Overcome a Creative Block: Tips from a Fellow Creative

Creative block. Just the phrase itself can feel heavy.

If you’ve ever stared at a blank canvas, blinking cursor, or an empty workspace and felt… stuck—you’re not alone.

As a creative and recovering perfectionist, I’ve hit more creative blocks than I can count. Some lasted an afternoon, others weeks.

But I’ve learned that creativity doesn’t dry up—it just needs a nudge.

In this post, I’m sharing what I’ve learned about what causes a creative block, how to avoid falling into a creative block, how to overcome one when it happens, and my go-to books and tools to help you get back in the creative flow.

Sound good? Let’s get started.

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What Is a Creative Block?

A creative block is that frustrating pause when your ideas stop flowing. You may feel unmotivated, uninspired, anxious, or afraid to begin. It can strike painters, writers, musicians—anyone who makes something out of nothing. (source)

What Causes a Creative Block?

Understanding what’s behind your creative block is the first step to moving past it. Often, it’s not a lack of talent—it’s one (or more) of these common roadblocks:

Perfectionism

The need to make everything flawless can stop you before you even start.

When you expect every idea to be brilliant, it’s easy to procrastinate or over-edit yourself into paralysis.

Burnout and Exhaustion

If you’ve been pushing yourself nonstop, your mind and body might simply need rest.

Burnout is one of the biggest causes of creative blocks—your brain can’t generate new ideas when it’s running on empty.

Fear of Failure

This is a big one. The inner critic is loud during a creative block.

Thoughts like “What if this is terrible?” or “What if people don’t like it?” can shut down creativity before it begins.

Comparison Trap

It’s tempting to scroll through social media for inspiration, but it often leads to unhealthy comparison. Seeing others’ polished work can make your own ideas feel inadequate, feeding self-doubt.

Lack of Clarity or Direction

Sometimes you’re not blocked—you’re just unsure what to do next. Without a clear goal or project, it’s hard to channel creative energy effectively.

Life Stress and Mental Load

When your brain is juggling relationships, finances, health issues, or family responsibilities, there may be little space left for creativity.

Emotional and mental clutter can crowd out your creative flow.

How to Avoid Creative Block + Overcome a Creative Block When it Happens

If you’re feeling stuck creatively, you’re not alone—and you’re not broken.

Over the years, I’ve collected a handful of go-to strategies to help avoid creative blocks as much as possible, as well as tricks that help me push through a creative block and reconnect with inspiration.

Here are my go-to strategies to help avoid the dreaded creative block:

Practice Meditation to Clear Your Mind

Meditation is a powerful tool to break through a creative block by calming the constant chatter in your mind.

Even just five to ten minutes of focused breathing or mindfulness can help reduce stress, increase mental clarity, and open space for fresh ideas to emerge.

When I meditate, I often find that my racing thoughts settle, making room for creative insights that were buried under overwhelm or doubt.

If you’re new to meditation, try guided sessions using apps or simply sit quietly, focusing on your breath.

Regular meditation can improve your ability to stay present during your creative process, helping you move past blocks with greater ease and confidence.

Body Movement

Physical movement is one of the fastest ways to break through a creative block.

Whether it’s taking a walk, dancing in your kitchen, stretching, or doing a few yoga poses, moving your body activates new neural pathways and helps release mental tension.

When you’re stuck creatively, sitting still can actually make it worse. Movement gets your blood flowing, clears stagnant energy, and gives your mind a chance to reset.

Some of my best ideas have come during a quiet walk around the block or while doing light stretches in the studio.

The key is to move without multitasking—no phone, no podcast, just you and your breath. Let your thoughts wander. Creativity often returns when you stop forcing it and allow your body to lead the way.

A Clean and Organized Creative Space

A cluttered or chaotic workspace can contribute to a mental creative block. Physical mess often mirrors internal overwhelm. I’ve found that tidying up, organizing supplies, or even just wiping down my desk can feel like a reset button for my brain.

Creating a clean, inviting space makes it easier to sit down and create. When your surroundings feel fresh and organized, your mind is more open to inspiration and fresh ideas.

If you’re stuck, start with a cleanup session—it’s a surprisingly effective creative unblocker.

Here are some simple things you can do around your studio to reset and refresh your creative space:

• Fill water bottles or jars for cleaning brushes
• Clean and organize your paintbrushes
• Refill paint containers, palettes, or ink wells
• Sort through scraps of paper, fabric, or collage materials
• Wipe down your work surfaces and tools
• Arrange your supplies by type or color for easy access
• Empty trash or recycling bins
• Put away finished or dried projects to clear space
• Dust shelves, equipment, and light fixtures
• Open a window or light a candle to freshen the air

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Reconnect to Your Why

One of the most powerful ways to overcome a creative block is to reconnect with your why—the deeper reason behind your creative work.

