6 Simple Steps to Overcome Creative Block
We are all sometimes stuck in place where we staring at blank piece of paper or empty screen, looking out for ideas. Unfortunately, any of them can’t come up to our mind. Some people call it creative block or writer’s block, no matter how we want to call it, one thing is certain — considerable part of people struggle with it — from entrepeneurs to artists.
Let’s take a look at creative block and how to deal with it.
1. Look out for diverse experiences.
As Steve Jobs said “creativity is connecting things”, it means to achieve higher level of creativity you have to try to see a bigger picture — recognise hidden patterns, notice connection between seemingly unrelated topics and things.
In my opinion, the easiest way to overcome creative block is to reaching out for new — experiences, conversations, subjects. For example, if you’re graphic designer, go learn something new about History of Art or go to the furniture store, where you can see a lot of new patterns that can immediately absord your mind. In a new environment is easier to stimulate our brain.
I remember when I had a huge creative block and a lot of projects going on. In those days I was working on “auto-pilot” mode. One of my school project was going to museum and write a review of the exhibition. Even though I wasn’t a long time watching exhibition due to tight schedule, it helps me so much. My brain has opened to a new things, absorbing almost everything — from colors, textures to lettering. I left museum with refreshed head full of ideas. I even discovered my new favorite painter. I couldn’t wait to go home and write a review. On the same day, I sent my best work so far.
Devote your time learning something new, but in addition, spend it with total concentration and focus. This allows us to enter the state of flow, which make us less susceptible to external factors. We’re becoming like a child who got a dream toy.
2. Let yourself to do a bad work.
Getting stuck in one, uncomfortable place put pressure on us that leads at least to frustration. Then we are stuck in a vicious circle that seems to be a place with no way out. Place full of negative thoughts, regret and anger.
We as humans beings have a tendency to block ourself from doing something because we know that what we’re doing is not going to be perfect. Then we get nervous because we are not creating, but we cannot create something that is not “perfect”. we function in this vicious circle.
Allow yourself to do a bad work, but a work.
Remember that it is better to be a content with even a little bit of work done than end up with bitterness and frustration. Definetly be easy for yourself, take that pressure off, don’t try to be always perfectionist and just create, eventually it leads you to inspiration.
If you’re stuck, remember about this quote:
“Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together” — Vincent Van Gogh
That’s the magic of compound interest.
The more experiences you collect, the more connections you have.
The more you think abstractly, the more creative you become
The more, the more… (write what you want)
3. Slow motion multitasking.
This is a concept that I heard in a TEDx lecture led by Tom Hardford, a well-known economist and journalist who developed this method helping unleash countless amounts of creativity.
Hartford describes a long-term research project that was led to answer the question — why some scientists manage to produce a significant work during their lifetime?
They found a common pattern: scientists changed subjects frequently
The research showed that on average, the most enduringly creative scientists switched topics 43 times in their first 100 research papers. It seems to be magic pill. So why then multitasking can be very helpful, and how can you use it to your advantage?
Firstly, slow motion multitasking works because our creativity is contextual, so if you take an idea from original context and move it somewere else it helps you to think outside the boxes and you started to connecting the dots. You will start noticing the invisible.
Secondly, learning to do one thing well can often help you do something else. You begin to transfer the patterns that were helpful to you in learning the first skill onto the mastering another.
Thirdly, we can use slow motion multitasking as assistance provider when we’re stuck. Switching topics and context can be very helpful. I’m assume, that you remember when you were doing a crossword puzzle and you couldn’t figure out a good answer? You probably went to do something else, then you came back refreshed and…you entered the correct answer effortlessly.
To be clear, I don’t believe in multitasking itself, meaning focusing on few things in the same time. I believe in diversity and focusing on few things throuought the whole day, which allow you to create a system.
4. Crack your cocoon.
Sometimes we don’t realize how close we are to the new possibilities. We let the opportunities slip through our fingers. Just because we see no further than the end of our nose. Just because we don’t give a try.
Let me share a story with you.
Bill Stainton, 29-th Emmy Award winner describes his plane journey, which he wanted to spend alone. Unfortunately, the last passenger to board the plane turns out to be seated next to Bill. Stainton found the woman too weird, so he hadn’t spoken any word to her throughout the trip. He put his headphones on and listened to Stravinsky, the famous Russian mussician.
During the last five minutes of the flight, it turned out that this weird woman was a teacher. A music teacher. A Russian music teacher. And even better, she was with Stravinsky when he wrote the song that Bill had been listening to throughout the plane trip. Stainton was amazed.
Unfortunately, they did not have time to talk longer. The journey was over. They never met again. Bill lost the opportunity to know possibly the most fascinating person he ever met. Separated from her by 5 inches with his headphones and covered with a safe and warm cocoon.
Crack your cocoon and insted of looking at other people as different, look at them as additional pieces to puzzle. You’re just one piece, you need the others to complete the picture. Be a puzzle collector and connector. Creativity is nothing more than combining elements that do not seem to fit at first glance.
Take a look at Jim Carey and his jokes. He mixes elements that seem to be from completely different worlds, he takes several elements that don’t normally go together and create a new quality. That’s why jokes even in general are so funny because you see the medu-up thing that seems to be out of the world.
But let’s back to creative block.
The lesson from Bill is to collect various puzzles and dots. The more experiences and interactions you have, the more connections you can make.
If you’re stuck with a project or you do not fully believe in certain ideas and it’s blocking you, just give them a chance. In the best case scenario, you’ll be grateful to yourself, because maybe you’ve just met the most inspiring person or you came up with an idea that changed your or someone else’ life.
Remember: Innovations and opportunities live outside of your warm cocoon.
5. Just sink in.
Take a break. In today’s world we’re so overwhelmed that we don’t see what we’re missing. It’s easy to drown in the world full of informations, fake news, clickbaits and social media posts. Use the information wisely, filter it first and then select those you consider valuable.
However, it is better to create a favorable environment yourself. It’s easier to overcome a creative block by being active than passive. That’s why I recommend you sometimes to cut yourself from the outside world and link to the inner world. Take action from inside. Be your own curator.
What I mean by saying “be your own curator” is basically let yourself immersed in “your world” to get inspired and then open to outside world, having already some ideas. For example:
Watch an interview on YouTube with your favorite artist or read his biography.
Browse the furniture catalog.
Flick through the pages of photo album.
I remember watching George Condo’s interview, the artist who created a “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” album cover. It allowed me to recharge my batteries and get back to work with head full of ideas. The way he thinks is a pure inspiration for me. Definitely worth a watch.
Create an inspirational bubble and be in it. It doesn’t have to be complicated or thought-proviking like reading. Many people find helpful to perform simple and routine tasks, such as washing dishes or raking leaves.
6. Quick tip from Tim Ferris’s book “Tools of titans” - how to maintain creativity?
This is a famous book, in which Tim did a lot of thought-provoking interviews with outstanding people. One of them is James Altucher, the famous American heghe-fund manager and entrepreneur. He shared a one tip that help him be creative.
James recommends to get into the habit of writting down 10 ideas in a notebook every morning. This exercise is designed to strengthen the “idea muscle”.
When you came up with your ideas. Divide the sheet of paper into two columns. In one, write down your ideas, and in the other, the first steps that will allow you to reach your idea. Remember, for one idea you write down only one step.Don't limit yourself, ideas can be from any field, not only business. They can also apply to private life. This is what creativity should be like, unlimited.If you find it valuable and helpful in some way, I encourage you to follow me on Twitter ;) - click