5 Ideas to be Creative When You are Blocked

We all hit walls creatively from time to time. The desire to be creative doesn’t go away despite the lack of brain cells cooking up ideas. Sometimes the best ideas come from experimenting, looking somewhere unexpected, or permitting yourself to make something that isn’t perfect. If you find yourself stuck, here are seven ways to get your creative juices flowing. 

1. Try a Completely New Medium
   1. Pick a medium you have never used before or have limited experience with and give yourself an hour to make something. Being a beginner gives you the freedom to not worry about being “good”. 
2. Look at Something You Normally Ignore
   1. Inspiration doesn’t have to come from an art museum or a Pinterest board. Look at packaging, architecture, old advertisements, street signs, nature, menus, or even the objects sitting around your room. Consider shapes, colors, textures, and patterns. Try going on a walk and photographing five things you find visually interesting. 
3. Have a Bad-Art Day
   1. Not everything needs to be a work of art. Permit yourself to make something ugly, weird, unfinished, or completely ridiculous. Bad ideas can lead to discovering a good one. Try giving yourself 30 minutes to make anything with no intentions or expectations. 
4. Random art generator
   1. Using a strange combination of words, images, or concepts to see where it leads. You can create a strange prompt for yourself and get an unexpected idea. Try picking an object, an aesthetic, and a place to create a prompt. 
5. Give yourself a break
   1. It sounds counterproductive, but it’s probably exactly what you need. Creativity is a skill; it takes time, practice, and consistency. Blocks can be a sign to get up, move, take a walk, do a silly dance, or explore something new. 

Creative blocks happen to everyone, whether you are a writer, painter, or crafter. It’s important to give yourself the leeway to not be perfect. Follow the strange idea. Try the ridiculous color combination. Make the project you’ve been thinking about but haven’t had a reason to start. You might be surprised where it takes you.