Tips to Overcome a Creative Block

Feb 21

2 min read

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A person writes in a notebook with a red pen by a sunlit lake. The scene is peaceful, with warm sunlight and greenery in the background.

Lately, I've found myself in an all-too-familiar place – a creative rut. As someone who thrives on creativity, it's disheartening to suddenly lose that spark and feel like the drive to create has vanished. Does that sound familiar? Don’t worry; it's a common experience, and today, I’m sharing my top strategies to help you navigate this slump.

First and foremost, full disclosure: I've recently been in a rut myself. It’s a strange place for someone who considers themselves highly creative, but I knew this wasn’t the first time I’d been here, which gave me hope because I’d learned what to do about it from past experiences.

But here’s the silver lining: taking that time off helped me immensely. It reminded me that it's okay to take breaks. For a while now, I'd forced myself to create, and not just for this podcast. My other podcast, ‘What the Poop?’ has been on a hiatus because I just wasn’t feeling it.

Tips to overcome a creative block:

Breaks are essential: My first tip is that it’s perfectly okay to take breaks. Creative ruts often signal that you need some downtime. Don’t be scared to step back, rejuvenate, and come back stronger.
Explore creativity in other areas: As I sat down to make a Valentine’s card for my husband, letting my watercolor brush flow, ideas began to simmer for my business. That’s when it hit me, creativity begets creativity. Engaging in different creative activities, whether it's painting, gardening, or even making a door wreath, can reignite your creative passion.
Change your environment: Sometimes, all you need is a change of scenery. I found myself inspiring new ideas just by moving from my office to my couch. Could be a coffee shop down the street or a nature trail – let new places breathe new life into your creative process.
Warm-up creatively: Before diving into creation, warm up with some creative exercises. Free writing or mind mapping are excellent ways to get those creative juices flowing again.
Consume divergent content: We sometimes get stuck in bubbles of content that are too familiar. Listening to podcasts outside of your niche, reading different genres, or watching unrelated TED Talks can spark new ideas and perspectives.
Honour natural cycles: For the women out there, sync your creative tasks with your menstrual cycle. You’ll find that different phases offer varied energy levels and creative propulsion. It’s something I’ve integrated into my routine after an insightful conversation with Renae Fieck on Success in Mind. You can listen to that interview here:

Lastly, I’ve created a hypnosis audio called Confident Content Creation, designed to help revitalize your creative spirit. You can download it for free.