When we lose sight of our purpose, it’s easy to fall into self-doubt, burnout, or comparison.

But remembering why you started creating in the first place can reignite your passion and help you push through blocks with renewed clarity.

Ask yourself these questions to help reconnect to your why:

• Why do I create?
• What message or emotion am I trying to share?
• Who am I creating this for?
• What impact do I hope it makes?

For me, my creative “why” often comes back to expressing my truth, processing life, and leaving behind beauty even after I’m gone.

When I return to that core motivation, it’s like lighting a spark. It helps me move beyond the pressure to be perfect and instead focus on showing up authentically.

Reconnecting with your why grounds you in purpose, and purpose is one of the strongest antidotes to a creative block.

Stay Grounded

Grounding helps bring you back into the present moment—out of your racing thoughts and into your body.

It’s especially helpful during a creative block when your energy feels scattered or overwhelmed.

Here are some simple grounding techniques you can try:

Deep Breathing

Inhale through your nose for a count of four, hold for four, and exhale through your mouth for four. Repeat this cycle a few times, allowing each breath to bring calm and focus back into your body.

Walk Barefoot Outdoors

Walking barefoot on grass, dirt, or sand—also known as “earthing”—can be a powerful way to discharge stress and reconnect with nature. Feel the texture and temperature beneath your feet as you breathe deeply and move slowly.

Use a Grounding Mat

These grounding mats are designed to simulate the effect of being in direct contact with the earth and can help regulate energy and promote calm when used regularly in your studio or workspace.

Mindful Observation (The 5-4-3-2-1 Technique)

Look around and name:
– 5 things you can see
– 4 things you can touch
– 3 things you can hear
– 2 things you can smell
– 1 thing you can taste
This sensory reset can interrupt anxious thinking and help you return to the present.

Body Scan

Gently bring awareness to different parts of your body, starting at your toes and moving up. Notice any tension or sensation, and consciously release it as you go.

This reconnects your mind with your body, relieving mental tension.

Clear Your Studio Space of Negative Energy

Sometimes a creative block isn’t just mental—it can feel like the energy in your studio is stuck or heavy.

Clearing negative energy from your creative space can refresh your environment and invite positive vibes that support inspiration and flow.

Here are some ways I like to clear negative energy from my studio:

Saging (Smudging)

Burn sage or other cleansing herbs like palo santo to purify the air and remove stagnant energy.

Move the smoke around your workspace with intention, focusing on corners and areas where energy may feel dense.

This little smudging kit is similar to what I use and will help you get started!

Prayers or Intentions

Say a prayer, affirmation, or set a positive intention for your creative space. Speaking words of gratitude or asking for clarity can shift the energy in powerful ways.

Sound Clearing

Use sound to break up stuck energy. Ring a bell, use a singing bowl, or play uplifting music to raise the vibrational frequency of your space.

Open Windows

Airflow naturally moves energy and refreshes the environment, so whenever possible, open up the windows and let fresh air circulate.

Crystals

Some believe that stones and crystals absorb and transform negative energy.

Place cleansing crystals like black tourmaline, clear quartz, or amethyst around your studio. These stones are believed to absorb and transform negative energy.

Connect with Fellow Creatives

One of the most effective ways to overcome a creative block is to simply talk about it.

Sharing your struggles with someone who understands the highs and lows of the creative process can be incredibly healing.

Whether it’s another artist, writer, musician, or maker, being heard and seen by someone in your creative community brings a sense of relief.

Creative blocks thrive in isolation, but they start to shrink in connection.

Remember: Creative Blocks Are Normal

It’s easy to believe that a creative block means you’ve lost your spark or that you’re not truly creative—but that simply isn’t true.

Every artist, writer, and creator experiences these periods. In fact, creative blocks are often part of the process, not a sign of failure.

Creativity ebbs and flows—it always has, and it always will.

The key is not to panic or give up when you feel stuck. A creative block doesn’t mean the well is dry forever.

More often than not, it just means it’s time to pause, refill, and reconnect with why you create in the first place.

Trust that your creativity is still there, waiting patiently for you to return.

More Tools & Tricks To Break Through a Creative Block

When I feel the fog of a creative block rolling in, I’ve learned not to panic—I reach for a few trusted tools and techniques that help spark inspiration and get the ideas flowing again.

These are small, simple shifts that can make a big difference when motivation is low and creativity feels stuck.

Blast Mood-Based Spotify Playlists

Music is one of the quickest ways to change your mental state.

I create playlists based on the mood or energy I want to channel—whether it’s calm and meditative or upbeat and energizing.

Sound can bypass overthinking and tap into something deep inside, making it a powerful tool for fostering creative flow.

My current favorite playlist for the studio (Spotify)

Play with Collage Paper Scraps and Old Journal Pages

There’s something magic about giving forgotten or discarded materials new life.

I keep a stash of collage scraps, vintage ephemera, and even torn pages from old journals.

