As creatures of habit, we often get stuck in what’s familiar, and it can be difficult to break free of the confines of our routine. Every creative has found themselves stuck in a rut at one time or another—and they’re not alone.
Falling into a creative rut is often the result of getting too comfortable. A lack of challenge and growth can leave our creative muscles feeling weak. But just as quickly as you’ve found yourself stuck, you can always pull yourself back out. A few small changes in your daily routine, switching up your surroundings and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone can help reignite your creative spark.
Always Show Up
The first step of brainstorming any new idea is showing up. Sit down with an empty notebook and start writing or drawing everything that comes to mind. The quality of the work doesn’t matter at this point, it’s all about following through. While you may not think you have any creative ideas floating around in your head, you might be surprised at what a good brainstorming session can leave you with.
Change Your Space
Sometimes, a change of scenery is all you need to jumpstart your creative mind. Redecorating your office or traveling to a new location, such as a quiet coffee shop or another room in your workspace could inspire the creative juices to start flowing.
Switch Up Your Routine
The monotony of our daily routines can sometimes pull us down into a rut. Shake up your routine by making a few small changes to your schedule, such as:
- Waking up earlier
- Taking a new route to work
- Going for a long walk
- Changing your usual lunch spot.
This change of pace could be exactly what you need to spark new excitement.
No Idea Is a Bad Idea
Has fear ever held you back from being creatively vulnerable? It’s common to think our ideas aren’t good enough or are too out-of-the-box to share. But the truth is, every idea is a stepping stone to something greater. Share and collaborate your ideas with others. New perspectives can help you refine and tailor your wildest ideas into something tangible.
Plan a Creativity Date
Creative stimulation can be extremely helpful in coming out of a rut. Whether you prefer solo travels or the company of others, plan an excursion to break up your routine and ignite a creative spark.
- Go for a walk at the park
- Visit an art museum
- Spend quality time with your colleagues or
- Get outside and enjoy nature
Any activity that inspires you can help you overcome a creative rut.
Learn Something New
As humans, we always look for new ways to learn, grow and challenge ourselves. Taking a class, watching a webinar, attending a talk or even watching a youtube video can help you find new perspectives and learn something new. Go outside of your comfort zone and stretch your potential to allow yourself to develop new skills. These challenges can help force you out of a creative rut.
Are you stuck in a creative rut? We’re ready to collaborate.
Let’s get in touch.
