How to get out of a creative block. How to overcome creative block? Marina Snezhnaya

Creative stagnation ( creative crisis) is a situation familiar to many. Mental stupor, loss of inspiration, lack of fresh thoughts and ideas, loss of the ability to adequately evaluate the results of one's own activities, emptiness - all these are signs of a creative stupor.

If inspiration has left you and thoughts do not come to mind, do not be discouraged, you can fight it!

How to deal with creative block

The problem of overcoming a creative crisis lies in its individuality, therefore, as in the case of getting rid of laziness, you first need to understand the causes of this disease. Ask yourself the question - "Why did the crisis in creativity arise?" By analyzing the causes of stagnation, it will be easier for you to overcome it.

If the cause is overwork (perhaps the main cause of creative stagnation), get out of the creative crisis Resting or slowing down will help. Work without rest almost always leads to loss of efficiency, fatigue, apathy and depression. When you do not forget about leisure, when you alternate work and proper rest, you return to your work again and again - with a charge of new energy, with enthusiasm and cheerfulness. Can you go to the cinema for any motivational film, go to a photo exhibition or art gallery (the variety of visual images stimulates creative imagination and creativity), lie on the beach or go fishing. For some, to get out of a creative crisis associated with fatigue, it’s enough just to get enough sleep for a couple of days and spend time with your family, while others need a full vacation. It's all about fatigue.

« If I feel low on energy and lack of inspiration, I take time out and go on vacation for a week or two, where I just look at people and listen to music. For me, this is the best option to get distracted, go beyond my work and overcome the crisis in creativity.». Kelly Gustafson (Photographer, Sweden)

Often a creative crisis occurs due to personal problems - a conflict in a team, a quarrel with a loved one, a misunderstanding with a loved one, illness of one of the relatives, financial difficulties, etc. Since a creative person is a vulnerable person, all these troubles can unsettle him for a long time. Overcome creative block it will help to realize that life, like a zebra, is a striped thing. Sooner or later, the troubles end, and all the bad things are forgotten, but it's better to do everything in your power sooner rather than later to neutralize the impact of personal factors on the creative process. Take measures so that sadness-longing does not become the cause of creative stagnation - if you quarreled with someone, do not hold grudges - rather make peace. If you have made a firm and final decision to break up with your loved one or you have been abandoned, as soon as possible, so that there is no hope in the depths of your soul, burn all the bridges - start dating someone, live on.

It happens that a creative crisis occurs as a result of a lack of information. The only way out here is to find her. Everyone has their own secrets of searching, processing and fixing information.

« Usually, in search of inspiration, I go to a bookstore. A pile of magazines, books and coffee. Sometimes I take a computer with me, but mostly I turn pages, read, look at other people's ideas, draw a lot of things. Publications about art, culture, music, design, tattoos, sports - that's what I love the most. I get overloaded with information and it almost always gets me out of my creative block..» Chuck Anderson (Designer, artist, Michigan)

« I go to the university library and dig through old graphic design books and photo magazines, picking up things that blow my mind. Then I go home, print them out and paste them into a special album for magazine and newspaper clippings. After that, I usually have a lot of ideas in my head..» Jasper Goodall (Illustrator, freelancer, England)

Another reason for the emergence of a creative crisis may be the monotony of life and the monotony of the work performed. So that labor productivity does not suffer, in this case it is necessary new impressions. Diversify your leisure time, change the rhythm of life, at the same time introduce novelty into your creativity (you can take on some unusual and unusual project or change your workflow). Diversity and innovation can be introduced at various levels - make new friends, renovate an apartment or rearrange an office, etc. Creative crisis is afraid of novelty!

When the cause of a creative stupor is dissatisfaction with your own work, you should objectively evaluate your work. Sometimes it happens that we are unreasonably critical of what we do (it is especially hard for those who are prone to introspection; Chekhov, Dostoevsky, Kafka often experienced such crises). If the product of your creativity really leaves much to be desired - do not be discouraged, work on the mistakes, try to figure out how to make it better. Look at the work of your peers and competitors in your field. Think about what you can learn from them and what skills you lack.

