You've spent hours and days thinking about what type of content you want to put out next, but it's just not coming to you. You know the direction you want to take, and yet you haven't taken action.
Time and time again, we find ourselves in a creative block. Trust me; we have all gone through it. A creative block is this barrier where it's challenging to tap into inspiration and focus your thoughts. It can look different for everyone. Sometimes, you feel trapped in your thinking, you're overwhelmed by emotions, your work habits aren't working, or life has just gotten the best of you.
The first step is to take a deep breath and relax. I'll wait.
Now that you're centered, let's look at ways to get out of your creative block.
1. Practice meditation.
Your self-care is a priority. When was the last time you meditated? If you have never tried it, I encourage you to do so. Meditation allows for space to center and ground yourself. You can sit quietly or play calm music in the background.
I meditate by sitting or lying on my floor, closing my eyes, and taking deep breaths. One of my meditation playlists plays in the background while I focus my thoughts. The trick to meditation is to do it long enough. Once your mind begins to drift again, stop before you get in too deep, and overwhelm yourself.
Relax to my meditation playlist on Spotify here.
2. Take a walk. Change your environment and see the world with a fresh pair of eyes.
You can find creative inspiration anywhere and everywhere. Take a walk around your neighborhood, visit a park, go for a drive, or go on a hike. My point is: get some fresh air. I like to throw on a playlist and explore the city.
Vibe out.
Check out some architecture, look for murals, notice how everything in the environment blends. Jot down some notes, take a picture, or leave yourself a voice note of things you see and like.
During my city strolls, I've found beautiful murals that I admire and have taken inspiration from. Here is a mural I found while visiting a CVS:
Carver Langston Mural by Aniekan Udofia | Northeast, Washington, D.C.
3. Take a trip to the museum or gallery.
Inspiration is around you. Become inspired by your peers and view their work in a museum or gallery. Be sure not to copy their work, only draw inspiration from it. Notice the details of the piece and what brought it together. Things to look for could be the patterns in a textile, sculpture formation, how the photographer captured their subjects, or the emotions the artist evokes in their work. The creative possibilities are endless.
Here is one of my favorite piece I photographed while visiting the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C.
Jo Baker's Bananas, 1997 by Faith Ringgold
4. Use social media to your advantage.
Social media can be a tool or a distraction. You can find inspiration from it or, you can trap yourself into imposter syndrome. Use it wisely.
My favorite sites for gathering inspiration include Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube. Of course, there are other platforms, but these are the ones I use the most.
Create boards on Pinterest to organize your ideas. There are so many images available to you on this platform. It's as simple as creating a board and saving pins to the board. You can also take it a step further by organizing them into sections.
Instagram has the 'save to collection' feature to create private boards with other user's posts. Find images by searching through hashtags and following users who fit your personality and niche.
YouTube is another resource for drawing ideas and learning more; watch a music video or tutorial. You can create public and private playlists here as well to organize your ideas.
Again, use social media as a productive tool. Don't become wrapped up in the planning phase. Take what you need and get to work.
I hope my tips provide a solution to this creative barrier for you. You don't have to feel stuck. The block doesn't last forever. There are ways to get out of it and move forward.
Let's unblock it and get the creative juices flowing!