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We share practical wisdom from the Creative Boom community to help you push through when inspiration runs dry.
We’ve all been there – staring at a blank page, cursor blinking accusingly as the minutes tick by with no brilliant ideas in sight. Creative block is a universal experience that affects everyone, from designers and illustrators to writers and photographers. The good news? You’re not alone, and there are practical strategies to help you break through these frustrating periods of stagnation.
To help gather the best advice, we asked our community of creative professionals to share their go-to techniques for overcoming creative block. The responses revealed a fascinating mix of approaches, and what emerged was a tapestry of wisdom that acknowledges both the personal nature of creativity and the universal patterns that help us reconnect with our creative flow.
In the article below, we’ve compiled the most insightful of their tips and advice. Meanwhile, you can read the full discussion on The Studio, Creative Boom’s own stress-free social community, here. If you’re not a member already, don’t worry: it’s completely free to sign up.
1. Work through the resistance
Creativity isn’t always about waiting for inspiration; sometimes, it’s about creating space for it.
That’s why Adrian Carroll, creative director and co-founder at D8, takes a pretty straightforward approach. “Just work through it,” he recommends. “Eventually, something will spark, and you’ll be off and running. Sometimes you need to get all the crap ideas out of your head and onto the page or screen before you get to something you can work with.”
Similarly, illustrator Andra Badea recommends pushing through, and that means taking a step away from perfectionism: “I’d say: draw anyway,” she explains. “Sometimes, if I’m on a commissioned project and I can’t seem to get that exciting idea, so I just draw the worst one that comes up. A quick doodle warms the hand, gets the mind working again, and before you know it, new connections appear. ‘What if I tried this…’ ‘This reminds me of…’ And Boom! Creative block is over.”
2. Use structured research scrolling
Like to have a system? Then take inspiration from designer Sally Purser, who’s developed a methodical approach to jumpstart her creativity. “I tend to do a few minutes ‘research scrolling’ sites like Creative Boom,” she explains. “The first time I stop scrolling because an image has caught my eye, I spend a couple of minutes studying the picture, reading the article or looking further into the creator or subject. Then, in my sketchbook, I literally make one simple mark: a circle, line or squiggle. I find something usually sparks, and the creative process starts to flow.”
3. Collaborate and simplify
Jonathan White, branding specialist at HeadSpace, believes in the power of collaboration. “Bounce the brief off a fellow creative in a cafe or over a Zoom for 30 minutes,” he says. “Bashing heads together can be brilliant. Then try to strip the brief back to its bare bones, remembering: ‘If you can’t explain it to a six-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself.'” This two-step process of external input, followed by radical simplification, helps reveal the core of what you’re trying to create.
4. Change your physical state
Several creatives mention physical activity as their go-to solution. Multimedia designer Tymn Lintell‘s advice is succinct: “Go for a walk!” Similarly, graphic designer and letterer Annelies Stalpaert suggests: “Go outside or do a workout!”
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Munday adds: “I love a good run first thing in the morning. Get some natural light in the eyes. Take a notebook and write down any thoughts that pop up. Sometimes doing something completely off topic of what I am working on brings up lots of new ideas.”
5. Embrace the chaos of creative blocks
Brand identity designer Abhinav Yadav offers a poetic perspective on the issue of feeling stuck. “Creative blocks are like Jenga,” he explains. “Too many bits piled up. Some stem from fear, some from doubt, and some maybe even from pride. All in all, you feel if you pull one, bam, everything will come crumbling down.”
His solution? “Try slowing down; focus on one piece at a time,” says Abhinav. “Feel it wobble, embrace the rumble, accept the tremors of new discovery. Who knows? Maybe it falls, maybe it doesn’t. Either way, a new shape brings a new chance. The tower keeps changing. That’s life, the creative life.”
6. Structure your creative chaos
For neurodivergent creatives, feeling blocked may require distinctive strategies. “My answer to this question would probably have been different not too long ago,” says designer Silvia Maggi. “But since I’ve discovered my neurodivergence, I have come up with a whole new way to overcome creative blocks.
“My brain needs to be as free as it can be, so I have a bullet journal where I can log tasks and thoughts and create collections,” she explains. “I use the GTD (Get Things Done) method to break down projects and tasks. And I have a weekly diary to keep organised. All of the above happens on paper,” she adds. “Walking in nature is very important, as is taking breaks and trying to organise my days based on the energy I have, if possible.”
7. Seek inspiration outside your field
Graphic designer and illustrator Nvard Yerkanian takes a multidisciplinary approach to creative blocks. “For me, they’re often a sign that I need to recharge,” he explains. “So I turn to architecture, literature, and conversations with people outside my field.
“Exploring museums and exhibitions helps shift my perspective, but I also find unexpected ideas in old books, films, or simply observing everyday life,” she continues. “A fresh environment or a different medium can unlock new creative directions. Stepping away from the screen is one of the best ways to break through a creative block.”
8. Change your environment
When she’s feeling blocked, Katelyn Peterson, the co-founder and creative director of Edition, uses environmental change as a tool. “I step away from whatever I’m stuck on and take a long walk with a podcast or playlist,” she reveals.
“Depending on what has me stuck, I’ll either walk downtown to look at the people, businesses, and buildings—I’m in San Francisco, so there’s a lot to see—or walk along the water, where my mind can completely get lost. I may still feel stuck after that, but usually, I come back to my desk with a game plan for different approaches to take.”
9. Focus on your creative foundations
Brand designer Asa Rodger emphasises the importance of basic wellbeing. “I focus more on the pillars of energy for me. It’s the basic stuff that helps me keep up – sleep, diet, water, movement, company. Normally, for me, when I recalibrate and I’m taking care of that stuff then I just feel more alive and honestly have the capacity to be creative non-stop. Whenever I’ve felt my creativity slip, it’s when I’ve not made the time to manage those basics.”
10. Structure your time
Finally, illustrator Sretan Bor offers a tried-and-trusted time management technique: “Take a piece of paper and make an hourly grid, then work for 45 minutes and rest for 15 minutes,” he advises. “It helps if you have an elderly dog that needs to go out often.” This approach combines focused work periods with mandatory breaks, creating a rhythm that can help bypass creative blocks.
Remember that creative blocks are not failures but a normal part of the creative process. The next time you find yourself staring at a blank canvas or document, try some of these community-tested techniques to help you break through and rediscover your creative flow. After all, as many of our contributors have suggested, sometimes the block itself can become the bridge to your next great idea.
