Rund's Halloween Makeup TutorialOct.27.2020
Whether we write, we paint, or we have a presentation deadline looming – creative block is a nightmare, and when those thoughts simply aren’t flowing, then it’s a good idea to take a step back, change the scenery instead of letting the procrastination pursue and the frustration fester. Here are some simple ways to deal with creative block.
That blocker means your mind needs a break, and often your body needs a bit of a release too. Exercise is such a great way to release pent-up energy, to de-stress and simply shift your line of focus. Engage your body and your mind in a completely different way, move more and feel a shift in energy. Whether it’s yoga, swimming or a game of squash that you play, releasing those endorphins is never a bad thing.
Sitting in the same space with the same surroundings can be comfortable, but expecting your brain to come up with innovative ideas on demand is unrealistic, and when you feel that block it’s often helpful to take a step back from what you’re doing and change your surroundings. Maybe you work from a café, or move your work outside – even changing rooms can be refreshing, just see what works and give your brain the space it needs to think.
Music can help us to think more creatively, and break down blocks that we might be facing. By moving our attention to the music, internalising the beats, we drift away from that creative block, letting our minds move the point of focus elsewhere, and unravel concepts and ideas that we weren’t able to get to before. Our brains have to retain so much information day to day, that sometimes they just need 30 minutes to not think so that they can make sense of all the information we have bombarded them with. Once you get that headspace, thoughts have space to come together more freely, more organically, which is often when you have your lightbulb idea moments.
Fresh air, nature, water – whatever gives you a sense of calm or freedom is where you want to head. Being outdoors in natural surroundings can provide a great sense of relief, removing the proximity of those four walls and simply giving you space to breathe. Maybe you don’t have the luxury of beautiful mountainscapes or sea views, and that’s cool too – even going for a walk outside can have positive effects on the body and mind, releasing tension, getting your body moving and your blood flowing and just freeing up some space for ideas to flow.
It can be helpful to shift the attention to another source of creativity. For example, you may be writing a feature, but you’re struggling to find your flow. Maybe get a little arty instead, and take out those paint brushes, or spend some time drawing – why do you think we doodle so much when we’re daydreaming? It’s a way of shifting the attention and the pressure on what we’re trying to create, by using another outlet to keep the ideas moving.
Burning the candle from both ends is never a good idea, and sometimes you need to work overtime to get things done, but sleep is so important, and the sleep deprived will be much less productive and far less creative in the long run. Just like the body needs rest days after intensive physical exercise, the brain needs time to relax too, and what better way to switch off and reboot than by getting a decent amount of shut eye and starting fresh again the next morning.
