The Creative Block
A creative block can be a frustrating thing. Whether at work or on personal projects, a creative block can result in hours, days, or weeks, of lost productivity or a lackluster result. I’m no stranger to creative blocks but I’ve found a few things that work for me when the muse takes a vacation. A lot of creativity is actually problem solving. You’re given a task that has multiple potential solutions, and you’re job is to find the one that works best in both concept and execution. It’s not easy but if you’re willing to put in the time and focus, you can move past the stumbling blocks faster and come out better for it.
First, do something else. Staring at a monitor (or canvas ect) does not, unfortunately, do anything to help stimulate the brain. I’m very guilty of this one. Instead of agonizing over the project at hand and getting nowhere, focus on something completely different for awhile. Put down the manuscript, mouse, or paintbrush and find another project or pastime to work on. This could mean taking a walk, getting a snack, reading a book or blog, whatever helps you to refocus and relax. It doesn’t have to be a long break (especially if you know there is a deadline looming) but even five minutes of doing something, anything else, can help refresh you.
Second, make creativity a habit. I don’t know anyone who has a lot of free time. Between jobs, kids, partners, and the daily to-do list, most people want to spend what little leisure time they have just vegging out. I’m a huge advocate of tuning out for awhile to recharge but if you want to fuel your creativity it’s important to stay engaged with the creative process that isn’t exclusively tied to a job or deadline. Painting, sketching, problem solving, puzzles, DIY projects, and crafts are all great ways to stretch your abilities and get your neurons firing. Many times while making jewelry, I’ve stumbled upon a color scheme or idea that I can recontextualize and use in my graphic design.
The last thing is probably the hardest but can also be the most beneficial when facing a creative block: stop looking for inspiration in other people’s work that do what you do. I love Pinterest. It’s amazing for aggregating visual ideas and tutorials to keep yourself striving for better and constantly learning. That said, when you’re faced with an obstacle to your vision, seeing other people’s awesome work can lead to two problems: 1. being derivative and 2. feeling overwhelmed and going into paralysis analysis with your own work. Neither are good. What is helpful for getting motivated is to look at work that is totally outside of what you do. For instance, I try to seek out things like modern tapestries, photography (that isn’t design focused), or pottery to help rouse my imagination. By looking at creativity from a totally different perspective and skill set from myself, it helps get me excited and unstuck. It can also be helpful to put down the device and look to other sources for inspiration. Being present in your own life and looking to nature or your own surroundings can boost your mood (always a productivity plus!) and let you see things you might otherwise overlook.
Every person is different so I understand that what works for me may not work for you. However, I do believe that these ideas are simple and general enough to apply to most people. Of course evaluating your own workflow and circumstances will give you specific clarity regarding your creativity struggles and how you might tweak things. The important thing is to remember that creativity is not based on some magical formula or inborn talent. It is the result of hard work and focused practice, or so says this guy. I tend to believe him.
