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Aaron O'Leary
How do you overcome creative block?
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Creative block affects everyone at some point, I get it quite often when working on a new idea, normally I use exercise, relaxing, reading and journalling to get to a better state. How about you?
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Luka Vasic
I usually go out for a 15-20min walk or go training. Since I'm a writer primarily on LinkedIn I usually go scroll and comment on peoples posts, and through commenting I generate new ideas for my conent.
Aaron O'Leary
@luka_vasic Do you find training helps clear your mind?
Luka Vasic
@aaronoleary Yea, I usually write in the evening and when I run into a roadblock I go out and do a quick workout to get my mind cleared.
Qudsia Ali
What works best when trying to overcome a creative block is different for everyone. For me, walking away from the computer and going close to nature with my notebook always helps.
Iya Mendoza
Is it creative block or procrastination? Most of the time, people experience creative block when they are in severe burnout or overwhelmed with the amount of tasks they have to do in a day or week. It's like you're mind is telling you 'you're overworked, and you need to rest.' The solution: If you can't keep your mind off of something, take a break. Relax. Go for a walk, listen to your fav playlist or podcast show, and even spend 15 to 30 mins of you're time doing nothing. Meanwhile, some people uses 'creative block' as an excuse when they wanted to procrastinate or (they already did procrastinate, but) spent most of their time doing nothing. The solution: Just do it! I've read the three-hour work-focused period where you have to work for 3 hours straight without any distraction. This can help you get started, finish more tasks, and feel better knowing you're done with a lot of things in a day. Two different things requires two different solution.
Gurpinder Singh
Don't force things. Take your time. Do something else, go for a walk/long drive, enjoy the weather outside. These things helps a lot!
Marina Đurić
I usually go out for a run to clear my head, or if some idea is half done, I leave it and come to it after a few days. Other times I watch a movie and observe other creators or read some blog on the topic I'm struggling with.
Kate Dalessi
For me, creative block is not a bad state at all, quite the contrary. If you're not ACTIVELY working on something, it doesn't mean your brain isn't! Whenever I feel like sitting in front of the screen is fruitless right now, I easily let myself play a game, take a walk, do chores (or whatever else). And while I'm doing it, my brain is passively working on my problem, and I inevitably get an inspiration strike. Then I can sit down and write a great article for 3000 words in three hours with smoke coming from under my fingers:)
Maya Ben Zid
Here are a few strategies I rely on: - Get inspired by something. If you are a writer, read a good book. If you are a designer, check out new work on Dribble, and so on. It helps set the bar for your projects and feeds you ideas. - Set a timer and just get to it. Sometimes constraints like a limited time window motivate us (that's why a lot of people can work deeply a few hours before a deadline). - Break the task down into smaller components - writing a full article or designing an e-book might be intimidating, but if you take it a block or a page at a time, it's way more doable.
Aleks Dahlberg
Sometimes thinking small helps - by that I mean breaking down the over all thing you're working on into each of its components and then focusing on just one of them for a while - clear the mind of all the distractions of the other parts. This I find can spark some really great ideas!
Sameer Charles
Walking, cooking and woodworking. For me, sometimes creative block is a sign for something entirely different, like the idea might not be that close to my heart. By doing something completely different, I can also see how much every moment I wanna come back to the project.
Aaron O'Leary
@sameercharles Woodworking, that's super interesting! Have you made anything recently? I could never get the hang of it!
Sean Song
I cannot always be creative, that's not nature. So just live with it. by the way, check out my new product: https://www.producthunt.com/upco...
Michael Bogdanowicz
I think that the best way – take a brake. Our brain work in background mode all time. When you take time to relax – new idea will come =)
Sergul Sungur
Morning walkings in nature make me always inspired. Sometimes best ideas come to me while I'm swimming. If I need focusing beyond the thoughts I'd rather small breaks or short sleeps.
Nitin P
Change your place, move around. If you usually work from your room, shift to the lobby, sit in the balcony or the living room instead. Make a working trip to another city. Sometimes that can open new thought channels.
Clemens Zlami
Leave it behind. Exercise or activity that demands you to be present and in the moment, and in a kind of flow state (eg. surfing) can really help.
Aaron O'Leary
@clemenszlami I like the idea of leaving it behind, kind of just come back to it, sometimes you need a break
DCodes
@clemenszlami Great point. And interestingly, most of the best ideas come when you're not working! By the way, I'm looking for feedback on AnyGo, a tool used to easily compare the cost of driving and flying between U.S. cities. You can find it on my profile page. Thanks Clemens!
Samyak Tripathi
The best content I write is not a product of inspiration, neither of a tragedy, taking a break, or hours of market research. My best content is a product of Reading my Brand Story for 30 min a day. That means reading my: 1. Ideal Customer Profile 2. Narrative and Message 3. Positioning Strategy 4. Competitor Strategy and Differentiation Read it every day first thing in the morning. That's how it will work.
Suvojit Manna
I try to distract myself with other activities or some relaxation ! Writing things down even help sometimes :D
Benjamin Lucas
Stepping away from the task for some time may be helpful if you've discovered that you've been thinking about it for hours. Balance is the key!
Bhavna Singh
I have faced this issue several times in my life so far and I have deduced the best way out for me, I keep a notepad and a pen handy and start drawing the irregular paintings or simply scratch the paper to get out of this block. I have recently started practicing the meditation as well and it works wonders.
Clarisse Jouassain
Watch inspiration, competitors, other industries to think out of the box. List all the good ideas you've found. Try sketching stuff that includes these ideas.
Joanne Hurley
I normally switch to some task that needs immediate attention that is more repetitive admin based that doesnt require a great deal of thought, I find when switching back to the creative task I generally get into a creative flow. Plus procrastination is followed by panic of a hard deadline and the urgency also unblocks. The second isnt great but it is what it is.