Overcoming Creator’s Block

Did you ever have one of those days where you knew you needed to do something but didn't know where to start? We all have those days, and to be honest, any job requiring constant creativity has these periods. The "block" is actually a psychology-based lack of motivation, however, the obstacle can be overcome without waiting for inspiration by using the method of deliberate practice. Defining deliberate practice as effortful in nature, with the goal of improving performance rather than enjoyment, and often performed without any immediate benefit, is an accurate description. There are times when you just start something, and inspiration seems to manifest itself resulting in a beautiful product, and other times it is best to do something completely unrelated and come back to it when an idea "dawns on you".

All of us have been there before. We pull out our tools, ready to create the next big thing, but stare at a blank canvas, unsure of where to start. Creator's block can be tough to deal with. You may begin to doubt your abilities as an artist, become irritated, and lose motivation to complete your masterpiece. There will inevitably be times when you will be unable to start a project or continue with a future masterpiece you have been working on. Even the most accomplished artists encounter creative blocks from time to time. Fortunately, there are a few tried and true methods that can help you break out faster and get back into the creative flow.

Here are a few tips on battling the dreaded creator's block.

Exercise:

You've probably heard that exercise is an effective way to overcome creator's block, but have you ever tried it? Exercise causes physiological changes in our bodies. Among many other changes in our body, our mental state is altered. Essentially creator's block is just a mental hurdle we can't seem to overcome. While we know that we could create beautiful pieces, we simply cannot seem to put those ideas into paper. When you exercise, your mental state completely changes, and tackling a project or starting a new project with this altered mental state promotes creativity much more. It doesn't matter what kind of exercise you do. Running, swimming, weightlifting or any other physical activity you enjoy can create this physiological change. This may be the simplest tip, but it's the most effective. If exercising isn't your thing, simply stepping away from the project and doing something completely unrelated can also help to introduce a fresh perspective.

Use new mediums:

Creativity can be sparked by using a new brush, tool, or real instrument. New tools bring new, unexplored capabilities that help you generate ideas faster than the ones you are accustomed to using. By doing a quick google search, you can find plenty of free design ideas and collaboration groups to add to your productions, so spending money is not necessary. Additionally, you can also purchase second-hand starter tools online for a very low price if you are looking to use a tool. One way to stay in a creative mindset from project to project is to use a new technique in different pieces from time to time. Do not wait until you are stuck for new methods to appear before looking for new ones. As long as you try something new on every piece you work on, you will be able to keep creator's block at bay for as long as possible.

Get out and observe:

Being a furniture and decor company most of our pieces are designed not only with a specific function but also an artistic solution to a problem or challenge that has presented itself whether it is to beautify a certain area, provide a gorgeous dining area, or other tasks and sometimes inspiration visits us when we are simply observing our environment and how we can best improve it.