Mental blocks can make it feel impossible to come up with original ideas or start a new project. Fortunately, there are ways to become mentally unstuck and get back to doing what you love. Here at April5 we get creative from the moment we step through the front door, so we thought we’d share our Top5 tips on how to get seriously creative.
Head reset
Sometimes the best way to form new ideas is to take a step back from your project. Robert Epstein, PhD, a psychologist and Harvard grad, says stress and time constraints can kill your creative process.* Sometimes it is best to take a break. This can help reduce your stress around the project and get your creative juices flowing again.
Here are a few ways to give yourself a brain break:
1. Go on a walk: Going on a walk can get you out into a new environment. Not only can this help you relax, but you may also find new inspiration while out and about.
2. Eat a snack: Taking a snack break can give you motivation and brain power to continue with your creative work.
3. Read a book: Sometimes allowing your brain to not think or to think about something else is a good method for regenerating your creativity. Reading a favorite book or magazine might bring you motivation.
4. Talk to a loved one: Interacting with other people can also give you a brain break from your project. Plus, your conversation may spark an idea.
Quality in Quantity
Creativity is not about perfection. This means you do not have to worry about making every single idea amazing. Rather, consider coming up with many ideas, even if they do not necessarily seem perfect or even good at first. These ideas can be steppingstones to other ideas that may come along.
Travel
Your creativity is related to how your brain is wired, so get it out and about! It’s important to keep your mind stimulated by new sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and experiences. Expose yourself to an entirely different point of view through a new cultural experience. Keeping your sense sharp allows the synapses in your brain to think in new ways.
Awaken your inner child!
Children are “naturally creative” — they know no limits to their creativity. They don’t hold back, and are willing to go any which way with their creativity, leaving fear or judgement behind. Channel this mentality, especially when it comes to taking a completely different direction with your work.
And don’t forget to have fun with your work! A child sees everything as an adventure and makes the most of every moment – focus your energy into one project at a time so you can put your best foot forward.
Keep a creative journal on your desk
Old school, we know, but a good old-fashioned pen and paper ready at any point — can become a little black book of ideas if you put it to good use. As you see and hear about things, make a note — even if it’s not related to your current project, it might spark another idea, or become relevant for another occasion.
*American Psychological Association, The Science of Creativity in June 2021
Since you’ve read this article, we’ve come up with just about 13 new ideas. Yours could be next — contact us to make your next big idea come to life.
