Tips To Stay Motivated When You’re in a Creative Rut

Even the most talented artists hit a creative wall every now and then. Creativity doesn’t come easy and generating new ideas is hard work. Whether you are working on a project or just getting started, it can be extremely frustrating when your mind draws a blank, you’re uninspired, or you feel like you don’t have a single new idea left.

Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to release those creative juices that are buried deep in your mind. Here are a few things we’ve found that can be helpful.

Take a break
Take the pressure off yourself. Spend some time away from your project to engage in another type of activity. Doing something mindless — like mowing the lawn, housework or organizing a closet — can be the mental break your mind needs. Great ideas hit when you least expect it.

Have an inspiration folder
Gather the items that inspire you into one location that you can reference when you hit a mental block. Select items such as books, posters, quotes, photos, or anything that motivates or inspires you and collect them into a box, a file folder, a Pinterest board, or a drawer in your desk.

Exercise
Exercise has tremendous benefits both physically and mentally. It is known to reduce anxiety, depression and negative mood and improve cognitive function. Taking some time to sweat it out can clear your head so you are open to those new ideas.

Do something else that is creative
If you are experiencing a mental block in one particular creative area, try focusing on something else that is creative. For example, if you are a painter who is feeling uninspired, write in a journal, play a musical instrument or listen to music. Sometimes that change in creative outlet is just what you need to get the new ideas flowing.

Consult other creatives
Talk to a friend or colleague about their creative process. Everyone has a different approach, philosophy or workflow, and talking with others about it is a good way to generate new ideas. Bouncing ideas off each other can benefit you both.

Forge ahead
Some creatives can break through the rut by plunging right in and forcing it. Set a timer for a small amount of time, and tell yourself that for those 15 minutes (or whatever the time frame is), you are going to do nothing but brainstorm. Don’t judge or scrap anything you create during this time. Enjoy the process of creating it. If you can’t start with inspiration, just start. Sometimes inspiration will follow.

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