Creativity drives innovation and is probably the most exciting aspect of working as a creative or an entrepreneur. Creative block is the nemesis of innovative, cutting-edge, and ingenious minds. It’s no doubt that having a creative block really sucks, we’ve all been there before. You’ve got your document open, prepared to capture all your brilliant ideas — yet nothing seems to be coming out of your brain. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered with five research-backed tips to overcome a creative block;
Don’t fight it.
Remember you cannot force creativity. It’s okay to walk away and try again later. Trying too hard to fight your creative block usually results in amplified aggravation and frustration. Take a break. UK-based printmaker Judith Westrup describes her experience with creative block and how she copes with it: “This is what a creative block feels like to me – everything in my head is dark, and when I do try to carve or paint, I am all arms and legs and make a great big inky mess and I make it even worse. I am slowly learning not to fight creative blocks, and that it is ok to hide under a rock (or duvet) for a while until the darkness lifts and the ideas come back.”
Many studies have suggested that disconnecting mentally, daydreaming, dancing, or even simply napping helps overcome a creative block. So switch up that routine and you'll realize that the best ideas come when you least expect them, even while you're simply having fun.
Change up your scenery
If you return to the same workspace every day, you need to change your workspace periodically. Our thoughts are shackled by familiarity. See what a change of scenery can do for your creative flow. Heading out to a new cafe, a stimulating shared workspace, or a refreshing park can awaken your inspiration and refresh your vigor for working thus overcoming your creative block. Several new research papers suggest that getting away—and it doesn’t even matter where you’re going—is an essential habit of creative thinking.
Use a notebook
Use a notebook to save interesting thoughts, quotations, and observations. Write down things you’ve read, films you’ve seen, and anything that you find interesting. The power of putting pen to paper is unmatched as it helps you create an arsenal of inspiration — pages upon pages that you can return to when you’re feeling stumped. "The best ideas often come when doing completely random, uncreative tasks," confesses ink evangelist Johanna Basford.
Think about love (or sex)
A fascinating study has shown that thinking about romantic love helps enhance holistic thinking, therefore enabling us to be more creative when it comes to understanding the “grander scheme” of things. Thinking about the experience of sexual encounters, in turn, boosts the perception of the present and concrete details which in turn help us see and analyze patterns more sharply and promptly.
Allow yourself to fail
Ask yourself this; Are you holding yourself back because you’re afraid your work won’t be good enough? It’s time to shake off your worries and push through. Taking risks will help you to sharpen your skills and who knows, you may find yourself creating work you never dreamed possible. Ultimately, creating is a process, and like every process, it involves trial and error.
Struggling through a creative block is never fun — but it’s something that almost everyone experiences from time to time so remember to be kind to yourself. You are doing this because you love it and the rewards are worthwhile. If today doesn’t work, switch it up and try again tomorrow. You’ll find your way back to creativity.
It is also worthwhile to mention that as an entrepreneur, there’s no need to handle everything on your own. It is okay to seek professional help when you need it and if it is anything brand-related, Workspace is always ready to help.
Till next time, Stay Ambitious.
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