Last month, I hit a creative block. I felt spent and tired and I couldn’t find the energy or inspiration to create something good or new. Creative block is something we all encounter sometimes, and when it happens, it can be frustrating to try and get out of. What works for everyone is different, but here are some ways you might be able to find your creative spark again.
Take a break
Stepping back and taking a break is especially important when you start to feel worn down by all your commitments. With school starting this month, the sudden increase in workload can make you feel like you don’t have passion for your craft when you really just don’t have the time or energy.
Doing nothing isn’t a bad thing! If you are overloaded, taking time to put responsibility aside and recharge your batteries can give you the chance to bounce back refreshed.
Watch videos from other creatives
There are so many artists and crafters on YouTube and Twitch to draw inspiration from. I find that seeing the projects that others do gets me excited to create things too. When you are struggling to pull an idea from the air, following a tutorial could be what you need to get back into your creative groove.
Return to your roots
The Youtube artist DrawingWiffWaffles talks about how she works through creative blocks by defaulting to drawing what she is most comfortable with. You don’t always have to be experimenting or doing something innovative. Practice is equally important to improvement as experimentation.
Brainstorming
Sometimes good ideas form when you let your brain go in whatever direction it wants. Try starting with one idea or central theme and write or doodle the first thing that comes to mind. Allow the idea to evolve naturally and continue writing or doodling your train of thought until you have an idea that you’re happy with. You would be surprised at your final product and as a bonus you get to see visually how that idea changed and took shape!
Try something new
Maybe for you the solution is to go somewhere outside your comfort zone to try something new and different. I think of this as like a creative reset. Starting something new also helps regain that feeling of progressing and growing quickly, which can help you feel confident and eager to tackle your usual creative medium again.
Change your environment
We’ve all been staying at home for many, many months now and it can feel like creativity is stifled when you’re in the same space for a long time. Go on a walk, sketch in a park, or try moving your work outdoors. Even a small change like playing a different type of music can change the entire feel of your environment.
What helps me the most is watching videos and seeing work from other creatives. Seeing how good other people’s work is, and especially watching tutorials is what drives me to improve and practice.
What helps me might not help everyone, but I hope at least one of these methods will help you work through your creative block. What do you feel helps you through creative block? Leave me a comment down below or let me know on my Instagram or Twitter @thenerDIYblog. If you'd like your crafting questions answered live, I stream on Twitch at twitch.tv/finding_doro.
Comments