Creative crisis? This is how it can be overcome!

Many hobby artists, but of course many professionals also know the problem: after a time of creative work, it is difficult for them to develop new ideas. It is absolutely human to have to recognize that there is a lot of inspiration for new works of art.

Sometimes it seems almost impossible to be creative. Whether it is about starting an extensive project or simply fighting against lunchtime tiredness - creative blockages are a frequently occurring problem in different professional fields.

The beginning of some projects is a challenge, while others get stuck on a small detail and suddenly everything stalls. Psychologists define creative blockages very precisely as

a period in which the creative productivity of a person or a team drops to a low level ”.

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In contrast to ordinary tasks such as the basement, creativity tends to have strong fluctuations in productivity. Both situations can be described as creative blocks - a problem that affects almost everyone in the creative area.

But they have ambitions. You have a schedule, a deadline and the work must be done. So what can you do? Fortunately, you are not alone with this problem. Many leading artists and designers also fought with creative blockages and successfully overcome them.

So who knows? Maybe it is easier than expected to remedy the situation?

What is a creative crisis and where are the causes of a blockade?

A creative creation blockage occurs when it is difficult to develop new ideas. This can occur in situations in which an existing project is being worked on or if you try to create something completely new without having a clear idea. In these moments it feels like you are sitting and the creative tank is completely empty.

Despite all efforts, nothing wants to create fresh and innovative things. There can be many different reasons behind such a blockade:

Mental health

Psychological problems such as depression or anxiety disorders can strongly stop creativity. In phases of depression, you often feel without drive and unmotivated, which makes it difficult to develop creativity. Fears can lead to the lack of inspiration overwhelmed and intensify the fears.

(Note: These statements are made from personal experience. In the case of psychological problems, it is strongly recommended to take advantage of professional medical help.).

Exhaustion / sloping energy level

A lack of sleep can affect creativity and energy and lead to feelings of overload or helplessness that negatively affect creative It is difficult to develop innovative ideas when you feel like a zombie.

It is no coincidence that some of the most creative minds regularly make naps. In addition to the recommended 10 hours of sleep a night, Albert Einstein regularly treated himself to short naps.

stress

Everyday challenges such as financial worries, relationship problems, professional fears or family obligations can lead to the fact that you feel restricted in your creativity. With all the other stresses in life, there is often no time for creative things.

perfectionism

Perfectionism can lead to the feeling that your own creativity is dried up. You can have difficulty letting go until it is perfect. The problem with this is that perfection is an unreachable goal.

The more time you spend to perfect your work, the less progress you make.

Fear of failure / fear of failure

These feelings can block the creative process and cause new ideas to not be pursued. The fear of failure often prevents risks from taking risks and developing one's own creativity.

Other reasons

After all, different causes of this phenomenon are possible. Accordingly, it is advisable to deal with its direct environment, among other things. Has anything changed here?

Perhaps the move to a new studio has ensured that the distraction is still too great at the moment to concentrate on new works of art?

Creative blockages have different causes and are to be viewed individually. However, there are various effective strategies to overcome them, regardless of their source.

The following sections may help to bring your own creativity back to life.

At the same time, they show that it occasionally needs a look outside the box to ensure ideal basic requirements for designing art.

Overcome creative blockages - proven methods and techniques

After we have dealt with the possible causes of creative blockages in detail, it is now time to take a closer look at proven strategies in order to successfully overcome a creative crisis.

Creative blockages can be frustrating and leading to you are in a dead end. But don't worry, because there are different ways to get your artistic creativity back on track. Let us go one step further together and explore the possibility of revitalizing your inspiration and fully regain your creative process.

Tip 01 - eliminate disruptive factors

Each artist certainly has individual ideas about how he imagines the "perfect working atmosphere". And often it is apparent little things that can do great things.

A typical example: Those who have to be annoyed by uncomfortable shoes can hardly concentrate on what is happening on the screen. Here it is advisable to remedy the situation, for example with a Stockx discount coupon , to buy new and comfortable shoes and save money at the same time.

