How can you spark creativity when you're stuck?

I've worked *really* hard to create a home office that I love — but if I'm feeling stuck, I'll leave it behind in a SECOND. Why? The change of scenery! Changing your environment is a simple but effective antidote for creative blocks. Maybe I take my laptop to my porch — maybe I go all the way to a coffee shop — either way, research supports that new environments make our brains perk up ?? and notice fresh details. One word of caution, though — novelty can also distract, so to harness the benefits without risking your focus, try setting a timer (ex. the next 20 minutes are all about this draft!) or focusing on a specific next step (no emails until this task is done). You got this!

The environment you're in has a significant impact on you! What suits others might not necessarily suit you, but generally, an uncluttered, clean, and fresh space is ideal for fostering creativity. Consider what environment you'd thrive in and create it. If that's not feasible, take short breaks in different settings to rejuvenate your creative energy: stroll in the park, visit a café, or find another inspiring spot.

To spark creativity when stuck, change your environment or routine to refresh your perspective. Take a walk, listen to music, or explore a new location to stimulate your senses and inspire new ideas. Engage in creative exercises like brainstorming, free writing, or mind mapping to break free from mental blocks. Seek inspiration from other fields, artworks, or literature to broaden your thinking. Collaborate with others to gain different viewpoints and spark discussions that could lead to unexpected insights. Allow yourself moments of rest; sometimes stepping away briefly helps your subconscious work through creative challenges. Embrace failure as a learning opportunity, reminding yourself that every attempt brings you closer to a success.

Your external environment is a reflection of your internal environment. If you're in a rut, take a moment to re-organize your space, clean up around the house, or even explore a new place you haven't visited yet. This will help shift and reframe your mindset.

Sometimes, all it takes to overcome a creative block is a few minutes outdoors. I’ve found that stepping outside for a brief walk, enjoying a change of scenery, and breathing in fresh air not only clears my head but is also scientifically proven to reduce stress and enhance focus. This simple act often gets my creative ideas flowing.

Trying something new is like opening a door to a world of endless possibilities. Stepping outside of your comfort zone can ignite your creativity in ways you never imagined. It's all about embracing the unknown, pushing boundaries, and discovering new perspectives. Plus, the confidence and adaptability you gain along the way are invaluable assets in both personal and professional growth.

By trying out a new activity, you are stimulating your brain and forming new neural pathways. It also helps disrupt the habitual patterns you already have, and can spark creativity during the process.

My favorite strategy to get unstuck creatively is to create a pattern interrupt. What this means is that you do something totally outside of your norm -- that takes you out of your routine. I remember several years ago when I was in a big creative slump, instead of trying to "do it harder" (which rarely if ever works!), I decided to insert a pattern interrupt. I went to pick up my son from school as usual, but rather than take him home to our normal afternoon routine, we went to go see a movie. He thought it was the greatest thing ever, and I felt like I had been transported to another world, even if briefly. By the time we got home, I felt refreshed and like I'd had a reboot. I've done this several other times and it always works.

For me, trying something new means pulling out an old book. Contradiction? It's not. The more original you try to be, the more the compulsion to conform prevails. And the more difficult it will be for you to find your own voice. The real novelty is what you can do in such a case, that you look at the task to be solved from a completely new point of view. That's exactly why the old book effect worked for me. Different thoughts, different atmosphere and a completely different point of view, which usually helps me find myself easily in the task.

Find a few trusted mentors, or work with a coach to get un-stuck. Finding other perspectives can be exactly what you need to see the situation in a new light. You can also find different tools to brain dump, whether that's writing in a journal, drawing, or using sticky notes or a white board to organize what's in your mind.

I use the random input exercise from lateral thinking guru Edward De Bono. It involves comparing a random object or situation to whatever thing you need ideas about. You come up with a lot of wacky stuff, but hopefully some gems, too. A simple form of this exercise is to imagine a random object. I like observing reality. The benefit of real observation is that you see things you might not have thought about. Try it out. Observe Watch, listen, feel, smell, touch Wonder What do I see? (or hear, feel, etc) What might be true about it? What is interesting about it? Write your thoughts. Even weird or seemingly unrelated ideas. Apply How might this relate to the work I’ve been doing? (what you're stuck on) What is similar? What is different?

Taking a break when done well can really add to the creative process. Scrolling on instagram, news app, youtube etc. is not a real break. It's cheap dopamine hit and detrimental to taking a break. Doodle, write, draw, movement are the kind of breaks that interrupt your stream of thoughts and help you refocus and can make you feel mentally sharper and energized.

One of the best things that you can do when you're stuck is to move. Move your body to shift your mind. Whether that's taking a break to go on a quick walk around the neighborhood (without being on your phone) or sneaking into a quick workout class, movement will help you shift your perspective to get un-stuck.

With our fast-paced world, it's easy to believe that more hours at work mean more productivity. However, my experience has taught me that the opposite is often true. Slowing down and taking the time to 'reflect' can actually increase your effectiveness and creativity. When we pause - we allow our minds to process and connect information differently; often leading to deeper insights and more sustainable performance over time.

We can often make the mistake of wanting to create something revolutionary with our creativity to show how good we are. If this fails, it is our self-confidence that immediately senses this "injury". Although it may be enough to develop a specific detail in more detail, as no one has done before. Or add 1-2 new details, which gives us a fresher solution.