« When there is a creative stagnation, I go to places where I would like to become even better. I look at the creativity of other people and thereby ignite my own creativity. For me, there is nothing better to get out of a creative block than to look at the amazing things that other people have done. Walking through galleries, museums and exhibitions makes me want to get back to work and do something special.». Chad Hagen (Designer, Artist, Minneapolis)

Crisis in creativity may occur in connection with work on a new large-scale project, at the beginning of which, or at any of its stages, a person may be overwhelmed by emotions. This is due to the many plans, the huge number of possible embodiments, the interweaving of ideas, the end and edge of which does not exist. A person is frightened by the scale, he does not know where to start, thoughts get confused, deadlines prevent him from relaxing, and as a result, a creative stupor sets in. How to deal with a creative crisis in this case? Solution - time planning And goal setting. Break the project into parts (this can help compiling mind maps), determine the time and timing of their implementation, make a list of tasks that need to be solved within the framework of this project. This way, step by step, you will move forward in the implementation of the project, and the successes already achieved will inspire and motivate you to continue working.

Here are some more tips on how to get out of a creative block:

It is known that in order to achieve good results in any business, it is important to alternate mental work with physical work. As soon as you feel the approach of a creative crisis, remember that the best medicine for the head is hard physical work. Go to the gym, volunteer to help your relatives in the garden, in general, do something that will make you sweat. Physical activity for creative people will be especially useful because for the most part they have sedentary work.

« To get out of my creative block, I take a long run. Fresh ideas are stored in fat, so if I burn some of my fat, I can release them and apply them. When I go for a run, I take my mobile phone with me and write down the thoughts and ideas that arise in my head.». Justin Christmayer (Creative, California)

« Every time I have a question - " Where to get fresh ideas?”, I use music. Music is an endless source of inspiration, it helps me to return to my former mood. My works were created while listening to such musicians as Sigur Rós (the most favorite), Air, Max Richter, Jonsi and Alex, Dead Can Dance, Hammock, Helios, Trentemøller, Johann Johannsson, M83, Olafur Arnalds…”. Kim Holtermand (Photographer, Denmark)

« There is only one reason why I lose inspiration - I slept less than 8 hours. I don't understand how schedule people who don't get enough sleep can write anything at all.». Marina Akhmedova (correspondent of the Russian Reporter weekly, writer)

« When I get into a creative block, I do the following:

I take a long shower. Under running water, I think differently. The water washes away all my old thoughts and I feel refreshed.

I am tidying up. You can't think clearly when there's chaos all around.

If the previous two methods didn't work, then I'm going to ride a motorcycle and already try not to think about the project at all.

In the end, somehow it helps me». Ji Li (Google Creative Director)

« Being in a creative block is quite an unpleasant feeling, so I try not to let it happen. In various ways I try to activate brain performance(thinking activity) - I read books, watch movies, listen to podcasts. It is also beneficial to meet with friends who have other interests.». Death Sun (Artist, illustrator, California)

What will help, without leaving the creative stupor to do the work:

If you feel strong internal resistance and do not want to work, you can talk yourself into doing at least something (work for half an hour or write at least one page) and see what happens. As you know, appetite comes with eating.

In moments of a creative crisis, it is useful to have blanks (for example, when a journalist works, a started or finished, but unedited article, or some material left over from already published interviews and articles, will serve as a blank). Perhaps they will not help you get out of a creative crisis, but during a downturn in work they will help you not to lose the trust of customers or management.

At a time when creative impotence overcomes you, in order not to sit back, tormented by thoughts about when the pangs of creativity will stop, do work that you usually never have enough time for - sort papers in the nightstand, buy stationery, take care of organizational issues, enrich your knowledge by reading special literature, etc. In a word, get ready for the return of the Muse, because when she visits you again, there will be no time for routine matters.

« Sometimes I have a problem in my work, and I seem to know how to solve it, but it seems so complicated that my hands give up. I manage to overcome self-doubt with the help of one trick - I switch to another job, simpler and more irrelevant: clean up the garage and throw out unnecessary things, finish a blog post, repaint office switches. Successful completion of many small things gives me confidence that I can do everything. And when I return to the unsolvable problem again, it already appears to me as another item on my list. And no creative crisis!» Christopher Simons (Graphic Designer, San Francisco)

For any person, a creative crisis is a test, for someone severe, but for someone not so much. In any case, when it occurs, you can always use the above methods to normalize your workflow. Also, tips on getting out of a creative stupor will help not only to cope with a crisis in creativity, but also help to prevent it.

