How to Overcome Creative Blocks and Keep Making Things

You sit down with a hot drink, open the file, pick up the pencil, or load the project. Then nothing. The page feels too bright, the silence too loud. Your brain offers static where the ideas should be.

A creative block isn’t a moral failure. It’s the moment you feel stuck, foggy, or quietly frustrated, even though you want to make something. Sometimes it lasts ten minutes, sometimes ten days, and it often arrives right when you’ve finally found time.

This is a simple plan: quick resets you can do today, small habits you can build this week, and a way to keep shipping work even when motivation is low.

Photo by Nikolai Ulltang

Spot the real reason you’re stuck (it’s usually not lack of talent)

Most blocks aren’t about ability. They’re about friction. Burnout, stress, fear of judgement, or too many choices can jam the gears. Before you reach for tricks, name what’s happening. You don’t fix a flat tyre by polishing the bonnet.

Try this one-minute self-check. Answer fast, no thinking:

• Am I tired in my body, or tired in my head?
• Have I had proper sleep and a real meal today?
• Am I avoiding one specific part of the work?
• Do I feel like it has to be “good” straight away?
• Do I have too many options open at once?
• Do I need input (new ideas) or output (making something)?

When you can label the block, you stop treating it like a mystery. That alone lowers the pressure.

Burnout and brain fog: when you need rest, not more pushing

Burnout doesn’t always look dramatic. It can be a dull, grey feeling where everything seems pointless. You might be irritable, slow to start, and unable to focus. Ideas feel flat, like someone turned the contrast down.

If that’s you, pushing harder often makes the block stickier. Rest is not a reward, it’s part of the process. A lot of people notice the answer shows up later, in the shower, on the bus, or when you stop staring at the problem.

Pick one simple option:

10-minute break: stand up, drink water, look out of a window.
Short nap: 15 to 25 minutes, then get up.
Early night: protect tomorrow’s brain.
One rest day: no “catch-up”, just reset.
Lighter workload: shorten the session and finish sooner.

If you’re curious about how other creatives recognise and manage their patterns, Amy Shamblen’s piece on how she overcomes creative block is a useful reminder that “stuck” is often exhaustion in disguise.

Perfectionism and fear: when your inner critic grabs the pen

Perfectionism is a sneaky block because it sounds like high standards. In practice, it can be fear wearing a fancy coat. You don’t start because you can already see everything that might be wrong.

A helpful reframe: the first version isn’t the work, it’s the raw material. You’re not failing when it’s messy. You’re building the pile you’ll shape later.

Write this on a note, then follow it like a rule:

Make it exist, then make it better.

If you feel your shoulders drop when you read that, you’ve found your block.

Quick ways to break a creative block today (15 minutes or less)

Don’t do all of these. Pick one. Set a timer. Start before you feel ready. Movement matters more than mood.

Change your state: move your body, change your space, calm your mind

Creativity is not just thoughts, it’s chemistry and attention. A small shift in your state can create a new doorway.

Move your body (3 to 8 minutes): brisk walk, stairs, stretches, a few press-ups, anything that changes your breathing. Outcome: less stress, more energy.

Change your space (2 minutes): move rooms, clear one corner of your desk, sit by a window, or work in a café or library if you can. Outcome: fresh cues for your brain.

Calm your mind (3 to 5 minutes): slow breathing, count inhales and exhales, or do a short mindfulness check-in. Outcome: fewer looping thoughts, better focus.

These aren’t “nice to have” rituals. They’re quick ways to tell your nervous system you’re safe enough to play.

Make something small and messy: free writing, rough sketches, and silly versions

The block often lives in the gap between your taste and your current output. The fix is to create low-stakes material fast.

Free writing (10 minutes): set a timer, write without stopping, and don’t edit. If you freeze, write “I don’t know what to write” until the next thought arrives. You’re clearing the pipes.

Variations for different creators:

Thumbnail sketches: 12 tiny boxes, 1 minute each, no detail.
Ugly first take: record a rough version on purpose.
Voice note brainstorm: talk for 5 minutes while walking.
Silly version: make the worst, funniest version you can. It often reveals the real one.

