Getting stuck when working on important stuff or just getting stuck at all can be really crazy and frustrating. Whew! I would know, it’s scary to say the least. Your creative juice just suddenly stops flowing and nothing worthwhile comes to mind. Then you start questioning your talents; if you can do it, or you’ve finally lost it. The scariest part is, this can go on for years if not worked on. You think to yourself if you’d ever be able to get the spark back.
One of three people has had to go through this phase. Sometimes, it is seen as a sign of failure but I assure you that it is not. What anyone in this situation should endeavour to do is try to learn how to bring back the spark, how to keep the creative juice flowing again. You can think of it as trying to get a jumpstart. You just need something to keep to keep the spark alive and going
Here are a few ways to find the spark again;
- Take a Break And Reset
Knowing when to take a step aside to take a break is really important. A saying goes. “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”. This play here doesn’t mean to go to the extreme. It could be as simple as just taking a walk, getting some fresh air or having a cigarette. One of the best ways to get unstuck is when you stop forcing it. You can easily get ideas when taking a walk or when getting some air and the thing is, the best ideas come when you’re not forcing it. Creativity will come at you when you stop chasing it.
- Limit Yourself
When you get inspired, or when you’re in the zone, try as much as possible to limit yourself. For example, if you’re designing, you can use maybe 2 different shapes and colours or time yourself. This is so you don’t put too much pressure on yourself. If you’re writing, you can just write a paragraph at a time. There’s a saying that “freedom can sometimes paralyze you”. If you have too many choices, it will keep your head spinning and you can get frustrated from this and that is not what we want. Take it easy on yourself.
- Share
No one is an island of knowledge. You shouldn’t put yourself in isolation. Creativity can come from anywhere, be it when talking to a friend, a stranger in a coffee place or a colleague. Share ideas with people so you can know how they think and you can in turn get inspired from them.
- Switch Environment
One of the most beautiful things about life is that we have different cultures, different cities, and we can get inspired just by moving around and having to be a part of this. The world is large and filled with so many creative spaces. It could be as simple as moving from your street to another street. Try moving around, going to parks, coffee houses, bars, etc. A small change can make an enormous difference and change your perspective on how you see things.
- Fuel Your Body and Soul
You should learn to take care of your body and soul. As a creative, this is really important, a clear mind can prevent “creative block”. Eat healthy, drink water, take a walk, take a power nap. The ideas flow better when your body and mind is well taken care of.
Getting stuck or “creative block” shouldn’t be the end of life. It just means your mind is telling you to take a break and relax. Learn to eat well, exercise, sleep well, share ideas and get inspired. Creativity will always come back, it’s never lost. Every action you take, no matter how little, will help to get the spark back. Just keep your mind free and open.