Due to the fact that numerous artists love to work while standing, it goes without saying why said shoes should be as comfortable as possible. Many manufacturers now rely on robust materials that do not make major demands with regard to their cleaning.

Depending on which materials are used in the creation of the works of art, it may also be possible to protect not only the shoes , but also the rest of the clothing with coatings, old shirts and the like.

Tip 02 - get your head free

An effective way to overcome a creative blockade is to distance yourself from the current project or the task.

Creative people often experience that they come up with the best ideas when they deal with something else, such as walking or showering. With this conscious withdrawal, the subconscious continues to work on the problem solving and can often produce new creative ideas.

In the event of difficulties, it is advisable to consciously take time for other activities. It is astonishing what a positive impact, for example, a bike tour or a walk on creativity. You should temporarily put the current project aside to get your head free, and then return with a fresh look and new ideas.

Tip 03 - plan breaks

There are definitely parallels between a classic day in the studio and a day in the office. Occasionally it is time to move to be able to take new thoughts. Anyone who notices that they will become less creative during the day can be well advised to turn their backs on their canvas.

And who knows? Maybe a new hobby may even be created in this way? Those who deliberately rely on a little "action" during a break by starting jogging , for example, often notice that they have become more efficient again after the respective activity.

With regard to the right leisure activities, it is of course important to take personal preferences into account. Artists who prefer to take it a little quieter should prefer a walk through the park. But this is also a movement that can ultimately have a positive effect on your own creativity.

Tip 04 - forget the end result

Sometimes it can be helpful to overcome inertia by first looking for the worst solution. The goal is to at least start.

The beginning of a project can be challenging. Perhaps the pressure on them will be released from the start to create something extraordinary. In order to overcome this creative blockade, you shouldn't worry about possible failures - nor whether the result will be usable at all.

Just start and gradually continue your work without pressure.

Tip 05 - tidy up the studio and prove courage for minimalism

Some artists keep underlining how inspiring a completely white wall can be. This is exactly what it is important to build up. Because: A completely white area in which nothing can distract from the essentials can have a positive effect on your own creativity.

In general, it is advisable to always ensure a certain basic order in his studio. Or otherwise: In this special room, nothing should distract from the creation of art. High laundry mountains, files and the like carry the potential to tear out the artist again and again on his creative process.

That is exactly what it has to be avoided. Accordingly, it makes sense to clean up at regular intervals and to say goodbye to any contaminated sites.

Tip 06 - accept borders

It is of great importance to define clear boundaries within which one directs and designs your creative processes. This makes it possible to create a structured framework that leaves space for freedom and originality.

Many artists will certainly agree that a certain level of structure can be beneficial for the development of creativity. If you stand in front of an empty canvas or look at the screen of a computer -or use any other medium -this can initially appear overwhelming.

The almost endless possibilities can lead to uncertainty. But this is exactly where the importance of clear limits comes into play. By setting yourself, defining goals and making realistic time specifications, you create a common thread .

In this way, the focus made easier and thinking is sharpened. Ultimately, boundaries can serve as creative help in order to implement and further develop their own ideas.

Tip 07 - deadlines as aid

Setting deadlines is a proven remedy for creative blockages. Sometimes artists consciously provoke this panic feeling by publicly announcing their work on a defined day.

This strategy works surprisingly well. Similar to the fear of failure, clear appointments are extremely inspiring for the right people.

Maybe you don't want to disappoint your customers or remain reliable for a fan base that is waiting for updates. The reason it may be, deadlines can minimize procrastination .

If your creative work is a hobby and no job, it can be challenging to meet appointments. In such cases, it is advisable to commit to other people who are responsible - be it an understanding friend, a creative colleague, your spouse or an expectant fan base.

Tip 08 - time and routine

In the book "Daily rituals: how artists work" by Mason Currey , in which he reports on the work habits of a famous author who spent eight hours at the desk a day, even if he had no concrete ideas.

