Is your mind stuck for new thoughts and ideas? Do you feel like you’ve hit a brick wall?  Creativity block is just part of the process for most of us. Unfortunately, creativity block can occur at the most inopportune times, especially when you are under pressure to meet deadlines. We stress about being unproductive and then the problem just keeps spiralling out of control. However, there is good news! With focus and a few helpful tips, you can proactively work to avoid creativity block.

Create Daily – Build Your Creative Muscles

Did you know that it takes 21 days in a row of completing something before it becomes a habit? This same rule applies to creativity. Build time daily to create. Over time, creativity will become a solid habit for you. Creating daily will also keep the muscle strong, so to speak. If you only sit down every few days or weeks to create, your muscles will be weak and it will be more challenging for you than if you were to flex your creativity muscles daily.

Surround Yourself with Inspiration

Even the most creative of us need inspiration every now and again. Create a creative space within your home or office. If you begin to feel uninspired, change settings, move locations, or change your environment. If you are surrounded by the same exact things every day, over time you will become less inspired. Individuals need inspiration and stimulation to create. So, create an inspirational space to avoid creativity block.
You also want to create a handy inspirational file with you at all times. Fill the file full of photos, article or magazine clippings, notes and even textured fabrics. Whenever you feel a need to boost your creativity, pull out file and thumb through the contents. Think of this file as your “cheat sheet”.

Harness your Creativity

One of the stumbling blocks that many creative individuals face is balancing or harnessing their creativity. For example, most creative individuals have multiple projects working simultaneously, not just one. When inspiration strikes, they move to work on the corresponding project. But, if their mood changes, or creativity is sparked within another area, they have other creative outlets to turn to. Just as in your creative space, if you focus on a singular item or project every day, you can lose your creativity, leaving you frustrated and blocked.

Take Breaks

When proactively working to avoid creative block, take scheduled breaks, or at least allow yourself the option to take breaks. Most people have short attention spans, typically under an hour in length. When you force yourself to focus on a project for longer periods of time, not only can it be unproductive, but frustrating. To keep your juices flowing, keep yourself moving. Get up, move around, change projects, go outside, change scenery or just relax for a few moments in between working sessions. Your mind and your creativity will thank you.
Virtually everyone within a creative field will experience some level of creativity block. If you do encounter one, don’t allow your self to stress over it. Leveraging the ideas above will allow you to proactively avoid blocks and in the event that you hit one, you can navigate around them.