How can you overcome creative blocks when resources are limited?

Unless you are working on a miracle project, there usually won't be enough resources for everything. Figuring it out is half the fun and is the nature of any creative endeavor. "Necessity is the mother of invention." We don't always think out of the box unless we are forced to. Break out of a block by: - Going for a walk in nature - Go to a gym/yoga/pilates/swim. Get out of your head and get into your body. - Come at it from another angle. Turn the idea upside down or inside out or sideways. Shift perspective. - Explain the problem to a three year old and see what they say. - Rapidly write or draw every idea, especially the impossible or stupid ones. Great ideas are sometimes lurking right behind them, just waiting to be discovered.

Whenever I hit a wall creatively, I know I need to disconnect and recharge. It’s a clear sign to me that my system is on overload, and my brain isn’t processing information and producing to its fullest potential. I like to do a quick 10 minute meditation to clear my mind, but a walk around the block, exercise, or even a few minutes of just listening to calming sounds or music helps. It’s amazing how this adds clarity; solutions become more obvious than they were before, or it becomes easier to think differently and see challenges from new perspectives.

Simplify & Increase Your Focus and evaluate the resources in hand and Imagine how these can be used in best & creative ways. Look Further and draw inspiration for fresh perspective. Take Pause & reflect if required to create the best. Remember Perfectionism is not in one’s hand But Trying is in your hand. So Try !!

Turn Limitations into Your Creative Playground! ???? - I'd embrace constraints as springboards for innovation ?? – use what you have to unlock new creative paths. - Seek feedback and team up ?? – collaborating with others can spark unexpected brilliance. - Experiment with diverse tools and techniques ??? – from sketchbooks to software, mix and match for fresh ideas. - Immerse yourself in creativity-boosting settings ?? – nature or art can be your muse. - Write down your wildest ideas ?? – your subconscious might be a goldmine of inspiration. Pro tip: Use Trello or Evernote to organize and visualize your creative projects and ideas! ??

In my experience it's about creating a team culture where creativity plays a key role. It's about developing a platform where people can share ideas. And it's about prioritization creativity within a team. During my career I've experienced multiple examples where teams came up with great ideas and the resources followed. Remember you got the best talent around you so let them share it.

It also has to do with humility and ability to want to communicate on many different levels. I still remember well the excellent insides I got into bottlenecks and operational problems while I was running a Shipchandler cum warehouse operation and without fail first thing in the morning I walked through the warehouse, talked to the storekeepers and drivers and checked the returns of the night with a coffee in hand. They are the recipients of all misaligned concepts that were defined upstream. Also got acceptance when I used the forklift to sort away idle pallets. Bottom up works very well!

An approach that has worked for me in overcoming creative blocks is establishing a diverse network and community for exchanging thoughts and ideas. This group, rich in different backgrounds, provides a constant influx of fresh views and perspectives, crucial for breaking through creative barriers. Interacting with these varied minds gives me insights and viewpoints that greatly enhance my problem-solving process. This network is not just a temporary fix for creative challenges but an ongoing source of inspiration, fostering a collaborative environment where innovative ideas continuously flourish. It's a dynamic ecosystem that nurtures creativity through diverse interactions.

An approach that has worked for me in these situations when scarcity innovation is the need is to get hyper focused on the outcomes … prioritize for the most impactful outcomes. Next, find affinity with other teams that may have an interest in the outcomes and find ways to pool resources and improve the plan. Finally, ideas attract investment, so if you have a well thought out and socialized idea with backers, pitch it forward to possibly unlock the funding needed.

Every single time I attend or listen in to more casual roundtables, panel discussions, and other knowledge-sharing events that gather groups from a wide variety of sectors, I leave the room with a bunch of ideas that can easily be applicable to our team with a few tweaks here and there. I also reach out to people who I think are doing interesting things or who I think may have gone through a similar challenge as me, you'd be surprised how open people are at helping each other out and sharing experiences!

Something that I've learned from big creative communication projects is that a business partner probably has the perfect solution to your problem. So seek collaborations as much as possible because solutions can appear more clearly once you surround yourself with the right people.

Im a visual person. Give me a whiteboard a marker for me and my team members and get stuff up on the board. Challenge each other to build on what’s on the board

?? It is impossible to become the new you doing the same things with the same people. ?? ?? Change your environment & influences so that they can change you! ?? I leveraged the power of #selfies to strengthen my #personalbrand. Focusing on my #voice, #value, and #visibility to communicate my message to different audiences around the globe ??! I was determined to leverage my iPhone ?? as a tool. Jumping in front of the lens to create engaging photos centered around courageous conversations about #coffee & #leadership! What new experience or new connection will you explore! #LeadLoudly #bold #courageous #leadership

It always helps to apply some design thinking principles to the problem. Think of the root cause of the problem. This, in my opinion helps you to gain perspective on the issue and better allocate resources and energy to tackle the main cause.

