Either way, a new shape brings a new chance. The tower keeps changing. That’s life, the creative life.”
6. Structure your creative chaos
For neurodivergent creatives, feeling blocked may require distinctive strategies. “My answer to this question would probably have been different not too long ago,” says designer Silvia Maggi. Since I discovered my neurodivergence I have found a new approach to creative blockages.
“My brain needs to be as free as it can be, so I have a bullet journal where I can log tasks and thoughts and create collections,” She explains. “I use the GTD (Get Things Done) method to break down projects and tasks. And I have a weekly diary to keep organised. All of the above happens on paper,” She adds. “Walking in nature is very important, as is taking breaks and trying to organise my days based on the energy I have, if possible.”
7. Find inspiration in other fields
Nvard Nvard is a graphic designer and illustrator who takes on creative blocks from a multidisciplinary perspective. “For me, they’re often a sign that I need to recharge,” He explains. He explains.
“Exploring museums and exhibitions helps shift my perspective, but I also find unexpected ideas in old books, films, or simply observing everyday life,” She continues. “A fresh environment or a different medium can unlock new creative directions. Stepping away from the screen is one of the best ways to break through a creative block.”
8. Change your environment
Katelyn, co-founder of Edition and its creative director, turns to environmental change when she feels blocked. “I step away from whatever I’m stuck on and take a long walk with a podcast or playlist,” She reveals.
“Depending on what has me stuck, I’ll either walk downtown to look at the people, businesses, and buildings—I’m in San Francisco, so there’s a lot to see—or walk along the water, where my mind can completely get lost. I may still feel stuck after that, but usually, I come back to my desk with a game plan for different approaches to take.”
9. Concentrate on the creative foundations
Asa Rodger, a designer of brands and products, stresses the importance to basic well-being. “I focus more on the pillars of energy for me. It’s the basic stuff that helps me keep up – sleep, diet, water, movement, company. Normally, for me, when I recalibrate and I’m taking care of that stuff then I just feel more alive and honestly have the capacity to be creative non-stop. Whenever I’ve felt my creativity slip, it’s when I’ve not made the time to manage those basics.”
10. Structure your time
Sretan Bor, an illustrator from Serbia, offers his tried and true time management method: “Take a piece of paper and make an hourly grid, then work for 45 minutes and rest for 15 minutes,” He advises. “It helps if you have an elderly dog that needs to go out often.” The rhythm created by this approach, which combines periods of focused work with breaks that are mandatory, can be a great way to overcome creative blockages.
Creative blocks are normal and part of any creative process. Try these tried-and-true techniques the next time you’re staring blankly at a canvas or blank document to break through your block and find new creative inspiration. As many contributors pointed out, the blank canvas or document can be the catalyst for your next big idea.