Ep.26. Overcoming Creative Blocks: Gentle Strategies for Reigniting Your Creative Spark
Whether you're an artist, writer, or entrepreneur, it's natural to encounter obstacles in your creative journey.
In this episode, we'll explore gentle techniques for moving through these barriers and reigniting your creative spark.
Drawing from my personal experiences and using a nurturing, mindful approach, we'll help you reconnect with your creativity.
About this Episode
Creative blocks can take many forms, including a lack of inspiration, self-doubt, perfectionism, or burnout. It's helpful to recognize that creative blocks are a normal part of the creative process, and facing them doesn't make you any less of a Creative. The key is to approach these obstacles with gentleness, self-care, and mindfulness.
I’ve put together a list of ways to overcome creative blocks and I'm delighted to share them in this episode.
Let's dive in!
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Episode Transcript
Welcome back to The Art of Creative Living, a podcast for heart-centred creatives and entrepreneurs. I'm your host, Nicola Newman.
Today, we'll be discussing a common challenge that many creatives face: creative blocks. Whether you're an artist, writer, or entrepreneur, it's natural to encounter obstacles in your creative journey. In this episode, we'll explore gentle techniques for moving through these barriers and reigniting your creative spark.
Drawing from my personal experiences and using a nurturing, mindful approach, we'll help you reconnect with your creativity.
Creative blocks can take many forms, including lack of inspiration, self-doubt, perfectionism, or burnout. It's helpful to recognize that creative blocks are a normal part of the creative process, and facing them doesn't make you any less of a Creative. The key is to approach these obstacles with gentleness, self-care, and mindfulness.
I’ve put together a list of ways to overcome Creative Blocks, so let’s explore those together now.
Practice mindfulness
When faced with a creative block, take a moment to pause and observe your thoughts and emotions without judgment. This can help you identify the root cause of your block and create space for clarity and inspiration. One of my favourite tools for navigating creative blocks using mindfulness is the Inquisitive Pause.
The Inquisitive Pause is a simple yet powerful practice that encourages self-awareness and reflection. To implement this technique, follow these steps:
Recognize the block: When you feel stuck or overwhelmed, acknowledge the creative block without judgment or self-criticism.
Pause: Take a deep breath and give yourself permission to pause your creative work momentarily. This intentional break helps create space between you and the creative block.
Inquire: Gently ask yourself questions about the block. For example, what thoughts or emotions are contributing to this block? Are there any external factors influencing your creativity? Are you putting too much pressure on yourself to create something perfect?
Pay attention to the sensations in your body as you reflect and check in with yourself. What sensations can you feel in your legs, arms, chest, or belly?
Reflect: As you ask these questions, listen to your inner voice without judgment. Be open to any insights or emotions that may arise. In my personal experience, this process has led to a deeper understanding of the underlying issues behind my creative blocks, revealing solutions and new creative pathways.
Respond: Based on your reflection, decide on a course of action to address the block. This might involve taking a break, engaging in self-care, adjusting your expectations, or changing your environment. Remember, the goal is to approach your block with compassion, curiosity, and openness.
By incorporating the Inquisitive Pause into your mindfulness practice, you can develop greater self-awareness and resilience in the face of creative blocks.
This approach has helped me to navigate obstacles in my creative journey by fostering a deeper understanding of my thoughts and emotions, allowing me to shift my focus and move past creative barriers with greater ease and grace.
Engage in self-care
Taking care of your physical, emotional, and mental well-being is crucial when facing a creative block. Ensure you're getting enough sleep, eating well, and staying hydrated. Engage in activities that bring you joy and relaxation, tailored to your personal preferences and lifestyle.
In my own life, I've found that certain self-care strategies have been especially effective in nurturing my well-being and helping me move through creative blocks. Some of my personal favorites include:
Having a warm bath: Immersing myself in a soothing bath allows me to relax both physically and mentally. The warmth and comfort of the water help to ease tension and provide a calming environment in which to reflect on my creative challenges.