On the other side of the spectrum, writers often invest a lot of time in their work. Some get up in the early morning hours to work on the next big novel. If there are no new ideas, you can revise what has already been written or create something inferior - the main thing is that you create something new.

If you are in a creative blockade, it could be tempting to give up. But you shouldn't do that at all. Do the same to the author of Currey and stay tuned.

Work on the new painting. Keep encoding your new game. Establishing a regular creative routine can be very helpful. By taking a defined time for your artistic work every day, it supports you to always stay present, even if you don't feel any motivation.

Be unscathed if you are not satisfied with the results of this time. You can revise this at any time later. It is important that they continuously produce. Don't be afraid to take small steps to stay on the ball.

If you have a writing block, just write 100 words a day. If you find it difficult to compose music, devote yourself to a small section. You may find that 200 words become 200, then 500 and ultimately 1,000.

Keep return and continue until the creative blockage finally comes off or find out what to do next. Creative blockages often occur in waves. You feel blocked in one day, the next you may see an alternative solution.

Even if immediate progress is not visible, this does not mean that nothing happens. It may sound trite or clichéd, but it is true:

Keep through, even if the way out seems blocked. "

Tip 09 - Stay open for different sources of information

Always stay in a constant feedback loop . This means continuous inputs : deepen yourself into books and blogs, visit lectures and conferences, use the medium for which you design.

In addition, this means continuous outputs : write books and blogs, speak at conferences, design. Keep in mind that you and your work do not exist in isolation. We are in an era in which the world is more networked than ever before.

Use this fact to your advantage. Observe what developments are going on in your field or specific discipline. Identify which conventions it violates. Determine which works are considered pioneering and which only trends imitate.

All of this will be able to recognize areas in which you can stand out and in which your work convinces with your originality.

Tip 10 - put your perfectionism aside

Stop chasing perfectionism. Perfectionism can lead to creative blockages. Perfection does not exist. Examples of this can be found in the reviews of well -known books on Amazon.

Even great works are successfully checked for mistakes by critics. The fear of imperfection should not prevent her from creating great things. What is sufficient for you will be impressive for others. Not everything you create will be a masterpiece.

In addition to his masterpieces, even Charles Dickens also wrote less successful works. Had Dickens Perfection sought, we would never have had classics like "A Christmas Carol" (a Christmas story) or "Oliver Twist" .

Overcome perfectionism and share your creative work with the world. Learn to let go when you have reached the point where you are satisfied.

Tip 11 - Let the works of the "very big" inspire

First of all: Of course it would be wrong to copy other artists. Nevertheless, it is not forbidden to deal with the works of the "very big", such as the street art Megastar Banksy .

Improving artists who admire you can be a valuable exercise. By trying to decipher and understand your creative processes, you can learn a lot.

Authors take known stories and reinterpret them in their own way, while musicians re -compose the music they love. This tradition of imitation is particularly important learning

Famous classically trained painters copied masterpieces to improve their skills. Even today you can observe art students in European art museums who stand in front of the works of their role models and try to capture their style.

Find a work that inspires you - be it a poster design, a lovingly designed website or an impressive typographic work - and try to feel it. It is often found that the complexity of the work is hidden below the surface and it can be a challenge to overcome it. This knowledge can help you to master complexity in your own work.

Often it only takes a little inspiration to then create a work of art that rightly bears the name "unique" .

Paths from the creative crisis - artists report

In episode 60 of the Podcast "All People" by Veit Lindau TV, Elvira Zeißler speaks in an interview about her way to the full -time author, about calling, discipline and pressure to perform, as well as creativity, crises and real self -worth.

Artist Sinah Birkner from www.kreativfuehl.de reports in an authentic way about her creative crisis and shares reasons, solutions and your individual handling of it with us.

Joachim Rodriguez y Romero

Owner and managing director of Kunstplaza. Publicist, editor and passionate blogger in the field of art, design and creativity since 2011. Successful conclusion in web design as part of a university degree (2008). Further development of creativity techniques through courses in free drawing, expression painting and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market through many years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with actors/institutions from art and culture.

www.kunstplaza.de/