Finding ways to overcome creative block and get inspired isn’t always easy, especially if you don’t know what’s causing it.
But what exactly is a creative block?
In the simplest of terms, creative block is the inability to access your internal creativity.
In even simpler terms… it’s the worst.
You finally have time to work on a project you’ve been meaning to start for ages, but when you sit down at your workspace… nothing. The blank canvas before you laughs in your face and in a fit of fiery rage at your own incompetence, you end up breaking your work table and pretending the project never occurred to you in the first place.
Or is that just me?
Anger management isn’t among my more redeeming qualities.
My point is, no matter how you handle them, creative blocks happen to everyone.
And unfortunately, you can’t always afford to ignore it. Deadlines are no laughing matter, and if you can’t overcome your inability to create, you might lose a client, or even your job.
So, how do you fix it?
The answer, unfortunately, isn’t always simple, and in order to overcome your creative block, you first need to find out what’s causing it.
There are many types of creative block and even more reasons for why you may experience each.
Have you been working too hard for too long, and you’re feeling depleted of motivation?
Is your strive for perfection keeping you from beginning a task?
Or are you going through something personal that you can’t seem to take your mind off of?
Once you figure out what’s holding you back from accessing that vast amount of creativity you know you possess, it’s time to get to the good stuff.
How to overcome creative block and get inspired.
1) Listen to music
I know what you’re thinking.
But sometimes starting off with something simple is the best way to go.
And aside from the ease of popping some headphones on, there are plenty of studies that show how music can change the way your brain is functioning.
Music therapy has been used in the rehabilitation of people who have had strokes, brain surgery, and traumatic brain injuries.
And even Alzheimer’s patients have been known to light up when they start hearing music from their youth.
But listening to any genre of music doesn’t seem to do the trick.
Obviously you’re going to want to listen to music you like, but isn’t classical music supposed to make you smarter?
Not necessarily.
A study conducting FMRI scans of 21 people in 2017 showed that the listeners preference in music had a bigger impact on their brain connectivity than the genre they were listening to, especially on a brain circuit known to be involved in internally focused thought, empathy and self-awareness.
So while listening to Mozart won’t make you a genius, the right type of music certainly has the ability to change your mood.
Now it’s just a matter of choosing what to listen to.
If you’re feeling tired, down or scared and in need of an emotional boost, listen to energizing or uplifting music to inspire some confidence in you.
If you’re feeling anxious or overwhelmed, listen to your favourite relaxing music to help guide your mind towards a more productive, less debilitating place.
If you’re not sure where to start, try listening to your absolute favourite song. And if you don’t have one, (or your favourite changes month to month like mine does), think of a song you can’t help but sing along to, or one that always brings a smile to your face.
If it gets you up and moving, even better.
As long as it’s music that you feel strongly about, you just might find the inspirational hammer that will smash your creative block.
2) Find Art that Inspires you
This is a great way to get the ball rolling.
Plug “Art” into the search bar of a platform like Pinterest or Instagram and you can find a myriad of inspiration, from hyper-realistic pencil drawings to beautiful watercolour art.
Once you find an artist you like, head over to YouTube and see if they have any clips of their drawing process or tips for how they achieved the look.
This research can not only help you find inspiration, but provide you with examples of how others achieved the same look.
I personally use this method for every piece I create, because it doesn’t just help get my creative juices flowing, it also provides me with reference photos which are great for adding detail and learning about the characteristics of your subject.
While surfing the internet for inspiration can be a great tool in your inspirational arsenal, unfortunately it doesn’t always work for every type of creative block.
While it’s great when you feel a lack of creativity and don’t know where to start, it’s easy to get overwhelmed when faced with so much.
So, if you’re feeling swamped by ideas and can’t settle on just one, this solution may in fact be a detriment to your creativity.
And if that’s the case, the next step may be the solution for you.
3) Go outside and exercise… even if it’s raining
We’ve all felt pressured to accomplish something, whether it’s for work, school or because you’ve set the personal goal to FINALLY finish that drawing you started two years ago.
But all that pressure is going to boost your cortisol (aka your stress hormone) and, in turn, hinder your ability to create.
Or maybe you’re someone who works well under stress. And if so… I hate you… but also, congrats. That’s really impressive.
For the rest of us mortals, a high level of stress is the ultimate creativity block.
And you shouldn’t chain yourself to your desk in the hopes that a magical burst of inspiration is going to hit you over the head.
So the best alternative is to break.
Seriously.
It may seem counterintuitive to step away, even for a minute, but it just might save you from your creative block.