Hugging my husband: Connecting with loved ones can be a powerful source of comfort and support during difficult times. A simple hug from my husband reminds me that I'm not alone in my creative journey and provides the emotional support I need to overcome creative obstacles.
Going for a walk around my local area: Stepping away from my creative workspace and immersing myself in nature allows me to clear my mind and find fresh inspiration. During these walks, I often gain new perspectives on my creative challenges and find unexpected solutions.
Patting my dog, Lacey Jane: Spending time with my beloved dog offers a unique form of therapy and companionship. Lacey Jane's unconditional love and presence help me feel grounded, and the simple act of patting her can be incredibly soothing and stress-relieving.
Journaling my ideas: I’ve long been a huge fan of journaling and lately, I’ve been using a new technique I learned called “inner dialoguing”, developed by Luisa Capacchione Ph.D who is a creative coach, where I use my non-dominant hand and dominant hand to write and answer questions between my inner adult and my inner child. I’ve found it to be a truly life-changing tool and super helpful for navigating creative blocks or facing any challenges in life, really.
By incorporating these personalized self-care strategies into my routine, I've been able to navigate creative blocks more effectively. Of course, remember that self-care is a deeply personal practice, and it's essential to discover the activities and rituals that resonate with you and support your unique creative journey.
Break the task into smaller steps
Sometimes, a creative block can be the result of feeling overwhelmed by the size or complexity of a project. Break the task into smaller, manageable steps, and tackle them one at a time. I've found this technique particularly helpful when facing large projects or doing something I've never done before.
One effective way to manage your creative projects is by using digital tools to organise your ideas, tasks, and schedules. Two of my favourite tools for this purpose are Trello and Google Calendar.
Trello: This project management tool allows you to create boards for different projects and add lists and cards to organize your tasks. By breaking your creative project down into smaller steps and organizing them visually in Trello, you can gain a clearer perspective on your project's scope and progress. Trello is an invaluable resource for me, as it helps me capture ideas, set priorities, and track my progress, making my creative projects feel more manageable and achievable.
Google Calendar: Time management is crucial when working on creative projects, especially if you're juggling multiple tasks or deadlines. Google Calendar is an excellent tool for scheduling your time, setting reminders, and allocating specific time slots for your creative work. By integrating your Trello tasks with Google Calendar, you can ensure that you stay on track and make steady progress on your project, even when you're feeling overwhelmed.
Finding the right tools to support your creative dreams is paramount to making them come true. By using Trello and Google Calendar in tandem, you can create a structured and organized approach to your creative projects, reducing overwhelm and breaking through creative blocks more effectively.
These tools can also help you maintain a healthy balance between your work and personal life, ensuring that you have the time and energy to dedicate to your creative pursuits.
Finding the right tools to support you in your creative journey is a personal endeavour.
Everyone has a unique personality, we may be neurodiverse or neurotypical, and we have preferences that shape the way we approach our creative work. As a creative mentor and business coach, I cherish the opportunity to work with my clients to help them discover the tools and strategies that best suit their individual needs and strengths.
By acknowledging and embracing our unique qualities, we can develop a tailored approach to our creative projects that not only nurtures our well-being but also fosters a more authentic and fulfilling creative experience.
Change your environment
A change of scenery can help shift your perspective and provide fresh inspiration. Take your creative work to a new location, such as a park, coffee shop, or a different room in your home. In my own experience, sailing the east coast of Australia provided me with countless opportunities to change my environment and find inspiration in new places.
Even when I'm not sailing, I love to indulge my wanderlust and seek out new environments to spark creativity. Sometimes, that means hopping in my van and heading out for an overnight camping trip, where I can immerse myself in nature and let the beauty of my surroundings fuel my imagination.
On other occasions, I don't need to venture far at all to find a fresh perspective. I've been known to drive just three blocks away from my home, park under some tall pine trees, and set up my computer on my lap, overlooking the picturesque farmlands behind my house.
These simple yet powerful changes in scenery have a profound impact on my creative process, enabling me to break free from routine and access new ideas and insights. By seeking out diverse and inspiring environments, both near and far, I've been able to maintain a sense of wonder and curiosity that has been instrumental in my creative journey.
