Creative block is normal, and it happens to the best of us. It’s part of the creative process, but it doesn’t have to stop you, and it doesn’t make you any less of an artist.
Here are a few ways to tackle it:
Take a step away from your work and take breaks in between.
Going out of the house and being in a new environment can work wonders, rewiring our mindset, and bringing new, fresh thoughts. Sitting in the same place for a very long time will not force creativity.
Prioritise ‘Fun’ Time
Walking away from the project to have some fun can often be more productive than another fruitless hour of ‘work’, staring at the screen.
Take notes...with a pen!
I have often taken this for granted in the past, but carrying something other than your phone really helps you to put down the phone, take a screen detox , and pick up some more interesting thoughts, observations, and ideas.
Spend less time on social media
Although social media is a great tool for inspiration, motivation and creativity, sometimes it can become a little overwhelming. Trying to keep up with the number of likes, engagements and algorithms is not a good way to ease your creative block.
Read
Be it a thriller, sci-fi, fantasy or romance, every book is filled with information that can be added to the bank in your brain; from which you withdraw your creativity.
Inspiration
Inspiration doesn’t just strike. It’s cultivated. And it can be found anywhere, and not just in the visual arts. It's in nature, in a conversation you had, in movies, music or maybe a Ted Talk, etc. Your next big idea is probably scattered all around you right now, in a dozen different places.
Take a time-out to catch up with a friend
See how someone is doing, and have a real conversation. Talking to someone you trust, sharing your ideas, and taking their opinion can open up to another perspective which might inspire you.
Do some chores
A simple, methodical task is exactly what you might need to give your mind a break and a restart. A repetitive task that doesn’t require much cerebral activity - like cleaning, cooking, reorganising, planting - can give your mind a break as well as giving you a little ‘win’ to get your day back on track.
Ask for criticism and learn from it
Having honest conversations, and asking for others’ advice on how to begin a project can give precious insight into your work. Not just praise, but often criticism of your work can help you push your boundaries, improve your work, and beat the block.
Allow yourself to fail, and face your fears
Don’t get me wrong, people usually put their best work on their feed, it doesn't mean that they don’t make mistakes and have to deal with failure.
If you are 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 will eventually lead to work you never thought yourself capable of. Whatever it is you’re afraid of, do that thing.
Take care of yourself
Get sleep, regular exercise, and give yourself time to meditate. It’s fairly easy to get sucked into a project and forget to eat or sleep. We can’t expect our minds and bodies to be creative if we don’t take care of them.
If a life change/problem disrupts you
Try to find a solution so you can stop thinking about it, and get back to creating. Find someone to talk to, whether it’s a family member, friend, mentor or a therapist. Creative pursuits have been shown to help people process trauma and work through difficulties they are facing in life.
Don't get too carried away with gear
I often meet people who say ‘if I had this lens…’, ‘if I had that camera... ‘. But, let's face it, you can never have enough gear, and there's always something more expensive and better. Creativity doesn't rely on gears but on your imagination. There are brilliant movies out there which were made using just an iPhone.
Break it down into manageable chunks
If you have too many commitments, start saying ‘no’ get rid of tasks you don’t want to do anymore. Sometimes a project or task can seem so big and overwhelming that we lose track of what really matters and we get stuck. Time to take a step back.
Put some pressure and finish what you started
While pressure may not always be the solution, sometimes it’s just what you need to get over a creative slump. Sometimes I estimate how much time I’ll spend on a certain project and try to finish in a given time frame even though there is no specific time to finish. It's also a good idea to reward yourself when you hit a target output.
Henri Matisse famously said “Creativity takes courage.”
Perhaps your creative block means that deep down you’re afraid to take the next step and do something new and different.
It takes guts to be truly creative and put new ideas out there. Figure out what it is that you’re afraid of. What holds you back? Once you overcome that fear, you’ll overcome that block. Push the boundaries of what you’re used to.
Remind yourself why you love creating, be grateful for all you have and get to work!
There are always more things to learn, explore, and experiment with!