
6 Ways to Be Creative When You Are All Out of Ideas
Whether you’ve just brainstormed out everything you have, or can’t seem to get started on that big project, we’ve all had those moments when our brains just refuse to come up with anything. If only your desk were in the shower! Alas, it’s not. But, here are some other ways to get your mind back in gear.
Bear in mind, different fields have different
- Take a nap. If your work demands creativity, odds are you’re tired. Catch some shut-eye, and more often than not an idea will come to you when you wake up. Pro tip: try to make finding an idea the last thing you think about before falling asleep. You may just find that you dream up something perfect.
- Have a hobby. Learn to knit, build model airplanes, knit a mural of you building model airplanes, whatever. Anything to take your mind off the task at hand. Sitting around trying to come up with ideas never helps. You might be surprised to find ideas come flooding in either during or after taking your mind off and doing something you love.
- Exercise. Shake up your mental state with a little…shaking (or whatever you do). Science supports the fact that exercise and mental productivity are connected (as well as happiness). I personally find boxing training great for idea gen. Getting yourself in a state of high energy, alertness and adrenaline will get those ideas out pronto.
- Spend time with your family. This works particularly well if you’re trying to come up with something funny (warning: may increase stress as well as creativity). On a more serious note, our families ground us in our identities. Much of the time, we put in the hours at work for them. They know you with and without your job title, and can be just what you need to get out of the endless work rut. They can be a great inspiration for true interaction between people and amazing dialogue.
- Meditate. Whether it’s on your own or guided, your mind can benefit from pouring out all those crowded thoughts you don’t need. Even just a few minutes can help, but it’s recommended that you incorporate meditation into your daily routine rather than just use it as an emergency salve. I’d recommend hitting YouTube or Spotify for some guided meditations.
All in all, don’t wait around for that creative fog to clear, not when there’s something you can do about it.
Of course, your process is your own. Maybe your best work comes after long stagnant periods. If there were a way for us to train and get good ideas on command, then this article would need never be written.
Alas, we all get creator’s block. Even the best. Also alas, we all have deadlines to meet, either our own or someone else’s. Hopefully, this list will help you if you ever really need to get stuck.
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