So, whether you're travelling the world or exploring your own backyard, remember that changing your environment can play a crucial role in overcoming creative blocks and reigniting your creative spark.
Connect with others
Sharing your creative struggles with like-minded individuals can provide support, encouragement, and new perspectives. Consider joining a creative community, attending workshops, or reaching out to a mentor for guidance.
One such beautiful community is my Creative Hearts Community, a nurturing and supportive space where you can connect with other creatives, join me for live workshops on Zoom, enjoy additional inspiring articles, and feel less alone in your creative living approach to life. This community is filled with people who value and prioritise creative expression, fostering a sense of belonging and shared purpose.
If you're looking to dive even deeper into your creative journey, consider joining my global creativity school, Flourish: The Art of Creative Living. This year-long program offers comprehensive support and resources to help you cultivate your unique creative practice. And when you enrol in Flourish, you'll also receive 12 months of free access to the Creative Hearts Community, further enriching your experience and connections with fellow creatives.
For those seeking personalized guidance, I offer private mentoring and coaching sessions for one-on-one clients. I'm passionate about helping others bring their creative dreams to life, and I welcome you to reach out to me for more information on how we can work together to cultivate personal freedom, self-expression, and joy in your work and life.
Give yourself permission to create imperfectly
Perfectionism can be a significant barrier to creativity. Remind yourself that the creative process is often messy and imperfect, and that's okay. Grant yourself permission to make mistakes and learn from them.
One of the ways I've been able to overcome perfectionism in my creative journey is by reminding myself that I don't have to show anyone anything I create. I can create my first drafts in private, practising what Stephen King calls writing with the 'door closed.' This approach allows me to focus on the act of creation without the pressure of external judgment, making it easier to explore new ideas and take risks in my work.
Embracing the concept of creative practice has also been incredibly helpful in reducing the burden of perfectionism. I love to remember that it's through doing something that I improve, which is why we call it a creative practice. As creative entrepreneurs, we also engage in marketing practices to refine and develop our skills over time. It's all about learning through experience and iteration.
Another approach that helps me and my clients to overcome perfectionism, and it’s something I talk about a lot in Floursh: The Art of Creative Living, is to give yourself a sense of abundance with your materials. Sometimes, if that means you don’t buy the most expensive paints or canvases, for example, but you feel an abundance of materials, it will help to free you up to play, experiment, and not be so attached to the outcome.
By granting yourself permission to create imperfectly, embracing the idea of continuous practice and giving yourself a sense of abundance with your materials, you can break free from the paralyzing grip of perfectionism and rediscover the joy and freedom that come with authentic creative expression.
Remember, the creative journey is a process of growth and discovery, and every mistake and imperfection is an opportunity to learn and become a better artist, writer, or entrepreneur.
Set aside dedicated creative time
You may like to consider establishing a routine for your creative work, setting aside specific times during the day or week. This can help train your mind to shift into a creative mode more easily.
When planning my schedule, I take into account my personal rhythms and needs to ensure that my dedicated creative time is both productive and nourishing. This involves making sure there is plenty of unstructured time, which allows me the freedom to explore and experiment without constraints.
I also prioritize rest, especially during my menstrual cycle, recognizing the importance of self-care and rejuvenation in supporting my creative energy.
Furthermore, I'm mindful of structuring my availability for live calls or hosting workshops with clients. By setting boundaries for my creative time and energy, I can maintain the focus and inspiration necessary for developing new creative projects. I understand the value of allowing myself the space to doodle, follow my curiosity down rabbit holes, and take action on the creative projects that are most important to me.
By customizing your creative routine to align with your unique needs and rhythms, you can create a sustainable and fulfilling practice that supports your artistic growth and well-being.
Remember, the key to a successful creative routine is striking a balance between structure and flexibility, ensuring that you have the time and freedom to explore, rest, and bring your creative visions to life.
