Creative Blocks – What are Creative Blocks and How to Deal With Them?

Cheers to me for making my first post here! :)

So, let's begin:

Last year was kind of the worst year for the creative me.

If you ask WHY, let me tell you that this was because of my inability to create new art or even invest my time and energy into commissioned artwork.

I considered this a “Creative Block” and assumed that I would overcome it in the next few days. But when it got extended to a few more weeks, I was a little worried. But even then, I decided to let it pass naturally… and did not put in much effort to overcome this; instead, I pushed myself harder and worked on a few projects which still lay incomplete in my closet.

Tired of all the efforts, I decided to clean all the mess I had created in the past few weeks one day. So, I locked all my craft supplies in one room, closed it, and started investing my time in discovering other hobbies I like or am willing to adapt… I started reading more and talking more with the people around me… I even invested time in mending my old blogs and social channels.

Trust me! That helped big time.

Other than this, this phase of non-activity helped me discover a lot about the term “CREATIVE BLOCK.” I learned about the ins & outs of this phase and how to better deal with it in the future.

So, here is what all I know about it 

Most of you must have understood what exactly is a creative block and how do you identify it, but, to describe this briefly, in a simple language, here is the brief:

What is a Creative Block?

Your situation can be described as a creative block when you feel that the connection between your soul and inner creativity is lost. Every creative person – be it writers, musicians, or any other artist, undergoes this phase at least once in their life – however, I expect there is always more. There is no fixed duration for this, and the creative block can last for days, weeks, months, and even years.

There are multiple types of creative blocks one can face, and some have their respective solutions. The following sections on this blog will make you aware of all of them:

To define a number, there are 5 types of creative blocks that I came across in one or the other way at different points of life, named below:

1. Overwhelm:

Having too much on your plate all at once can be overwhelming for all of us. This is not only having n number of tasks but having too many ideas or coming across too much information, and requests in one or the other form, and you are not ready to take on so many commitments.

What can be done in this scenario?

Cut things down – if you have too many ideas, jot them all, execute a few and leave the rest for later use; cut down the excessive intake of information especially from random sources. And if you are overwhelmed by the number of tasks at hand and have more requests, start saying NO to the upcoming requests so that you can complete the ones at hand in a peaceful manner.

2. Unproductive Work Habits:

Sometimes we develop certain work habits assuming they will be fruitful for us, but their implementation does not make you feel in the same way. This can be because of the non-alignment of the working schedule with our creative energies. For example, I am most comfortable working in a peaceful environment, with almost no people around and at night, and forcing myself to work in crowded places in the morning might hamper my work style.

What can be done in this scenario?

Re-align your schedule with your creative demands. If you feel that you have been more productive in the mornings, but with the schedule change, you have started working at night, change that; delegate the tasks which can be and are time-consuming for you; if lack of schedule is making you feel stuck, make a well-organized schedule.

3. Mental Block:

When your inner critics are shouting louder, or you are looking at things from the same perspective for a long time, it creates a more significant block and hence does not allow you to find new solutions to the required problems.

What should be done in this scenario?

Challenge your assumptions and your perspectives. Ask yourself more questions like “What if…”. Change the environment and talk to people around you who can challenge your views and help you think about the problems from a new perspective.

4. Emotional Barrier:

Unheard emotions often lead us to procrastination. Those emotions are often the fears we hold… fear of rejection, the fear of being judged, rejected, or ridiculed, because of which we decide not to make any art rather than try more.

The solution to this problem?

Make art every day… yes! This works all the time. Get yourself into a routine, try to meditate, and stay committed to your passion. Things might feel difficult initially, but once you have a knack for it, you will love it as you might explore several other things during the journey.

5. Personal Problems:

Sometimes, you are dealing with several problems all at once. This can be annoying, frustrating, and draining. And creativity needs focus, free space in your mind and heart… So, when you already have a lot of things to deal with in your mind, you feel a creative block for obvious reasons.

What to do next?

Art is therapeutic in many ways. In this scenario also, it can act as a magic wand for you. There are multiple ways to deal with this problem:

• try to solve the problems at hand – if they can be solved at short notice. A probable solution is to Take a break from work.
• strictly follow your routine – if you have decided to make art daily, even for 15 mins a day, do it. Don’t skip! This will relax your mind and might help you deal with your problems better

Before we do hit and trial for the above solutions, we must identify the type of block you are facing. Pick up a pen and a paper, write down the things that are bothering you and might be causing the creative obstruction and then look for relevant solutions. This will make the process smoother.

I hope the above info helps! And if you would like to add anything into this information, I will be glad to read in comments below.

Thank you for reading!