We Know, But We Often Forget

Every creative person has experienced some sort of block. Whether your passion is music, writing, design, art, or anything else. You will have your moments when you can’t produce anything, or, if you can, it’s not up to a level you’re proud of.

If you are a creative professional, the additional pressure can often make these creative blocks more stressful. You have others relying on you to make something, and if you let them down, you could miss out on a pay check. Sometimes it can result in your reputation diminishing.

If you ever find yourself in this place, the first thing you need to do is remember that it happens. It’s the inevitable downside of being a creator, and everyone has been there.

You Have to Step Away

Take a break. Step away from your computer, or guitar, or canvas. Do something fun and relaxing that isn’t related to your art. Some suggestions could be watching a movie, taking a walk, or hanging out with a friend. You could also make a different kind of art; for example, if you’re a musician who likes to paint, now would be a good time to pick up a brush.

Many times, this is where we get out of our creative blocks. With whatever project you’re working on in the back of your mind, you can see something outside, or hear something from a friend, that could solve whatever issue you’ve been stuck on. It could even just be that you needed a break, and you’d been stressing yourself out too much.

There are times when even taking time to do other things doesn’t help, and those days are particularly frustrating. In those situations, after you’ve taken a break, it usually helps to put away everything you’ve bee working on and start back at phase one: research. Look at other artists who have accomplished what you are trying to do, if possible try to find out how they got there. Re-focus your goals on the project at hand, ask yourself, “What am I trying to make? Why am I getting stuck?”

Don’t be afraid to ask for help, talking to creators you look up to is also valuable. Through all of it remind yourself, “It happens, I will figure it out soon.”