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Imagination and creativity can dry up from time to time, leaving the artist with a blank canvas. Here are some tips to help you get back the motivation and energy to get back to business.

Steps

Part 1

Change your routine

Shake up your daily routine. Stop. Feelings of rush and pressure don't help the creative process. Take some time to go somewhere. Go outside, into nature and relax. Inspiration will return to you when you are ready to receive it.

Create multiple projects at the same time. If you get stuck or bored while working on one project, you can take on another. Add challenges to your work so you don't get bored. Juggle multiple projects at once to keep yourself busy.

Change materials. If you're painting with paint, start with clay. If you're creating a collage, try using pen and ink. Explore new materials and use new tools. Pay attention to shapes, rhythms and colors in your life and outside of your studio. Grab your camera and start taking pictures of whatever you like.

Part 2

Look for inspiration in places, people and events

Visit the garden, your favorite place in the city, or have a picnic. Go to a concert. Take a few days off if necessary. Sometimes a simple shower or a good book is enough to bring back inspiration. The main thing is to switch your attention to something that is not related to your work.

Carefully research all aspects of what you want to create. Visit a library or bookstore.
- Visit a large bookstore and head to the art or photography section. Sit upright on the floor or in a secluded corner and enjoy reading.
Find other art exhibitions that interest you.

Sign up for an art workshop. Draw and create around other people. Ask other artists what they think of your current work, but don't be pushy. An outsider's perspective may be just what you need. If you feel that the design is the problem, find another way.

Find something in your daily life that you would like to draw or sculpt. Take pictures of everyday things that surround you. Then browse through the photos and redraw the ones you like.

Find a muse. It can be a person or an animal - anything that inspires you.

Part 3

Deal with emotional stupor

Realize that you may be intimidated by the complexity of your project. In this case, you should take a step back, carefully study all aspects of the project and its design, and then slowly begin to move forward.

Take care of your health. Ignoring bodily, emotional, and spiritual needs will only harm your creative process. Give yourself a little more time.

Fight the fear that your project has to be perfect or doesn't exist at all. It doesn't have to be perfect—what is "ideal" anyway? Give yourself permission to create "bad art" because it's still better than no art at all. Many creations are born out of perseverance and study rather than reflection. Start playing with this canvas.
- The fear of creating "bad" art stems from comparing one's own creations to those of other artists. Instead, try comparing your creations to your early projects to see how much your craft has improved. Little by little, you will improve your style and make changes to it that are right for you and do not depend on how you think others want your art to be.

Part 4

Just do it

Most artists and creative people go through a creative block from time to time. This is normal, but can be quite frightening nonetheless! Don't compare yourself to others. Most artists consider creative block to be a very important part of the creative process. Some artists benefit from hard work and thorough research on the topic of the project, but not all - it works differently for everyone.
If all else fails, try writing a list of habits that are hindering your creative process. Maybe you procrastinate until the last minute? Or are you suffering from depression? Get rid of it with therapy or medication.
Don't think too much about the project. This can cause unnecessary stress. If you feel tension in the neck or shoulders, go for a massage.
Listen to new music. Try something you've never heard before.
Be more sociable. Involving people in your life can bring back inspiration to you.
Watch a few films, but only in the cinema. Visual images can give you inspiration. You need to stimulate your brain to start creating again.

Warnings

Don't tell anyone about your difficulties in the first place. Just let them go. If you talk about them, they can become "real". You may also be given a lot of unnecessary advice, which will only upset you more, instead of motivating you. Meet your creative block with open arms!
Don't start thinking about whether you can sell this work or not. Just do it for yourself.
Don't start taking drugs/drinking alcohol to get your inspiration back. These substances will only increase your depression and limit your creativity.

Anyone who has ever performed any creative task is familiar with the situation when work has stopped, inspiration has disappeared, there are no ideas, and everything around is distracting and does not allow you to collect your thoughts. In English there is a special term for this - creative block. The author of the ISO50 blog asked in-demand designers, artists and other creative professionals about how they overcome creative block and where they get ideas, and as a result received 15 tips on how to regain lost inspiration.

Nicholas Felton. Named one of the 50 Most Influential Graphic Designers in the United States by Fast Company. He is a co-founder of the Daytum.com website, a service that allows you to systematize daily classes and make schedules for them.

