How To Get Out Of a Creative Rut
Steps to feeling more creatively inspired
Whether it’s a design rut, writer’s block or you’re just feeling uninspired lately, a creative rut can be debilitating. While it’s sometimes tempting to try and force an idea out, especially when you’re up against a deadline, it’s far more effective to take a step back. In doing so, you’ll not only break out of your rut, but you’ll also discover a new perspective and enable new ideas to emerge.
How to know when you’re in a rut
One of the tell-tale signs of being in a rut is feeling burnt out. Burnout can look differently for everyone, but you can ask yourself the following questions to determine if you’re struggling:
Am I feeling cynical or disillusioned about my work?
Do I feel overwhelmed by my task load?
Have I lost hope that things are going to get better?
Am I constantly stressed and tired?
Am I feeling unmotivated, or like just getting myself to work is like pulling teeth?
It’s important to take your mental health seriously. If you’re experiencing signs of burnout, it’s imperative that you address it! The longer you ignore it, the worse these symptoms are likely to get.
But even if you still feel motivated and excited to work, you can still be experiencing a rut. Maybe you just feel like you’re seeing the same styles over and over again and you haven’t felt inspired in a while. Or maybe you’re worried that you won’t be able to present something new and exciting to your clients.
How do I get out of a rut?
The best advice I can offer for getting back on track and getting inspired is to step outside. And there are several ways to do this:
Be in nature
Plants give me inspiration for my designs and renew my spirit. Even just going outside for a walk to breathe fresh air and ground more deeply into the present moment can make it possible to return to your work with fresh eyes.
Try a new art form
Nature isn’t the only way to “step outside” — you can also step outside, figuratively speaking, of your current artistic discipline to find inspiration! Take a pottery class or learn to play a musical instrument. Flexing your creative muscles in a new discipline can be illuminating and bring flow back to your work.
Step into a new environment
If you’re stuck for ideas at your desk, try stepping outside of your workspace. Bring your laptop or tablet to a cool coffee shop you’ve been wanting to try, or even just to a new corner of your home or apartment. Doing your work in a novel environment can unlock new ideas.
Go appreciate art
When my creative juices aren’t flowing, I know I need to step outside of my current sources of inspiration, which tend to be largely digital, and find inspiration from the outside world. Try spending the day at a gallery, an art museum, or a sculpture garden — and just revel in the beauty around you. These days are like a reset for me, and I return to my work excited and renewed.
Get it out on paper
Step outside of your working style! You don’t have to do your work in the exact same way every time. For example, most of my design work is done digitally, but I began my career as an illustrator — and it’s still a core passion of mine. When I find myself losing track of why I love this work, I switch my medium by getting out a pen and paper. It’s a grounding practice that works well for writers, too.
The big message:
Be kind to yourself. As creative workers, we always want to give our clients work that stands out and is exciting. But if you’re feeling uninspired, don’t try to just keep pushing through. The best thing you can do is to take a break and engage in something totally different. Even though it can be hard to take a break, giving ourselves that space will energize us so we’re able to create the kind of work that we can be proud of and that our clients deserve.
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