6 Ways To Overcome Creative Block

Think of creativity as the rhythm of a song. In our human nature, just like music, we go through many different beats every single day. One day we may be on full blast with high energy and loud ideas flowing out of us, and the next may be a quiet, slow melody. It's important for us to find that perfect balance of an energizing and calming rhythm to keep a consistent pace each day. I immediately think of the songs Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen or American Pie by Don McLean, because they both have the perfect mix of slow and fast rhythms that bring good vibes.

One of the most important things to remember is that creative blocks are completely normal. This usually is a result of us overworking our brains and doing things too quickly to where we burn out.

We are all human. It happens to me. It happens to you. It happens to everyone.

Although this is bound to happen to all of us at some point or another, it can still be very frustrating, discouraging, and confusing. However, this feeling is only temporary. Sometimes creative block may feel like it's overstaying its welcome, but this is just a sign from the universe that we need to take care of ourselves.

Here are six ways to overcome creative block:

~ Take Some Time Off ~

Yes, you read that correctly. We often forget that rest is important and much needed. You can't pour from an empty cup, and your creative block may be a sign of exhaustion and overworking yourself.

Give your brain a break by committing to no technology for one whole day. Spend time in nature, whether it's going on a hike, going to the beach, taking a walk, or a one day road trip to somewhere new.

It's important to let your brain rest during a creative block. This can seem difficult when you feel as though you have a thousand things that need to be accomplished, but no motivation to do them. Resting your mind with a 20 minute nap, sleeping in, or going to bed a little earlier can help freshen your thoughts for a new beginning.

~ Collaborate With Others ~

Doing it all yourself can be so exhausting. As I said before, we're all human. We can only do so much and it's always okay to ask for help. There is nothing to be ashamed of when you need assistance with a project.

Collaborating with others can bring new perspectives to a project that you may not have thought of or considered before. When you are open to new ideas, your creative juices will start flowing and can become a fun exercise of bouncing ideas off each other.

~ Have a Go-To Playlist ~

There are countless studies that have shown music can positively effect our productivity, mood, and creativity. Find or create a playlist that gets your creative juices flowing.

I personally love listening to The Ultimate Hippie Playlist on YouTube Music. It has a mix of all my favorite bands and artists. From The Beatles to Queen to Fleetwood Mac to Diana Ross to Eagles to 4 Non Blondes, and so many more!

I'm currently jamming out to 'What's Up?' by 4 Non Blondes as I type this!

~ Watch Inspiring Movies ~

Dedicate a night to watching one of your favorite movies. Grab the wine, cookies, popcorn, or whatever comfort food you need, and transport yourself to a different reality for a few hours.

A few of my favorite movies include: Any Harry Potter movie, Mama Mia! Here We Go Again, It's Complicated, Sex & The City: The Movie, Wanderlust, The Greatest Showman, The Intern, Bohemian Rhapsody, and Hairspray.

I am a sucker for musicals because they always take a story to the next level for me, and I get to sing and dance along! Musicals leave me feeling inspired, motivated, and get my creative juices flowing.

Can you think of a movie that leaves you feeling inspired after watching it?

~ Do a Brain Dump ~

Our minds think about 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts per day. As mentioned in my blog post Brain Dump Exercise To Calm Your Mind, 80% of our thoughts are usually negative and 95% are the same repeated thoughts throughout the day.

Grab a pen and paper and start writing out everything in your head. You may be surprised at how much or how little you end up writing. This may also help you discover the root of your creative block. Seeing your thoughts on paper can enlighten and help you find a solution to what's bothering you deep down.

I personally always feel relieved after doing a brain dump in my journal. It makes me feel as though I have drained all the negativity or loud thoughts that were floating around in my head.

~ Meditate ~

Taking 5-10 minutes of your day to quiet your mind and clear your thoughts is so important. Meditation is one of the oldest tricks of the trade, but often overlooked. There is a stigma that meditation can feel too difficult, especially if you have a lot going on in your life and you feel too overwhelmed to slow down for even a minute.

There are so many benefits from meditation that include: relieving stress, increasing productivity, decreasing your heart rate, and boosting your energy and mood. If you struggle to practice meditation on your own, I encourage you to search for guided meditations on YouTube. Meditation With Adriene is one of my favorites on YouTube that's also free!

Practicing meditation every day, whether it's first thing in the morning, the middle of the day, or before bed, can help rejuvenate your creative process.