What are Creative Blocks and How Do You Get Rid of Them?

Do you ever feel like you have run out of ideas? Do you feel like no matter how hard you try, you have lost the ability to be truly creative? Congratulations, you have fallen into a creative block! Do not fret, while this may not be the best place to be as a creative, there are plenty of ways to get out of a creative block. 

What is a creative block? 

While similar to writer’s block, which is the term used to describe the condition of a writer feeling like they cannot write anymore, creative block means the same thing but can be applied to a broader range of problems. This commonly occurs when working on a creative project like a film, and can be even more prominent when filmmaking is your occupation, not just a hobby. The concept of blank page syndrome fits well in this category; you may come across times when you have a document open to brainstorm, write, or plan, but your brain cannot seem to come up with anything to put on the page. 

Creative blocks can make finding inspiration a struggle. Perhaps you are simply so exhausted that you have run out of creative energy. You can feel like your ideas are not creative or good enough, which prevents you from continuing your work. The goal is not to stop creative blocks from happening, because unfortunately, they are inevitable. Instead, the goal is to learn tools to help you get yourself out of a creative block after you have fallen into one.  

Factors that can cause and interfere with creative block:

Mental Health

Mental health conditions like depression and anxiety can significantly inhibit creativity in certain cases. If you have anxiety, it can be easy to become overwhelmed with all of the work you have to do. When you are passionate about your work, which, in a creative profession you often would be, the pressure can begin to feel like too much. 

Depleted energy levels

Having less energy is a common factor in creative blocks. If you do not leave enough time for sleep, your quality of work cannot be maintained. Make sure to get more rest if you find yourself being affected by low energy while you are working. 

Stress

Everything we do and interact with can be a stressor throughout our day to day lives. Outside factors like financial worries, family responsibilities, and career concerns can put stress on your creative work, even if the work isn’t what is stressing you out. 

Perfectionism

Striving for perfectionism may cause a creative block. Focusing on making everything you create to be perfect can actually cause a loss of creativity due to constraints you inadvertently impose upon yourself. Perfection is impossible, so it is unproductive to keep dwelling on it. Try to redirect your attention elsewhere so that you can continue working without pressuring yourself to be perfect. 

Fear of Failure 

Fear of failure occurs when you do not want to develop an idea unless there is a 100% chance of success. This can be limiting because you don’t allow yourself the opportunity to workshop and develop the idea further than the initial stages of brainstorming.  

How to overcome creative block

As previously mentioned, there are plenty of techniques to help you get out of a creative block. Firstly, get to the root of the problem. Finding the core issue that is interfering with your workflow can be a real help if you are then able to isolate the root and remove it from your thought process. For example, if you know you are suffering from depleted energy levels, try to get more sleep. 

Another technique is to take time away from your work. Get outside, go for walks, and move your body! A 2014 Stanford study found that creativity increases by 60% when walking or being active. Take time to read books, surf the web, and consume media that inspires you, but don’t stress about looking for inspiration. Relax. Do these activities for you, not for your work, inspiration will come naturally.

Take a break and redecorate. Reorganizing your workspace can put you in a new mindset. Alternatively, you can completely change your location or workspace. Working somewhere new is a good way to refresh your mind. 

Alternatively, try changing your perspective. If you have a clear goal in mind, try changing that goal or getting rid of it entirely and see if that helps you find more creative ways to keep working. Remember to stop chasing perfection!

Asking others for input on your work can be a great way to gain new perspectives and avoid a messy mind spiral. If you have not done so already, develop a routine, or change up your day-to-day routine. Work during your peak times. If you find that you are most productive at 8:00am, then get up to work early. If you are most productive at 2:00 pm, then schedule time to sit down and work accordingly. It sounds paradoxical, but forcing productivity at a time when you really do not feel productive can actually be counter productive. 

Look into your past work for inspiration. Maybe you will find something that reminds you of a certain idea you had, or your work might inspire new ideas to form in your mind. Make something wrong. Try to make something that is completely against what you are going for. This can create a low-stakes environment where you put less pressure on yourself. Alternatively, put boundaries on yourself. This can create some weird and creative ideas to form. 

Keep a notebook with you for when inspiration strikes. This can be a notes document in your phone or a real notebook on paper, but write down all of your ideas, good and bad, down in a place where you can find it. This “braindumping” is a good way to visualize any and all ideas that you can then workshop as you develop your project. 

Creative blocks can be stressful, especially in an industry in which the products like film and television projects are based on creativity. If you get stuck in a creative block, take things one step at a time and remember that this feeling will pass. 

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