“I try to live differently every year, and I have my own scheme. If the year is odd (eg 2009) I travel a lot and focus on my own projects. In even years, I try to work more and earn more. In 2005 I spent 5 weeks traveling the world and in 2007 I traveled for 3 weeks in China, Tibet and Nepal. After both trips, I returned to work full of creative energy, new ideas.

Another strategy of mine is to agree to all offers, even if there are more than I can fulfill. Increasing demands on oneself and the fear of failing the case are always kept in good shape.

Tom Mueller. Belgian graphic designer, founder of helloMuller Ltd, a graphics and illustration studio.

“I get inspired by the most ordinary things that surround me. I rarely have a complete lack of ideas: something is spinning in my head all the time, and here it is already a question of prioritization and time allocation.

For inspiration, you can turn to your own work: working on one font for a whole year, I periodically borrowed from my old design sketches. Therefore, do not forget about your notebooks, and in general, old objects are a real treasure: looking at the covers of old books and the Hiroshima poster by Wim Crowell helped me a lot in my work.

So go for it: ideas are everywhere - they will definitely arise, especially if you don’t specifically look for them. ”

Audrey Kawasaki. Los Angeles-based artist known for her subtly erotic illustrations, combining Japanese manga and Art Nouveau techniques.

“When all the ideas run out, it means that I just can’t concentrate and patiently get down to work, or I’m worried about something that is not directly related to the case. Over the years, I have developed a tactic: just put on headphones and listen to music. Music helps to distance and not be distracted by extraneous things. Although lately I listen to audio podcasts in such cases - you can find a lot of inspiring stories in them.

Hoi Win. Director of the design department of NYTimes.com, who, in particular, developed the Mixel application, a tool for making collages from any photos and pictures.

“My recipe is to read a lot and make a lot of sketches or drafts. Reading is a long-term investment in your development: you need to constantly accumulate ideas, opinions, details, points of view, metaphors and symbols, so that later you can start any project with a huge knowledge base and sources of inspiration, and with the help of sketches you can activate all the passive information that stored in the head.

Visualization of different ideas - even unrelated ones - in the end will tell you what exactly you are missing in the project. The main thing is to draw quickly and without hesitation, in no case drawing details: this is how you think not about the execution of the drawing, but about its content.

Kim Holtermand. The Danish photographer, who specializes in architecture and landscape photography, started his career just a couple of years ago, so he continues to work as a fingerprint expert in the forensic department of the Danish police.

“Only music can restore my creative spirit - it is an inexhaustible source of creativity. Many of my works were created with tracks from Sigur Rós (this is music for all time), Hammock, Max Richter, Air, Dead Can Dance, Helios, Johann Johannsson, Jonsi and Alex, M83, Olafur Arnalds, Trentemøller... In general , I can go on indefinitely."

Jasper Goodall. Freelance illustrator based in Birmingham. He promotes his own swimwear label JG4B and calls them art to wear.

“Several things help me: firstly, to break away from the computer. Go to some city I haven't been to yet and just wander around: one day I sat in a cafe in Berlin and so many ideas came to mind that I honestly didn't know what to do with them.

I also go to the library of the local University of Arts and Design where you can look through old editions of design and photography magazines. After I come home, I print out the articles and pictures I like and paste them into a thick notebook. Ideas after that - more than enough.

Eric Spiekermann. The legendary German typographer, professor at the University of Bremen, compatriot and successor to the work of the first printer Gutenberg. He considers his interest in typography an incurable disease and calls it typographic mania.

I have 5 tips:

Get distracted. Do something else that will distract you - wash your car or sort out old files on your computer.

Think. Sit back in your chair and just stop controlling your flow of thoughts.

Explore. Search for information, bring up your old projects, but avoid Google - you can spend too much time before coming across something useful.

Make sketches. Drawing is great, even if you're completely incapable of it. Visualization of thoughts immediately revives them.

Share. Take a break from the problem, break your project into small parts and put them back together.

Ji Lee. He currently holds the position of Creative Director of Facebook. Prior to that, he worked in a similar position at Google. He not only conducts creative developments, but also lectures all over the world - including giving a master class at St. Petersburg State University.