Try a different creative outlet
If you're feeling stuck in your current creative medium, experiment with a different form of expression. This can help you gain new insights and spark fresh ideas. Personally, exploring different art forms, such as painting, writing, video and photography, has enriched my creative journey and provided valuable cross-pollination of ideas.
Venturing into new creative territories can be an effective way to shake off creative stagnation and reignite your passion for your work. For instance, if you're a painter experiencing a block, you might try experimenting with writing poetry or short stories. This can not only help you tap into a different part of your creativity but also offer you a new perspective on your primary medium.
Additionally, engaging in multiple creative outlets can lead to a beautiful synergy between them, as techniques and ideas from one form can inspire and inform the other. For example, the textures and colours of a painting might inspire the mood or tone of a piece of writing, while the beat and rhythm of a piece of music could influence the composition of a painting.
Embracing this multidisciplinary approach to creativity can help you stay inspired, engaged, and constantly evolving as an artist. As you discover new forms of expression and weave them into your creative practice, you'll find that your work becomes more dynamic and authentic, reflecting the full range of your artistic voice and vision.
So, if you find yourself feeling stuck or uninspired, don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and explore the rich landscape of creative possibilities that await you.
In Summary
Overcoming creative blocks requires patience, gentleness, and self-care. By practicing mindfulness, engaging in self-care, breaking tasks into smaller steps, and giving yourself permission to create imperfectly, you can gently move through barriers and reignite your creative spark.
Remember that every creative journey has its ups and downs, and that it's completely normal to face obstacles along the way.
Embrace these challenges as opportunities for growth and learning, and keep in mind that they are an essential part of the creative process.
By cultivating a supportive mindset and leaning on the support of your creative community, you'll be better equipped to navigate these challenges and continue to flourish in your creative pursuits.
Keep moving forward, trusting your inner wisdom, and nurturing your creative heart – your unique gifts are needed in this world, and your courage to overcome obstacles will inspire others on their own creative journeys.
Join us in Flourish: The Art of Creative Living!
If you are feeling inspired to deepen your own relationship to creative living, including nurturing your creative expression and being kind to yourself, you can receive direct support, guidance and tools from me inside Flourish: The Art of Creative Living.
It's a program that weaves together supportive practices for Creative Hearts from all walks of life - whether you're an aspiring creative, a creative professional, or a creative entrepreneur - into one complete tapestry.
Along the way, you'll meet an incredible, encouraging community of fellow Creative Hearts, who you can both receive support from and offer support to in return while you explore painting, journaling, photography, writing, mindfulness, and other creative practices to help your craft a life that is deeply fulfilling, meaningful, and true to you.
Registration for Flourish: The art of creative living is now open.
You can find out more about it at www.nicolanewman.com/flourish. You're also invited to receive my free seven-day Art of Creative Living introductory course, which is a wonderful overview of my approach and gives you tools and practices you can implement right away, giving you a taste of what you'll experience inside the full program. You can find that free mini-course here https://www.nicolanewman.com/flourishwithpainting
I hope you enjoy this episode!
With my warmest wishes,
Nicola x
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About the Host
Nicola Newman is a creative business coach, award-winning artist and creative living mentor. As host of The Art of Creative Living Podcast and founder of the Creative Hearts Community, Nicola’s passion is inspiring and supporting Creative Hearts to build loving relationships with themselves, express their creativity, trust their inner wisdom and carve out a life that’s personally meaningful and fulfilling to them.
She offers multiple resources for educating, inspiring, and supporting Creative Hearts. You are invited to take her free Creative Archetype Quiz, join her free Art of Creative Living mini-course, sign up for her Inspiration Letters and nurture your creativity through her online courses, coaching programs and retreats.
Nicola’s creative business coaching is tailored to support sensitive, heart-led creatives to develop, grow, and expand their creative offerings. Her approach is to embrace gentleness, playfulness and self-care to navigate self-doubt and instead cultivate deep self-trust so you can truly enjoy the creative process, bring together your body of work, make money doing what you love and leave a creative legacy you’re proud of.
