Clawing Out of Your Creative Rut

Sometimes inspiration needs a good nudge.

We all have those days when it’s hard to find inspiration. It happens to everyone.

Name an author, artist, musician, or any other creative type, and I guarantee you they’ve fallen into a rut at one point or another.

Probably many times.

Yes, even folks like Neil Gaiman and Lady Gaga.

So what can you do if you’ve fallen into a creative rut and it’s stressing you out?

Here are some strategies I’ve used that have been more than successful. Your results may vary, but these five suggestions are all pretty straightforward.

Play a Game

Games get us changing our ways of thinking, if only for a little while.

We’ve been enjoying a Renaissance of sorts in the world of board games. Want to terraform Mars? Build railroads across Europe? Maybe survive a world-spanning pandemic?

Board games have you covered.

The cooperative nature of board games coupled with creative problem solving can often help shake people out of their ruts.

If you don’t have time to organize a board game night with friends or family, you could try a game on your computer or mobile app.

Anything to get the brain thinking in a new direction.

Rapid Writing For 5 Minutes

Sit down and write for five minutes.

Set the alarm, then try to write whatever pops into your head immediately, non-stop, until the five minutes are over.

If no words come, scribble some loops until words do come.

They don’t have to make sense, nor do they have to be productive.

This is simply another way to redirect your brain into a new direction, so when you turn your attention back to a creative project, you may find that whatever has been blocking you loosened up.

Trying it certainly won’t hurt.

Go For a Drive (or Walk)

Personally, I find driving works best. I think it’s the combination of paying attention to something and forcing me to sit in one place and think.

Or perhaps it’s the scenery.

For whatever reason, when I’m stuck on an idea to write about or how to approach an art project, a ten or 20-minute drive often helps me reapproach my project with fresh eyes and thoughts. Sometimes I’ll set my phone on hands-free recording if I think it’ll help, or I’ll be prepared to pull over to jot ideas down in a notebook.

If you don’t have access to a car, a walk could do the trick. Bring a small notebook you can fit in your pocket.

Back when I lived in the City, I took the bus and got similar results. Taking notes was even more manageable as I wasn’t driving. And if I wanted scenery, there was plenty of it outside the bus window.

Paint a Picture, Write a Poem (Switcheroo)

If you write, draw or paint a picture.

If you’re a visual artist, try writing a poem or a song.

In other words, move into a creative area in which you don’t spend much time — and create something.

It doesn’t have to be good. You’re going more for something different than just something good.

This advice is pretty short because it’s so easy. I think you’ll surprise yourself with what you come up with and what you create after you return to your original project.

Chop Wood, Go Fishing

There’s this concept called “the zen of chopping wood.”

The idea, essentially, is that by performing certain chores or tasks that focus on physical acts, the mind can find time to calm itself and focus on more zen-like things.

For creativity, performing similar tasks can also provide some benefits. The act of chopping wood or, as I prefer to do, going fishing keeps my hands busy while, at the same time, letting my mind roam as it will.

It can be any sort of task that doesn’t require excessive thought. While a wood chopper needs to know how to set up the log and ax, and the fisherman needs to know how to bait and cast a hook, the majority of the action is fairly automatic and doesn’t require a lot of thought.

You could do some housecleaning. You could fold clothes. You could be taking some swings in a batter’s cage.

Don’t force yourself to think creative thoughts when engaged in such activities. Instead, allow coming what will. If nothing comes, you still got some exercise or did something productive.

But, you may have also had some thoughts about that story you might be stuck on, that art project you aren’t sure how to approach, or that song you’re still trying to find the hook for.

Creativity Comes Eventually

We all get stuck in ruts. We all find ourselves blocked from time to time.

Try not to stress about it. It’s hard to force creativity, but some strategies, such as those described above, can allow creativity to flow more easily.

Give them a try and see how well they work for you.

Don’t stress about it. Have fun.

Cheers!

About John Teehan

John lives in Rhode Island with his wife, son, and dog. He specializes in tech, health, business, parenting, pop culture, and gaming. Visit wordsbyjohn.net for more info and rates. Twitter: @WordsByJohn2.

Do you like poetry, short fiction, and general oddities? Check out my new book, Life Among Psychopaths: an unexpected potpourri, now available on Amazon.