“When the “ideological block” comes, I do several things. I go to the shower for a long time - old thoughts are washed away there, and I feel like I am renewed. After that, I clean the apartment: I can’t think when everything is a mess. If there is still no result, I go cycling around the neighborhood and try not to think about my project at all. One way or another, this scheme always works.”

Si Scott. British graphic designer and illustrator best known for his 3D paper models. He lectures at Leeds College of Art and Design, periodically - in different cities of the world. Among his customers were Vogue, Nike and Tiffany & Co.

“It happens to me quite often that I can’t think of anything, but it happens with all creative people. I realized that there is only one way to overcome this: not to sit and wait for inspiration to return, but to keep working, to use all the ideas that are there, no matter how inappropriate they may seem.

design unit. Danish design studio specializing in fashion, book and magazine design, video production.

“There are only two creatives in our studio. For each individual project, we attract different people, freelancers, who, in our opinion, are most suitable for this work. We are always looking for sources of inspiration and make sure to write them down so that later, if necessary, we can return to them again. These can be objects on the street that catch your eye (they must be photographed), books, fashion shows, films, blogs, etc. So every time we start a new project, we discuss things that can get us in the right mood and make moodboards - collections of pictures that inspire us."

mine. A San Francisco graphic design studio with nothing on its website but a single caption: “We make books, packaging, graphics, and interactive campaigns for science visionaries, educational revolutionaries, best-selling authors, museums, telecom giants, and Hollywood producers.

You are stuck if you seriously believe that there are no ideas, you don’t know how to get out of the stagnation, and if you know how to get out, but doubt your abilities. In these cases, you need to do this:

I ask myself, am I really stuck? Sometimes we still generate a lot of ideas, but for some reason we convince ourselves that this is a creative crisis. And then, a creative crisis is also something new: you need to perceive it as a new experience.

I do nothing. If you are stuck, it means that you cannot clearly identify the problem that prevents you from moving on. The best medicine in this situation is a fresh perspective. By abstracting from the problem, I can see it better. I can go to the cinema or to the museum - one way or another, new impressions will push me to the right decision.

I switch to what I'm good at to remind myself that I'm awesome. Sometimes I know how to solve a problem, but the solution seems very heavy. Then I take on other, simple tasks: it can be a blog post, cleaning the garage, whatever. Performing tasks quickly and well, I am convinced that I can do everything: and even the most difficult task seems to be just another item that needs to be crossed off the to-do list. And no more panic.

airside. A creative agency from the UK that knows exactly what an ideological block can lead to a dead end and what to do about it. The creators of the studio, which has won many awards from D&AD and Design Week, this year decided to close it and do their own projects: record a music album, go to Tokyo, go to work in another agency.

“Set your alarm for 5 am. When it rings, either get up and enjoy this unique time of day, or go back to sleep and have vivid, crazy dreams: since you will be in the REM stage, they will remain in your head after you wake up and charge you with creativity for all day.

Don't sit and wait for something to pop into your head. Do not read magazines, do not search on Google - go to the street, to the theater, to the museum, for a walk. Be sure to turn off your phone and do not take your computer with you.

Expand your area of interest. The more you consume a cultural product, the better you can understand what your client wants to see in the end. Exchange opinions with colleagues, look at your project from different angles.

On the other hand, you can, on the contrary, not listen to anyone, abstract from all the rules and work as you feel and as you like. If you are tired of the fact that in the creative industry everything comes down to a compromise between the customer and the performer, just rely on your creative instinct and try to infect others with it.

Kevin Dart. Freelance artist based in Los Angeles who has done animation for Walt Disney, Dreamworks and Cartoon Network.

“I have a lot of tricks for such situations: for example, look at photos on the Internet, change the desktop to a table in a coffee shop, and much more. But it's best to just talk to your friends. They look at things in a completely different way than I do and tell a lot of new things: they can throw up a cool inspiring photo or just cheer with a couple of good words - it always makes you move on!”

Invisible Creature. The two founders of the Seattle-based design studio are former punk rockers who embraced the DIY aesthetic and incorporated it into their designs. Received orders from Esquire, New York Times, Nike and Sony.

"Leave. This simple word has a million possible scenarios. We're just leaving the office. We never know where we end up in the end: it could be a bookstore, a cinema, a park, a forest, a riverbank, or just a house. The goal is always the same - to find something that inspires. Not necessarily something new: it should be something that will make us return to the table, pick up a pencil and start drawing. We also spend our weekly meetings not in the office, but in a local cafe - there we always get more good ideas.

national forest. The creators of the California think-tank National Forest call themselves innovative thinkers and visual engineers. Their customers include Puma, Burton Snowboards and Roxy.

