How to Deal with Creative Blocks & Create Systems that Help Prevent Them
How many of you creatives have a creative process that is grueling and toiling and not at all pretty? For me as a graphic designer my creative process almost always involves a point where I have a creative block. This usually happens midway in the project where I start to question my design rationale or if I even have one. I begin to get frustrated and anxious about finishing the project and coming to a design solution. I get anxious about the uncertainty of how things are going to come out and worry that I’ll fail. Sometimes it’s so much that it becomes agonizing and debilitating. Now that I’ve recognized this in myself I am able to deal with it a little better and remind myself that it’s all part of the process. I still struggle with having fun during the process. After seeing this pattern in myself here are some tools that I whip out when I find myself having a creative block.
CREATE QUICK FIXES
Have you ever tried to start your car and it doesn’t start? Well before calling a tow truck or mechanic you should probably make sure it has gas, check the battery, etc. These are quick fixes that I implement when I need to get in the groove. I used to read these around the internet I would think they were silly and weren’t going to help. Even if you think these won’t work at least try them before giving up or having a meltdown. Try doing some of the quick fixes below and see which work best for you.
- take a walk
- take a break
- put the project away for at least a few hours or a full day
- put on your “inspiration” music playlist
- listen to a podcast
- call up one of your friends that will put you in a good mood or make you laugh
- call a fellow creative or someone who understands what you’re going through
What I’ve noticed is that these work great for getting in the groove of creating. We all have those days where you can’t seem to get started or are too distracted. If I’m not feeling in the mood to start working there is nothing my Lana Del Rey playlist can’t fix. That’s why I call these quick fixes. They work when you’re having a 3pm post-lunch slump. They help when you just need a quick reset or need help refocusing. Try to implement these before you have a freakout moment. Just like before you go to the doctor for your headaches you might try taking a Tylenol or Advil first.
IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM & LOOK FOR PATTERNS
DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR CREATIVE BLOCKS HAPPEN?
Look for patterns for when they occur so that you can better prepare for them. Next time you have a creative block ask yourself these following questions. It is so important to more clearly identify what type of creative block you are having. The term “creative block” or “writer’s block” is so ambiguous that you should have different types of these blocks. The questions below will help you discover whether what you are facing is just an uninspired mood or if you are really stuck and don’t know how to move forward.
ARE YOU NOT REALLY EXCITED WITH THE PROJECT?
Obviously this can be a big reason for those creative blocks to happen. Unfortunately you’re going to have to find a way to motivate yourself. If you took on a project that you’re not excited about but maybe you needed the paycheck, remind yourself that the paycheck alone should be motivation. Or remind yourself that it’s not the client’s fault that you said yes to the project. So give it your best. As a note for future reference, don’t take on any more projects that don’t genuinely excite you.
IS THERE AN ASPECT OF THE PROJECT THAT YOU JUST DON’T LIKE DOING?
In this case then this isn’t really a creative block at all, it’s simply that you do not like doing it. Maybe you really don’t like working on the customization of your clients’ websites. Maybe you’d rather have someone else develop it so you can focus on the design. Look into outsourcing this so you can put your creative energy into what you’re good at and what you love.
DO YOU USUALLY GET STUCK IN THE BEGINNING, MIDDLE, OR AT THE END OF THE PROJECT?
As I mentioned earlier, I tend to get stuck in the middle. Or maybe your creative block happens at the end of a project. For me personally, I face this when a project is dragged out way too long. I can’t help but be uninspired when the project seems to be never ending. I’ve had this happen before so now I let me clients know that I expect to receive feedback from then within 2 business days and I put it in writing.
WHAT TYPES OF PROJECTS GIVE YOU THE MOST CREATIVE BLOCKS?
Maybe you always encounter a creative block when you are working on a logo. That may mean that you need more practice in that area. Sign up for a workshop or class so that you can improve your skills and strengthen your confidence. I always watch a Skillshare video when I’m facing something that I don’t have a lot of experience with. Or maybe you always get a creative block any time you are going to sit down to write a blog post. The problem may not be the writing itself but rather the topic on which to write about. If that’s the case maybe it’s better that you outline 10 topics before starting to write. Once you identify which projects give you the most stress or creative blocks you can focus on those directly. Google or search on Pinterest how others address these issues. You’d be surprised how many people are facing the same problems as you are.
ARE YOU SIMPLY IN A LAZY, UNINSPIRED MOOD?
Laziness is not the same as having a creative block. If you woke up tired, hungover, or just don’t feel like doing work then this is the time to whip out those quick fixes. Come up with 4-5 quick fixes that you know will work for you most of the time for when you’re feeling lazy and uninspired. Or you can use this lazy time to check email, pay bills or do any other activities that can be done in what I call auto pilot.
IS THERE A TIME OF DAY THAT YOUR CREATIVE BLOCK COMES AROUND?
This one is important for anybody, not just creatives. Do you find the creative juices flowing in the morning or are you more of a night owl? Find your peak time where you are most focused and treasure that time slot. Do all your creative work and problem solving during this time. Don’t check your social media, email, or any other activities that can be done when you’re in auto pilot mode.
WHAT ARE YOUR FEELINGS SURROUNDING YOUR CREATIVE BLOCK?
