10 Ridiculous Ways to Trick Your Brain Out of Creative Block
Morgan Morrow
Freelance Marketer | Bold, Authentic Marketing | Social Media Specialist
Some days, creativity just isn’t happening.
You sit down, ready to work, and your brain goes full “spinning wheel of death.” No ideas. No spark. Just you, your empty document, and the sinking realization that you’ve forgotten how to be creative entirely.
We’ve all been there. And while some people will tell you to “just push through” or “wait for inspiration to strike,” I think there’s a better way: mess with your brain until it has no choice but to start working again.
If you’re staring at a blank screen and feeling mildly concerned that you may never have an original thought again, try one of these weird, random, and borderline ridiculous creative exercises.
They’re dumb. They make no sense. And somehow, they work.
1. Write a breakup letter to something you hate
"Dear Mondays, it’s not me, it’s you. We’ve been through a lot, but I think it’s time we see other people…”
The more dramatic, the better. Make it long, emotional, and completely over the top. The goal? To get your brain moving without overthinking. Also, it’s weirdly cathartic.
2. Design an ad for an absolutely useless product
Think “Luxury Gold-Plated Paperclips” or “The Silent Alarm Clock (it doesn’t make noise, just vibes)”.
Your job? Write a ridiculously persuasive ad convincing people they need this product in their lives. Bonus points if you actually design the packaging or make a fake Amazon review for it.
3. Rename everyday objects with better names
Why are forks called forks? Who decided socks weren’t called foot gloves? Let’s fix that.
Suddenly, your brain is working again. You’re welcome.
4. Turn a boring email into a Shakespearean monologue
“Hark! The spreadsheet is updated, yet my soul remains unfulfilled…”
This is especially fun if you’re writing a dry work email. Add some “verilys” and “forsooths” and suddenly, it’s a masterpiece.
5. Draw your problem as a terrible doodle
Stick figures. Squiggly lines. Absolutely no artistic skill required.
Give your creative block a face. Draw it as a villain. Add speech bubbles. Turn it into a comic strip where you defeat it. The worse the drawing, the better the results.
6. Make a list of 10 terrible ideas
Bad ideas often lead to great ones. So, let’s get the bad ones out of the way.
Once you get rolling, your brain will start making connections. And suddenly, bad ideas turn into good ones.
7. Write a movie trailer voiceover for your to-do list
In a world… where one person must email three clients and buy oat milk… ONE HERO WILL RISE.
Make your to-do list sound like a blockbuster action movie. Add dramatic pauses. Read it out loud in your best movie-trailer voice. Bonus points if you play intense background music while doing it.
8. Describe your creative block like it’s a villain in a fantasy novel
Give it a name. What are its powers? How do you defeat it?
Maybe it’s “The Great Procrastinator,” who lures victims into endless social media scrolling. Or “The Void of Empty Thoughts,” a shadowy creature that feeds on overthinking.
Boom. Now you’re writing.
9. Recreate a famous scene… but make it stupid
Take a serious moment from a movie or book and give it ridiculous new stakes.
Go wild. The goal is to make your brain play again.
10. Make a new tagline for your life
Because why should brands have all the fun?
Once you write a few, you’ll be in the zone again.
Here’s the thing: creative block thrives on pressure. The more you stress about coming up with a good idea, the harder it is to actually have one.
So, instead of waiting for inspiration to show up like a diva showing up late to a concert, go do something weird. Shake up your brain. Make a bad idea on purpose. Rename your laptop “Clicky Clacky Word Board” and move on.
Try one of these prompts and see what happens. And if you come up with an even dumber idea (or a genius one), drop it in the comments.