How To Create When You’re Feeling Blocked

All of us as artists go through phases where we feel blocked, and struggle to flow creatively as freely as we could. When you find yourself in one of these sticky and frustrating periods, here are 5 tips to help get your creativity gushing forth like a mighty river once more:

1. Recall past triumphs. When struggling to create, your memory can become a little selective. It can seem like not only are you not creating now, but you’ve never created anything of any interest or worth ever in your life! Deep down you know this isn’t true. Spend some time recalling past creative highs to reassure yourself that yes, you have been highly creative before, and so you can be again.
2. Create from wants not shoulds. Sometimes the root of a creative block is that you’ve been creating purely from a “should” motivation. You’ve created the kind of work you feel you should be creating, that which you think your partner/teacher/family/peers/the postman expect from you. This will always lead to resentment and a limitation on your true potential. Create for YOU for once--follow your passions and create what your heart desires.
3. Start small and build. If you’ve been going through a difficult period of creativity, the worst thing to do is to set huge expectations on yourself. Instead, start small and build up to larger projects. Pick bite-sized creative projects you can complete in a matter of minutes and hours, not weeks and months. Focus on enjoying and discovering the pleasures of creating again, not some complex perfect end product.
4. Gather inspiration like firewood. There are times when the reason you’re feeling blocked is simply due to a lack of new inspiration. You’ve been so busy desperately trying to create, you’ve virtually shut down to new ideas and stimuli altogether. Spend time visiting and exploring new places with the aim of simply absorbing your surroundings and gathering ideas. However creative you are, it’s crucial to keep bringing firewood to the fire.
5. Remember your creativity is always there. Even though at times it feels like your creativity has up and left, taking the kids, the car and your most treasured possessions, never to be seen again, that’s not the case. Creativity is deeply embedded within you, and will always be there. It may sometimes nod off for a little sleep but you can always wake it again. As long as you believe this, you will always be able to return to creating.

Feeling creatively blocked needn’t be the terminal condition it feels like it is, if you follow these tips. Which can you make use of first?