Working in the creative sector, does anyone ever feel like they get *stuck* in their work, creative process, or life?

I'm curious to hear about your biggest barriers to getting 'un-stuck' OR how you've nagivated a breakthrough. Any insights would be appreciated!

Replies19

  • @Dhruve Shah YES YES! I totally agree with all of this. Nature is a huge re-energizer for me. It keeps me grounded. It's quite unfortunate because at this moment in my life, I am living in a part of the world that is really barren (I'm back in with my parents due to COVID's impacts). So maybe the lack of nature at the moment is exasperating my *stuckness* a bit. EIther way, finding new ways to disconnect from things is key.

    And yes, seeking some additional support/feedback would also help too!
  • @Elsa Benoldi Wiping your slate clean and starting afresh definitely offers a new invigorating surge of energy. I think for me it is hard to say 'goodbye' to a decent idea (even if it wasn't ever goign to work). It is like a creative baby of mine sometimes.... But I see the value of cutting it loose and letting space open up more for a new idea to be born.

    I do think we learn best from our 'failures' so I shouldnt be so scared to recognize things and then say "ok, on to the next".
  • @Katja Alissa Mueller Thank you for this reminder--- It's true. Our creative flow resembles the seasons-- sometimes is rich and abundant with life and sometimes it can be a bit desolate and dry. But every phase is necessary and it is all good and necessary.

    Being delightfully distracted can definitely fill up the time during those dry seasons :)
  • @Chris Nuelle Thanks for that thought-provoking quote

    I totally agree with you that mostly the essence of Sagmeister's quote rings true but niche-ing your self too much when it comes to gaining inspiration (and seeking collaboration!), diversity is key.

    I sometimes feel like an enthusiastic puppy in my creativity and inspiration-- where I see shiny things and want to 'play' with them. I think that is why throughout my life I have been able to experience a lot but haven't quite solidified a niche for myself. There are just too many things I want to do!

    So I think for me, there is a balance between tackling on something new for creativity/inspiration and making sure that I 'stay in my lane'. But I do love the idea of throwing out whatever task is at hand and doing something COMPLETELY different. Activate some new neuronal connections!
  • @Elliott Starr Wow-- thanks for sharing. I am glad to hear that you eventually surfaced from that dark place and that you seem to be better because of it.

    As sucky as those hard seasons are, I do think they are necesary at times for us to reset; which is exactly what you did. I mean, getting in a rut is never ideal but the new wave of energy that comes from it when we overcome it, I think it valuable as gold. And good for you for tackling it holistically as well-- something as simple as what we eat can really affect our life and creativity.
  • @Alessandro Novelli Thank you for your comment! It's good to know that others feels overwhelmed by technology sometimes! It can be such a source for inspiration but that scale tips too easily (and quickly) to be TOO much inspiration. And yes, it is hard to regain your own ccreative compass when there are so many things grabbing your attention. A turn-off technology day (or two or THREE!) is pertinent indeed. Thanks for the reminder :)
  • 100% yes! Especially as a lot of things outside work are also creative hobbies, other than sports it can sometimes feel like it blends together or creating too much. You don't want to end up creating non-stop and burn yourself out.

    I've found exercising, taking a break from screens, going outside (and more specifically into nature) helps a lot to re-energise yourself. Often, when you stop trying to figure something out, and take a break, the solution just comes to you after a bit. Even switching to something else for a while can help too if it's un-related as it gives your brain a chance to detach from what you were originally stuck on.

    And sometimes, you just need a second set of eyes/ears/etc to look at it from a completely fresh perspective.
  • Hi Emi, it happens yes, pretty much to everyone I guess! Feeling stuck or uninspired it's part of the creative game.... and part of our life too! When I feel that this is happening to me, I just accept it and start over. There's no better thing to do than admitting our failures and find other ways to succeed... and at the end this will be even more rewarding. Sometimes when the work/process goes very smoothly and easy, the result is bland too ;)
  • Hi Emi,
    Great advice already shared below.
    I think we have to get away from the idea that being stuck is necessarily a bad thing. Productivity – as the rest in life – comes in ebb and flows and it is totally ok to be stuck sometimes.
    It seems as if you are aware of the times you are stuck, which is the best starting point to just acknowledge it and implement smart changes to potentially move through it. Do whatever you love doing in these moments: go for a walk, call a friend, cook something nice, get a new houseplant.
    Getting delightfully distracted normally works a treat for me.
    Hope you find some ways that suit you.
  • Emi, I’ve always said I do my best thinking when I’m not thinking. Go for a walk, inspiration is all around us. Talk to friend, read something funny, and read my book Hegarty on Creativity. If not of that works pour yourself a glass of wine. Just make sure it’s organic. And preferably farmed Biodynamically. Why? It’s better for the planet. John.
  • Hi Emi,
    This is a very good question and see great feedback already here.
    I would only add that generally the blocker comes when you need to monetize your work, as in a way both being wildly creative and trade with your creativity are contradictory.
    In my experience the blockage is never been about being creative rather than the field/discipline/craft I was using as a container for my creativity. a that moment.
    A very mundan example: you can be creatively stuck with a project but cook an amazing new meal that same day, meaning that your creativity is still there but just not tuned with the project.
    Being aware of this difference helps me put things in perspective and eventually feel less stuck.
    Hope this helps!
  • I remember reading Stefan Sagmeister saying something like 'Musicians should be musicians, designers should be designers and people that do multiple things never become the best at that thing' (im heavily paraphrasing here).

    Broadly, I agree with most of what Sagmeister has to say, but in this instance, I couldn't disagree more. To limit yourself to one outlet is not only creatively stifiling, but dooming yourself to a linear path.

    Preamble aside, my cure for being stuck is throw whatever you're doing down, and try something else. Play an instrument, learn to cook, try calligraphy, gardening etc. Whatever it may be, taking time to diversify and learning/doing some kind of meaningful activity really helps reset the other creative parts of your life.
  • All the time. I find it correlates pretty strongly with overwhelm, and procrastination. There was a period of a few months in my career where I felt like I had totally forgotten how to have ideas. It was the unhappiest time in my career. Without a doubt, it was brought on by overwhelm, which led to procrastination. I'm still not sure how I came out the other side of it. But I remember I changed a lot - where I worked, how I worked, where I looked for inspiration, what I ate, anything to get it going really.
  • Hello Emi, yes totally both on down times and during actual projects. I generally try to disconnect from my surroundings, in particular the digital world, I feel most of the time my creatives blocks come from having to many inputs and being overwhelmed by images video etc... Another thing I do beside disconnecting is to list down what I have to do and how I can achieve it. Hope it helps.
  • @Matt Percival Wow. Thank you for your answer-- The idea of taking a step, for better or for worse, definitley resonates with me! At the end of that action, you are in a completely different place than you were before so that is progress (even though you may have majorly messed up-- at leat you can learn from it!). Steps at that point can feel a bit more 'easier'!
  • Hi Emi. It happens to us all of course and everyone will have their strategy, and I have no idea if this will help. For me, I always try to remember I have a the gift of a creative mind - the ability to step into someone else’s shoes and perceive the word from their perspective - and I apply the same trick on myself: honestly understanding what’s freezing my mind usually unlocks it. That, and forcing myself to do one thing spontaneously, so the wall of inaction is at least breached, for good or bad, means you’ve started, the hardest part of the journey. Being critical of something is better than being critical of nothing.

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