What can you do when you find yourself in a creative hole? It happens to all of us, even those who seem to be the most creative of the bunch. We all get stuck. From time to time we run out of ideas, don’t know what to say or what to do or get caught in a rut that it may seem difficult to get out of. But the more discouraged you allow yourself to be, the more troubles you will face. Instead, there are steps you can take to become proactive and pull yourself out of a hole.
When you’re ready to see your creative side again and ready to get out of a hole, think for a bit about the things that inspire you, the things that make you happy or the things that get you fired up. Emotions are a great pathway to creativity. Just take a look at famous poets and artists. You also need to get your stress in check as this will interfere with your abilities to be creative.
When you find yourself in a hole, consider these ideas:
• Do something for yourself- treat yourself to a favorite meal, favorite movie, bubble bath, etc
• Do something nice for someone else- this can leave you in a happy, giving mood which often helps you out of a creative hole
• Visit with the greats- take time to honor or remember creative greats. Painters, singers, artists, inventors and more from the past can help you climb out of a creative hole. Read about them, watch movies or study their work to get inspired.
• Take a break- sometimes people fall into a slump because they’re just pushing themselves too hard. Taking a break could be all you need to get rejuvenated.
• Try something new to stretch your creative juices. Do something different from what you are currently trying to do. Something new or something different can help get you out of a hole and give you fresh ideas.
• Brainstorm aloud with someone else. Sometimes getting thoughts and ideas out through voice with someone else can help you out of a rut and leave you feeling more rejuvenated.
We find these ideas and tips helpful when in a creative slump and hope that you will find them useful as well. Whatever happens, if you are in a hole, don’t just stay there. You can take the steps to be proactive about it and get your spirits up once again.
