No matter what your career focus may be, few people can claim that they haven’t fallen victim to the dreaded creative block.
Creative blocks happen when a person loses the ability to access their internal creativity. The causes for these blocks are myriad and can range anywhere from low self-confidence to repeated rejection to everyday stress and burnout.
Whatever the cause, creative blocks drain you of your time and energy. For many, this lack of inspiration can be stressful and frustrating, especially when there seems to be no hope of shaking it off. The good news is you can pull yourself out of a creative rut (and it may be simpler than you think).
Here are 5 ways to help you climb out of a creative funk:
Create an Inspirational Space: Stimulate your creativity by creating an inspirational work environment. Surround yourself with your favorite objects, art, quotations, and anything else that makes you feel happy and inspired.
Spend Time in Nature: Spending time in nature is a proven way to boost creativity. Even if it means taking a simple walk, getting out into nature can improve the way your brain functions. By letting go of everyday distractions, nature frees up space in your brain and allows your subconscious to take over. This can bring about renewed focus, better concentration, and better problem-solving.
Keep a Journal: Consider keeping a journal to easily record your ideas. And don’t feel that you have to use your journal in the traditional way. Yes, you can jot down your thoughts and feelings, but you can also use your journal like a sketchbook. Sketch out your ideas, including photos, textures, patterns, and whatever else you want. It’s your journal, so use it in a way that works best for you.
Allow Yourself to Daydream: Considering the hustle mentality of our culture, daydreaming gets somewhat of a bad rap. But if you’re looking to boost your creativity a little daydreaming can go a long way. Contrary to what we’ve been taught, daydreaming can be a positive and productive mental activity, and science suggests a strong link between daydreaming and the formulation of creative ideas. Daydreaming works because it allows our minds to wander freely into places where logic, reasoning, and our everyday habits have less of a hold.
Go With the Flow: Speaking of daydreaming, try not to judge your ideas, even if they seem silly at first. Permit yourself to let your imagination run a little wild. Let your ideas flow naturally and before you know it your brain will be making the connections you need to create an exciting and workable idea.
Need more tips to get you going? Explore these links: