Creative blocks can be frustrating and challenging to overcome.
But it doesn’t have to be! I will help you understand creative blocks and offer ways that you can get past them.
Creative blocks happen for many reasons- because we’ve been working on a project for too long because we’re trying out something new, or just because we don’t know where to start.
Whatever your reason is, it’s time to get back into the game with these tips for beating creative block!
1. Set up an online collaboration space.
If you’re having trouble getting started, the best way to overcome that is by working with other people in a group setting. This can help give you ideas and motivation to finish your project!
Not only that, but it can be fun and a great way to network with other people too!
You can also brainstorm ideas, give critiques on each other’s work, and be inspired by others to finish your own project.
If you don’t have anyone in mind to collaborate with, try out these tools: Google Drive or Dropbox for documents, chat apps like Slack or WhatsApp for messaging back and forth depending on how many people are involved, or Trello to keep track of what needs to be done.
There are also many online communities that you can join for collaboration and ideas, like Behance!
2. Set a timer.
Suppose you’re having trouble sticking to your task. Set up an alarm. Or stopwatch for the amount of time that you want to work on your project.
This can help keep yourself accountable and give yourself better chances at completing it! For example, if you only have 30 minutes before dinner is ready, try getting as much done as possible before then.
This also helps you focus more on the task at hand and prevent distractions from getting in your way!
A great app for this is Time Doser. It allows you to set a timer for any amount of time- perfect if you’re not sure how long it’ll take to finish something. You can also customize the alarm noise to make it more unique.
One of my favourite features of this app is that it allows you to set a custom phrase for your alarms, like “Are you working on anything?” This can help keep yourself accountable and give others an idea of what’s going on!
3. Do something different.
If you’re in a rut, try something new!
You don’t have to switch gears with your project completely – just do one small thing that will help shake things up and get the ball rolling again. Maybe it’s changing the background of your document or trying out another tool for editing photos.
This can help get your thoughts flowing and give you new ideas to develop further.
Don’t be afraid to try out something that seems completely different from what you’re used to doing. It might just work!
You can also take a break away from the project, stop working for the day, or even start over with a fresh document if needed.
Remember: all you need is one small change to get things going again.
4. Take a break.
This can be extremely helpful if you’ve been working on the same project for too long. Or just need to step away from it altogether.
By taking some time off and coming back fresh, you’ll have new ideas that will help get your creative juices flowing again!
It’s okay to stop in the middle of a project. Or even to take a break for several days. You’ll be surprised by the results when you come back refreshed and ready to work again!
Just remember: no one can create their best work if they’re constantly working on something 24/365.
5. Limit your time.
If you need a little bit of an incentive to keep going, try limiting the number of hours that you have available for working on your project in a day or week.
This is helpful when it comes to staying motivated and creating something great!
You can either choose how many hours per week you want to work on your project or limit yourself to a certain amount of time per day.
For example, if you have two hours available in the afternoon for working on an essay, consider using that time instead of wasting it away with mindless activities like scrolling through social media. You can also try limiting yourself to just one hour per day- anything is better than nothing!
This is also helpful for when you’re feeling overwhelmed with everything that needs to be done. By setting a limit, it’s easier to get things under control and focus on what really matters most.
6. Meet with your collaborators.
Nothing is better than getting feedback from others!
This can be especially helpful if you’re having trouble finding the right direction for a project or have run out of ideas to work on next.
Collaborating with someone else will help spark new creativity and give you fresh perspectives that might otherwise never see the light of day.
It’s also helpful to have another person there with you as a support system, especially if they’re experiencing the same types of creative blocks that you are! You can share ideas and bounce inspiration off each other- it truly is a win-win situation.
Go out for coffee or lunch together, meet up at a library, or even schedule a Skype meeting. Whichever works best for you!
Don’t limit yourself to just one person either- keep it open and see who else might want to join the brainstorming session. You never know what great ideas will come out of this!
The possibilities are endless when you meet up with others in real life, so never be afraid to ask for help from those around you.
You’ll kick your creative blocks out of the park in no time!
7. Rework your schedule.
If you want to improve the quality of your work, you must be working on something new every day or week.
This can be difficult when other projects are hanging over your head that hasn’t been worked on yet, but this is where time management comes into play! Try blocking off specific times throughout your day or week for working on projects, and stick to those times as much as possible.
This will ensure that you’re getting the most out of your time and putting it towards creating something great! Plus: you’ll be less likely to procrastinate if you know exactly what needs to get done during a certain block of time.
If you’re having trouble finding the motivation to work on things, try using deadlines as a way of pushing yourself forward.
For example: if you have an essay due in three weeks and it’s already past the halfway point. Set weekly deadlines for getting at least one paragraph done every night after dinner so that by week four (the week before the deadline), you’ll have everything finished and ready to go.
This will take some pressure off your shoulders, which is another way to beat creative blocks!
8. Get some distance.
Sometimes it’s just a matter of stepping away from the situation and letting your mind relax for a bit.
Creative blocks can be caused by feeling overwhelmed with everything that needs to get done. So take time out for yourself every once in a while. If you’re having trouble focusing on anything else!
It might help to go for a walk around the block, take a few minutes to sit outside in nature, or do something fun like watching your favourite TV show.
The key here is to find ways to relax and have some “me time” every once in a while so that when it comes time to get back into work mode, you’re ready to go!
Creative blocks can be frustrating and difficult to overcome, but they don’t have to last forever.
Conclusion
Creative blocks happen to the best of us, but don’t let them get you down!
There are several ways to tackle different types of creative blocks and use your time more effectively.
Remember: it’s important not only to have fun with what you’re creating but also to enjoy the process as well! If it becomes a gruelling task, you’ll stop wanting to do any work at all.
Make sure that you’re always pushing yourself forward and working towards something great! There’s nothing more rewarding than the feeling of finishing an entire project from start to finish…and then moving on to your next project.