Two prompts that work across almost anything:

• “What is the simplest version of this idea?”
• “What would this look like if it didn’t need to impress anyone?”

If you want extra exercises in this style, Sofi on Art has a solid list of creative block exercises that keep the focus on action, not overthinking.

Build a system that keeps you making things, even on low-energy days

Waiting for inspiration is like waiting for perfect weather. You’ll get some sunny days, but you won’t build much. A system is what keeps you making things when you’re tired, busy, or a bit flat.

Consistency beats intensity. Small output compounds. One paragraph a day becomes a chapter. One sketch a day becomes a style. The key is to make starting easy, and to reduce the number of decisions you have to make.

Phones and social feeds are a special problem here. They don’t just steal time, they split attention. Creativity needs a clean lane.

Create a simple routine: a start ritual, a time box, and a clear finish

Routines train your brain to enter creative mode. You’re not trying to feel inspired, you’re trying to begin.

A basic template:

Start ritual (2 minutes): make tea, clear the desk, open the same tools, play one specific playlist.
Time box (25 to 45 minutes): one task only, no multi-tasking.
Clear finish (2 minutes): save notes, write the next step, leave a breadcrumb for tomorrow.

That last part matters. Ending with “what’s next” turns tomorrow into a continuation, not a restart.

Lower the bar on purpose: set tiny goals and ship often

Big goals can trigger big fear. Tiny goals create motion.

Think “minimum viable creation”:

• one paragraph
• one chord progression
• one colour study
• one slide
• one stitch
• one photo edit

Keep an “ideas parking lot” so your brain stops clutching at every thought. Write ideas down quickly, then return to the work in front of you.

Also keep a done list. Not a to-do list, a done list. When you feel stagnant, proof beats mood. You’ll see you’re moving.

Protect your attention: reduce distractions and make a clean lane to work

If you only change one thing this week, change this. Attention is the fuel.

Practical steps that work:

Notifications off: all of them, for the session.
Phone in another room: not face-down, not “silent”, gone.
One-tab rule: one tab related to the task, close the rest.
Website blockers: if you keep slipping, add a barrier.
Dedicated work spot: even if it’s just one chair.

Schedule a daily “do not disturb” window. If you live with others, tell them the times. It feels awkward once, then it feels normal.

Get unstuck for good: feedback, fresh inputs, and smart constraints

Over months, blocks tend to repeat. The long-term fix isn’t a single trick. It’s a mix of fresh input, supportive feedback, and constraints that remove choice overload.

You don’t need constant novelty. You need small changes that wake up your senses: a new walk route, a new genre, a new tool, a new conversation.

If you want a broad set of tactics from a well-known toolmaker, Canva’s guide on easy ways to beat creative block can spark a few options you can adapt to your medium.

Use constraints to spark ideas: limits create momentum

Constraints can feel like a cage, but they often act like rails. With fewer choices, you start faster.

Try one constraint today:

100-word story
two-colour palette
one instrument only
one location
one-hour build
only nouns
only photos from your phone

The point is decision relief. You stop asking “what should this be?” and start asking “what can I do inside this box?”

Share early, get kind feedback, and keep your confidence intact

Feedback can either unlock a project or crush it. The difference is how you ask, and who you ask.

Share early with one trusted person, or a small group that understands your goals. Co-working can help too. You borrow momentum just by being near someone else who’s working.

A few rules that protect your confidence:

Ask one clear question: “Is the hook clear?” or “Which version feels stronger?”
Ignore vague negativity: “I don’t like it” isn’t useful without specifics.
Look for patterns: one comment is taste, three similar comments is a signal.
Keep what helps: you’re not obliged to take every note.

Conclusion

Creative blocks are signals, not verdicts. They tell you something is off, your energy, your fear level, your choices, your attention.

Pick one fast reset today, then set a tiny routine for the week. Choose one project, define the smallest next step, set a 25-minute timer, and start. The goal isn’t perfect work, it’s continued work, because momentum is often the real cure.