How To Overcome Creative Block

Some days, I’d even say most days, I’m on fire. Strategy and ideas are my jam, and when I’m on a good streak, I’m serving up banging ideas, fresh inspo and super solutions like it’s a rapid fire round. Granted, sometimes those ideas are slightly too outrageous and shouldn’t be taken further, but they open the conversation. The point is, on those days, my productivity is through the roof and I feel great. Other days, I can’t come up with an idea to save myself. Other days, I can barely string a sentence together. 

Those basic function failures are always due to what I call, creative block. And after years of trying to push through, I’ve realised, it doesn’t work. If you keep pushing, you keep falling until you totally burn out.

Creative blocks happen when I'm tired, stressed, pushing to meet unrealistic deadlines, eating badly, not exercising (running has been my lifeline since I was a kid) or simply not looking after myself. They also come when I’m working on an account where I’ve exhausted my creative ability or have lost the passion for. Confession, there was a time when I took on any and every account that came my way, even if I wasn’t interested in the topic, brand or industry. My advice, don’t do this. Taking on accounts I knew I couldn’t do the best job for was not only detrimental to the client, but also to my agency. The agency I’d poured thousands of hours, love and life into. And you don’t want to hurt that. Thankfully I don’t do this anymore, so burnouts due to poor client choices are few and far between. 

So what do I do when I hit a block? I’ve developed a method for getting back on track.

First, I step away from my computer, walk to the coffee machine and make a long black. I take a minute and figure out what the actual heck is going on and if I can delegate my workload and give myself some time to let me get my jam back or to make sure priority jobs are being taken care of. Then, I look at the week ahead and start rejigging. I make time in my calendar for things that will help me recalibrate: walks, coffee catch-ups with a gf (the best way to clear the mind) or a trip to the driving range. Then I cancel anything that is going to see me adding stress: that mid-week event that means I won’t get home ‘til midnight. Then I jump online and order fresh produce and book the cleaner to come sort out my house. It takes one thing off my list and will make me feel so much better.

Then I reply to all my urgent emails, and then I shut my computer and leave the office. Yep, I leave. I take my uninspired toosh to the beach for a swim (my happy place). There's nothing like diving under a wave when your head is full of noise. Magically, all that nonsense goes away. 

Now, the show must go on, so it’s time to ease back into it. I set myself up at home, outside, with my legs up, and start with all the tasks that don't require me to be creative. Admin, it’s a never ending task, there’s always reporting to do, work to sign off, outstanding work to follow-up, or clients to touch base with on upcoming campaigns. Using the right side of my brain really refreshes the left. Usually I’m back in full swing by morning. Just knowing I've made time for me to clear whatever’s going on in my mind, clears my mind.

So, next time you feel like you’re repeatedly hitting a brick wall. Stop. Acknowledge the block, figure out where it’s coming from, and create space in your schedule to do what you need to to clear your head. Jumping into the ocean isn't everyone's thing, but find yours, and do it. 

Leaving the office at midday to go home and partake in the little tasks might feel a total ‘no-no’, but it’s better than beating yourself up for hours, getting nowhere, and continuing to get nowhere for three days, then fully burning out. You gotta do what works for you. Ain't nobody perfect.