By: Brad Hamilton
I have a problem with being creative. If you’ve ever attempted creativity on a deadline, you do too. For me it likes to show up when I’m, I don’t know, trying to solve complex marketing problems with creative ideas that don’t suck. I’m talking about that blank page staring back at you. Brainstorm crickets. Crap ideas turned into trashcan basketball.
At its worst, Creative Block is an existential threat to makers everywhere. At its best? Yeah … I got nothing.
So, here are five ways to try and kill it.
Change Perspective
You’ve been sitting there. Same-space-same-chair-same-view-same-old-same. Nothing’s firing. Your brain’s melty. This would be a good time to schlep your keister someplace else. Seriously — get out of your space. Hit the library, a coffee shop, a park. Or find a quiet corner somewhere that’s not where you’re currently stuck. Change your input. For me, it’s often headphones, pen, paper, laptop and a busy spot. Coffee shops motivate me to focus. The energy charges me and loosens gummed-up thinking.
Be Disciplined
In “The War of Art,” Steven Pressfield writes, “We don’t tell ourselves, ‘I’m never going to write my symphony.’ Instead we say, ‘I am going to write my symphony; I’m just going to start tomorrow.’” Assume starting tomorrow is a threat to your livelihood. Then what? Then make a plan to do the work and hold yourself to it. It’s easier if you can avoid distractions, of course. Like your phone. Did you know that the mere presence of your smartphone reduces cognitive capacity even when the phone is not in use? That’s right, your phone is so good at distracting you that it strains your brain. The temptation to check it steals resources you might otherwise use to focus on the work. A recent study found blocking internet access on your phone improves not only your attention span but your well-being. Phones and internet are not easy or even feasible to turn off, depending on what you’re working on. But if you’re really struggling, it’s certainly worth a try. Who knows, shutting down the distraction machines could be the best thing you do all day.
Take a Walk
Back to science. Walking is a proven way to get your ideas flowing. It’s shown to increase divergent thinking — when your mind explores multiple possibilities to solve problems. Convergent thinking is the opposite and could be why you feel stuck. Other benefits of walking include reducing stress (a known creativity inhibitor) and increasing blood flow to the brain, which can improve cognitive function and stimulate creative thinking. I do this daily with a notepad. Worth every step.
Listen Up
Music and sound are great ways to kill Creative Block. Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman has an entire podcast on the subject where he outlines how sound and music can increase focus and concentration. Binaural beats, classical music and other genres like hemi-sync (a patented audio technology designed to achieve specific brainwave states) appear to have the greatest positive effects. For me it absolutely can’t have lyrics. Or I’m toast.
Play Time
Find time for fun. Not just because you owe yourself, but because it can fuel creative problem-solving. It loosens up your thinking and allows for unexpected connections. Doodling, cooking classes, playing a musical instrument, building something, engaging in sport, whatever sparks joy, go for it. Forget about the pressure to produce. You might be surprised how play can unlock a flood of new ideas and problem-solving.
Killing Creative Block isn’t easy. It takes self-awareness and a willingness to try new things. Knowing how you think, what distracts you, invigorates you, sparks your flow state. But when you put it all together and force your muse out of the dark, it’s kind of like unlocking a new superpower.