Try going for a walk. Or better yet, a light jog.
Ignore the fact that you’re an anxiety-ridden introvert and get out of your house.
Throw on a raincoat and a mask (thanks Covid) and nobody will know, or care what you’re doing.
All that matters is that you get away from those four walls you’ve been surrounded by for far too long and get into nature.
Being in nature is a great inspiration, and the fresh air could do you good.
You don’t have to go on a three-hour hike. Even just a stroll down the street will do.
The point of this is to take your mind off of work and onto something more productive, and if you get your heart rate up, even better.
Exercise is a great way to kick your creative block in the butt because it boosts your dopamine and serotonin levels.
Not only will you get a much-needed break, but you’ll also come back refreshed and full of happy hormones.
If you hit the road (literally) you’re sure to leave your creative block in the dust.
4) Experiment with different techniques in an art journal
Art journaling is the act of visually and or verbally recording your thoughts and ideas.
If you take a look at the image above, you can see that you don’t have to stick to one style, or even a particular medium.
Feel free to experiment with stickers, photos, flowers, string, glitter… anything you can think of.
And keep in mind that it doesn’t have to be a masterpiece. The point of an art journal is to get your creative juices flowing and to try out different techniques to see what works and what doesn’t.
This technique is the perfect way to get rid of your creative block if you have ideas but don’t know how to execute them.
If you set a goal to add to your art journal every day, you’ll also have the added benefit of your skills improving over time.
Either way, it’s always good practice to experiment with a new technique before applying it to a project.
Art journaling is also great to record ideas for the future.
If you keep one at your nightstand you can safeguard those bursts of inspiration that always seem to come right before you go to bed.
Fun fact:
You can blame those late-night bursts of inspiration on your frontal cortex.
It’s one of the regions of the brain responsible for focus, planning, and rewards, so after a long day of hard work it starts to shut down.
This in turn leaves the rest of your brain free to contemplate ideas and ways of thinking that would have otherwise been caught up in your frontal lobe.
And when you’re no longer stressed and over-analyzing every little detail… BOOM!
Even if you don’t have an art journal, you should at least jot some notes in your phone for future reference.
Sometimes the best ideas are the ones you remember to write down.
5) Try an Art Prompt simulator
What if you’ve tried surfing the internet for inspiration after coming back from a run and no music or past art journal entries are inspiring any creativity?
Well, you only have one alternative.
Quit.
Just kidding. Don’t do that.
Try an art prompt simulator instead.
There are plenty of free options out there, but my personal favourite is found at artprompts.org.
Their interface is simple and to the point, allowing you to choose from a variety of options like characters, environments or objects.
Some of their prompts include “rider of a mythical beast” and “flying books.” Remember, you don’t have to be too literal with these prompts. The rider of a mythical beast could be a 4-year-old on a stick horse with a carrot taped to its head.
The beauty of an art prompt is that it takes away the hard work and leaves you with the fun part.
Creating.
And for those who need a little more incentive, Art Prompts has a challenge option where you can find links to active contests from around the web.
For those times when creative block strikes and you don’t have your laptop with you, WannaDraw and WhatToDraw are two easy-to-use art prompt app alternatives.
Bonus? They’re also free.
WannaDraw was created by Audrey Hopkins, who you might know from TikTok. Better known as auditydraws, Hopkins records herself using the art simulator and has created some hilarious characters like Slenderman as a magic girl and a steampunk Abraham Lincoln.
Though not as popular on social media, WhatToDraw is another straight to the point app that lets you scroll through prompts until you find one that inspires you. Examples from this app like ‘a marble harpy’ and ‘an oblivion potion’ are two of my favourites.
If you really want to force yourself out of your creative block, don’t let yourself scroll through the options. Stick with the first prompt and get started.
Tip!
Try redraw the same image using a timer.
Set your stopwatch five minutes from the time you start drawing. When your time is up, grab a fresh page and set it for 10. Keep going until you get to 30 minutes, or even an hour.
This forces you to sketch quickly at first, which gets you out of your head.
You can then refine your work using techniques, shapes, or styles you’ve already tried and found that you like.
Remember that expressing your creativity isn’t supposed to be a chore. It can be relaxing, invigorating, and even therapeutic. I’m sure you’ve all seen those adult colouring books that seem cute and nostalgic, but they’re also a great way to relieve stress and express creativity.
And if being creative isn’t just a hobby, remember why you decided to do this for a living in the first place. Sometimes all you need is a little perspective…
And maybe a glass of wine.
How do you overcome creative blocks and get inspired? Leave a comment below, and happy creating!