Creativity works like muscles. In order for it to flourish, we need to train and nourish it every day. For people in the creative industry, "creativity workouts" are a necessity because it is our main capital in operating professionally.
Just like physical workouts, creative processes sometimes involve challenges and pain. One of the most common challenges is being stuck at work, which is more popularly referred to as having a Creative Block. This is a normal thing to happen because we are all humans with limits. At Teesley, we do the following steps when faced with a Creative Block. Maybe you can also use them to help you calibrate and get back in tune with your creativity.
1. Take Small Breaks
When doing bigger projects that take a longer time, there are times when you get clueless on what to do next. This is a perfect time to realize that you need to take a short break. During your break, you might be able to see things from a different perspective and get fresh ideas to move forward.
There may be times when you know what problems are ahead but is yet to figure out the solutions. When such times occur, a quiet mind is usually good to step back and see the bigger picture. This way, you will have a calmer approach to address your problems.
2. Don't be Afraid of Mistakes
In pursuing a creative outcome, there are little details that you may have to pay attention to along the way. Therefore, you are expected to be able to manage priorities in doing them. These abundant tasks are sometimes terrifying because you might make mistakes.
Again, it's important to realize that mistakes are human. Mistakes are normal and are not the end of the world. Try to take a pause and face your fears and make that mistake! The key is to focus on doing your best and know that you will always have the opportunity to fix your mistakes and learn from them.
3. Always Seek Feedback
Positive feedback evokes positive energy and fuels your creativity. And then, negative feedback is a priceless learning opportunity for you to grow as a person. When you are able to incorporate your emotional intelligence into your creative work, any kind of feedback only brings betterment.
With this in mind, try to actively seek feedback from others. Show up and tell the world about your craft and embrace whatever comes your way afterward. Upon getting any sort of feedback, you will have enough ammunition to break the walls of Creative Block and take the next big step.
4. Nurture Curiosity
Many times, creativity sparks from a sense of wonder and curiosity. When you ask questions, you actively seek ways to solve problems and create something that aims at improvement—and even perfection.
When having a creative block, it is always helpful to start with a question. Then, explore your options using things that you love, like your hobbies or favorite artworks. Personally, we usually get together over coffee and ask each other random questions about the world. While having our minds open wide to any sort of discussion, moments like these are always helpful to run our creative engine and our creative juice flowing back.
5. Takeaways
There are tangible steps you can take to face a creative block. Some are more relaxing, and some challenge your ideas. Whichever works best for you, remember that a creative block is something you can always face, address, and conquer. This is because we, humans, are resilient creatures that have managed—and will always manage—any problems thrown into us.