Layering textures and words gets my hands moving, and often, the act of rearranging something old becomes the start of something new.

Try Morning Journaling (Brain Dump Style)

Every morning (or whenever I feel blocked), I sit down and free-write whatever’s on my mind.

No structure, no editing—just a mental and emotional unload.

Morning pages help to clear the clutter and help me access what’s under the block. Often, I find hidden ideas buried under all the noise.

Paint Over an Old Piece

This trick has rescued me from more creative blocks than I can count.

Instead of staring at a blank page or canvas, I’ll revisit an older work I’m not attached to and start painting over it.

Painting over an old gives me something to respond to visually, and removes the fear of ruining a fresh start.

Use a Creative Prompt Jar

I keep a jar filled with creative prompts—simple, open-ended ideas or words like “movement,” “layers,” “quiet chaos,” or “use one color.”

When I’m stuck, I pull one out and treat it like a mini challenge. Prompts help bypass overthinking and give my creativity a place to begin.

Creative Prompts for Your Prompt Jar:

1. Use only one color
2. Start with a scribble
3. Create something inspired by the word freedom
4. Collage using scraps or found papers
5. Make something using your non-dominant hand
6. Paint or draw with your eyes closed
7. Use a quote as your jumping-off point
8. Create something that feels like quiet
9. Include a circle, a line, and a splash
10. Work with something torn or broken
11. Tell a story in 3 lines or 3 images
12. Use only black and white
13. Let music guide the mood of your piece
14. Depict what resistance or stuckness feels like
15. Use three textures
16. Create something inspired by a childhood memory
17. Begin with a shadow or silhouette
18. Let the weather influence your color choices
19. Include a hidden word or message
20. Start with the phrase: “I wonder what would happen if…”

Switch Up the Supplies You Normally Use

Changing your materials can change your mindset. If you always use acrylics, try watercolor. If you usually write with a keyboard, grab a pen and paper…you get the idea.

New textures, tools, and surfaces can jolt your brain out of autopilot and into curiosity mode.

Ditch the Expectations

Let go of what the final result should look like.

Creative blocks often come from trying to live up to imagined outcomes or other people’s standards.

Give yourself full permission to create just for the joy of it—no pressure, no perfection required.

Set a Timer and Creative Fast

Setting a timer and painting as fast as I can works wonders for getting started and kicking as creative block.

I set the timer, turn on the music and go! And by the time the timer goes off, I’m usually in the flow.

It removes the pressure of a long session and makes creativity feel manageable again.

Mind Mapping or Idea Dumping

Grab a notebook or large sheet of paper and start mind mapping around a single word, image, or theme. No need for structure—just branch out freely with related ideas.

Sometimes I don’t even realize what I’m trying to say until I see it mapped out visually.

Use Children’s Art Supplies

Sometimes going back to the basics—like crayons, finger paints, or markers—frees you from the “rules” of being a grown-up artist.

using Kids art supplies encourages playful experimentation, which is often the very thing that melts a creative block. My faorite kids art supply?

STABILO Woody Pencils. They are more like a creamy crayon than a pencil- love ’em!

My Favorite Books for Beating a Creative Block

If you’re struggling with a creative block, sometimes the best way forward is to learn from others who’ve been there.

These powerful books offer inspiration, mindset shifts, and practical tools to help you break through blocks and get back into creative flow.

These have been lifesavers over the years:

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert – A must-read on the nature of creative fear and how to dance with it.

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron – The 12-week program helped me uncover what blocks me and how to move through it.

Keep Going by Austin Kleon – Practical, inspiring, and beautifully simple tips to keep showing up.

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield – A deep dive into resistance and how to fight through it.

Make Your Art No Matter What by Beth Pickens – Especially great for creatives with full lives and full hearts.

FAQ: Overcoming a Creative Block

How long do creative blocks usually last?

It depends. Some last hours, others linger for weeks. The key is not to panic or label yourself “not creative.” You’re just resting, resetting, or processing.

Is it okay to take a break from creating?

Absolutely. Rest is part of the cycle. Sometimes you need input before you can give output.

What should I do if nothing inspires me?

Try a creative date with yourself—go somewhere new, browse a bookstore, listen to live music. Curiosity is often the first step to inspiration.

Can creative blocks be a sign of something deeper?

Yes. Sometimes it’s not about the art—it’s about your mental or emotional health. Therapy, journaling, or honest self-reflection can help uncover what’s really going on.

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Final Thoughts: Beating a Creative Block

If you’re stuck in a creative block right now, take a deep breath—you’re not broken, and your creativity hasn’t disappeared.

It’s simply asking for attention, rest, or a new way in.

Sometimes the most powerful shift comes from something small: a walk, a laugh, a messy doodle, or just showing up without expectations.

Remember, creativity doesn’t require perfect conditions—it just needs you to be open and start.

XO, Christine