An idea here is to use tools and techniques that are outside of your comfort zone to spark creativity and enhance your learning experience at the same time. This doesn't have to be limited to your field or expertise as often techniques used by other fields could be customised to make it relevant to your field and style. For example, try experimenting with scientific methods instead of popular brainstorming and mind mapping tools. Sometimes, employing the unconventional could help obtain new perspectives while making you unique in your niche.

Explore physical or digital tools like sketchbooks, notebooks, cameras, software, and apps. Utilize methods or processes like brainstorming, mind mapping, prototyping, and testing. Combine various tools and techniques to establish your unique workflow. Through experimentation, explore different perspectives, visually express ideas, assess assumptions, and learn from setbacks.

There is a TedTalk that i have seen on LinkedIn that addresses how girls (North American) are brought up to not take risks. Gwen Stefani addressed this in the No Doubt song “just a girl”. I like E. Roosevelt: “Do one thing that scares you each day.” I add in “Smile and enjoy the learning process” while doing that scary thing. The creativity comes from the learning. This is where you break down the blocks. Encourage your team- all genders - to take calculated risks. Together and as individuals. Set the example yourself and openly analyze what worked and what did not. It is an approach rooted in engineering thinking. This will help to address those creative blocks. And help you and team leapfrog ahead in finding solutions.

Many years ago I did a fun project for myself called "Ten New Things". I finalized 10 new things for the year - but this idea can be done even on an everyday basis. The concept was to get out of a physical/mental "rut" or creative block by doing things that challenged me, or I had fun doing. Example: New route home from work. New route TO work. Brush your teeth with the other hand. Try a new food at lunch, invent a new signature cocktail for yourself (or dish). Sleep on the other side of the bed... You get the idea. I found simple things to do that were new and had fun with them - and soon the block was gone! Try to incorporate 10 new things in your own time frame - see what happens!

Fun, play, and getting out of our corporate and social echo chambers are so important in fueling creativity. Moving beyond our usual social circles helps us see things through other's lenses and perspectives. A friend of mine introduced me to a writers' festival that I wouldn't have attended if she hadn't told me about it. Attending panel discussions on Science Fiction, Young Adult Romance, Punk and Poetry, Hip Hop and literature over the past two weekends, I got a whole new view of my country's literary scene. I was bowled over by the energy and vibrance. I came away with fiction and poetry I would never have read otherwise. I'm looking at my country and people with a whole new lens. And I had a ton of fun.

The idea here is to break out of your comfort zone and learn new skills through a new medium, style, tool, or process. Challenge yourself to collaborate with others and obtain support and feedback from creative individuals. Having fun is essential here to sustain a relaxed and enjoyable state, which is a prerequisite for expression, imagination, and curiosity. Don't see obstacles as problems and reframe them as challenges where the task is to overcome these through original and innovative solutions.

If you are having a creative block in one area, it can be really helpful to take on a small task that is totally disrelated to what you are blocked on. This is even better if you take on something new that you have not done before. If you can take the opportunity to focus on something new to you, then you can get the benefit of adding some new skills, get away from thinking about the block for a little while, and come back with new perspective. Continuous learning helps you to always be looking for new learning opportunities, and helps evaluate how to think about existing issues in a new way.

Let go of the idea that creativity and resources have anything to do with each other. They don't. Creativity doesn't need resources. It needs time and time we all can create if we give it priority. Resources may be needed to implement and realize creative ideas, but not to come up with them in the first place.

Stay curious. Ask questions, experiment, and explore. Curiosity is the fuel of creativity, and when coupled with a sense of fun, it can lead you through the most challenging creative blocks. In essence, overcoming creative blocks is about shifting your mindset. Instead of viewing them as obstacles, see them as opportunities to grow and experiment. Every idea, no matter how small, is a victory against the creative block. Celebrate these moments. This positive reinforcement makes the creative process more rewarding and enjoyable.

Trust your team Ask your team Find the best Prioritise Think out of the box According to me this is the only way out to overcome such situations whenever it comes...

There have been times when I've come up with a great creative idea and developed the concept fully on paper so that I knew it could have meaningful impact if well implemented. But the implementation required resources I didn't have. I've been disappointed to have to shelve the idea, but I've retained the concept note for a brighter day. And that day would come, maybe even years later! I would go back to my old concept note and find that it was well thought out and lent itself perfectly to the present scenario. The joy is in the creative process itself, even if the creation doesn't necessarily or immediately see the light of day.

Don't underestimate the power and role of emotions and mood when it comes to creativity. These can significantly influence our thinking and actions. Do activities that are more likely to place you in a good mood as a warm-up to your creative efforts. The environment is also another important aspect of being better positioned to overcome creative obstacles, as sometimes, inspiration comes from placing yourself in the right place and looking around you. This could be nature, sports events, swimming, museums, concerts, the back garden, etc.