Is it fear or stress that’s stopping those creative juices from flowing? If it’s fear then identify what you are afraid of. Maybe you’re afraid of failing. Maybe you’re afraid of not meeting the deadline and that’s causing too much stress. For me personally, fear and stress are huge triggers for creative blocks. So when this happens I go read an article on Medium that talks about creativity and fear or watch a TED talk or listen to a podcast. Hearing other creatives talk about fear and failure helps me remember that I’m not the only one who feels this way. Writing down what I’m feeling also helps get me out of this non-creative slump. I also remind myself that fear is just a feeling, it’s not a fact. Failure is a possible outcome sure, but so is success. All you can do is show up and do the work and not spend time worrying about failure (easier said than done, I know).
DO YOU SIMPLY NEED FEEDBACK ON YOUR PROJECT IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD?
This happens to me frequently. As a solopreneur I don’t have an art director or coworker to turn to when I need feedback or a critique for my work. So I rely on my creative process to ensure that I’m doing my best work. I make sure to do my homework by doing extensive research and creating a solid brand strategy before I start sketching or designing on the computer. If this foundation is not set then it is inevitable that I’ll have a creative block midway through the project. It can also be helpful to create a team of creatives that you can trust to give you honest and helpful feedback. In a previous project where I was really stuck I turned to two of my friends who are not designers and they actually had great feedback that helped me move forward with the design. I also sometimes turn to my boyfriend or cousin who are both graphic designers when I need feedback on a logo or a type choice or things that are super design-y. Getting feedback from the client is also important. At this point in my Little Trailer Studio career I’ve stopped taking on clients that are not a good fit for me. As a result of this I genuinely like my clients and trust their input and I don’t really have “difficult clients.” Having clients that you trust and respect will definitely help in lessening those creative blocks. Don’t know how to get those dream clients? For me it started by saying no to the ones that were not a great fit (read more about that here).
HAVE SYSTEMS IN PLACE
It’s so important to have a system set in place. Part of my system is my design process. When I am stuck I re-read the design brief or I refer to my mood board. Sometimes for me it’s just a matter of starting. So I get to work and put a timer for 25 minutes. This sounds like a short time but you’d be surprised how much you can accomplish when you are solely focused on the task at hand. Once I get started it’s pretty easy to just keep going but if during those 25 minutes I’m not being productive then I put the project away and come back to it later. Another one of my systems is that I reserve the times of day where I am most productive for real work. I do my best to not use this time to check my email or Instagram. Though those things are important too I am able to do those on auto pilot and they require very little brain power or energy.
DO THE WORK BEFORE YOU START TO EXECUTE
This step is so important for my design process and is one of my systems that I rely on most. Before I start the design process for my clients I do a comprehensive questionnaire with them. I also create a design brief and develop a brand strategy based on our conversation and their questionnaire. Doing my homework and research is so crucial to the outcome of the project. It can speed things up or slow things down. Most importantly it provides a roadmap for what the outcome of the project should be. So when I find myself questioning my color palette or logo or fonts I go back to the design brief. If my design brief isn’t that strong then it is inevitable that I will question my designs. Every time I’ve had a big creative block it has been a result of not doing enough homework before starting the design process. So when this happens it’s not so much that I’m having a creative block, the real issue at hand is that my design roadmap is lacking. If this is the case then I stop designing and go back to the research stage which I had to do with a recent project. This might involve me emailing my client a few more questions or re-reading their questionnaire. If I do reach out to the client again I try to be frank with them and let them know that I think I need to go a little bit deeper with the research stage. Being honest with your client is always the best policy. I recently did this with a project and she emailed me back with more information that was originally missing and ended the email by saying “I’m in no rush and I trust the quality of your work.” Luckily I had established trust with this client so she didn’t mind at all. Is there a certain foundation that is imperative to your creative work flow? Identify what that is and be sure to implement that into your creative process.
TRUST THAT IT’S PART OF THE PROCESS
When I have a creative block I remind myself that this has happened before and that things turned out great. I tend to go on the dramatic side and think that I’m not going to make it out alive and that my client is going to regret hiring me. By now I’ve trained myself to not think that way and to embrace the process (or at least try). I tell myself “remember when you were working on Maggie’s branding and this happened. But that project came out great and she loved it.” Get to know what your process is then get comfortable with it. And while you’re at it get comfortable with being uncomfortable. And get comfortable with the unknown. This has been a challenge for me but now that I’ve been able to see that having a creative block isn’t uncommon in my process I don’t get freaked out by it as much.
My fellow creatives, what are some things that you do when you are having writer’s block or a creative block? I’d love to hear about it! I’m always looking for new tricks to add to my creative toolbox and I love hearing that I’m not the only one who struggles with creative blocks. Plus be sure to download the free workbook to help you put your own systems into action.
Note I created a workbook to go along with this post so that you can put those systems into practice. You can find it here at the bottom of the post.
RESOURCES
Your Elusive Creative Genius TED Talk by Elizabeth Gilbert
Vulnerability as a Creative with Dr. Brene Brown, Being Boss Podcast
Daring Greatly by Dr. Brene Brown
How to be Fearless in Your Creative Pursuits by Little Trailer Studio
Dealing with Creative Blocks Workbook by Little Trailer Studio