Justin Kritmeyer

“I go for a run, or a bike ride, or a walk with the dog - in general, do anything but work on a project. My theory is that good ideas are hidden in excess weight; if you burn it - they will be freed! And the worst thing you can do is to panic and try to collect all your ideas in one pile. Therefore, every time something useful appears in my head, I write down the idea on my phone and send myself an SMS - so nothing will be lost for sure.

Tess Donho

“The main thing is to get up from the computer. Sitting by the screen has never helped anyone with ideas. I usually find original solutions when I don't really need them. The main thing is to look carefully around: once I was insanely inspired by an ice cream van that drove by. All these strategies converge on one thing - to find inspiration, you need to look for it in the environment and not get hung up.

Tags:

How often did this happen to you? You open a file with a work you have started or a notebook with it (if you write by hand), stare blankly at a white sheet for a minute and close it. I think this condition is familiar to many creative people. And if some are unfamiliar, then they can only envy. Or doubt that they are telling the truth.

What is this strange condition? It is called a stupor, creative crisis, lack of inspiration and so on. How to overcome this nasty state and return to the normal rhythm of work?

Let me start with a few sentences. And you mentally put a tick where you recognize yourself at the moment when you think that you are in a stupor.

1. There is no mood at all to write something today. Maybe it will show up tomorrow?

2. Now I’ll look at my page in contact (Facebook, SI, etc.), look at the latest updates, see what’s new with my friends, answer the message and immediately start writing.

3. First I will drink coffee, eat a cake, turn on the music for mood and immediately start writing.

4. The work is completely tired, I can’t devote enough time to creativity. Plus a lot of homework. You also need to meet friends, help so-and-so, go there. (The stream of thoughts can concern anything, but the main thing is that they all attack you at the very moment when you opened the ill-fated novel and are trying to force yourself to write it.)

5. Without inspiration, nothing sensible will work anyway. Therefore, today it makes no sense to even try to write something. It will still be bullshit.

6. I am mediocrity, no one likes my works anyway. The critic Pupkin said that my work sucks, and the critic Loshadkin said that I would never learn to write. So who am I kidding? Why write something at all if there is no normal result anyway?

The list can be continued indefinitely, but if you ticked at least one checkbox, you yourself are driving yourself into a creative stupor. You can't blame anyone but yourself for this. Vitya, Masha, Petya, Vasya will not come and the magical Muses will not fly on the wings of inspiration and will not write anything for you. If Moose arrives on one of your rare lucky days, then you will shoot him down on the approach, so that next time he arrives as rarely as possible.

Why can someone give out 3-4 novels a year without much effort, and you haven’t been able to write even one this year? Do you think he got it and you don't? Nonsense and other excuses. Everything is decided by perseverance and inner attitude. Don't expect to get something without putting in the slightest effort. Everything is only in your hands.

If you are determined to finish the job, start immediately, and do not wait for tomorrow or the New Year.

Guide to action:

1. Remove things that might distract you. When you open the file, the Internet should have been tightly closed. No tab should be open. If it's hard to keep from answering calls, or you might be interrupted by smartphone or tablet beeps, turn them off as well.

2. Get rid of extraneous thoughts. All other thoughts and problems should be expelled from your head for this half hour, hour, or any other amount of time that you decide to devote to creativity.

3. Create a creative atmosphere. If music or dim lights help you focus, create that atmosphere. But if they distract you from business, work as usual.

4. Create a special mood in your head. Do not think now that tomorrow at work you will need to do this and that, take the child to the grandmother and so on. You will have plenty of time for these thoughts. Now try to immerse yourself in the world that you describe in the novel. Dive in with your head. If it helps you, imagine yourself in the place of the hero who is now in the focus of your attention. Get into his skin and live these minutes of his life.

5. Just start. It is enough to write a few sentences and that's it - the brain will start working. And you can't be stopped. You've caught inspiration by the tail. That's right: it does not come when it pleases, it is always with you, you just stubbornly do not notice it. It is enough to understand this simple truth - and you are always on horseback.

6. Write regularly. The more you take a break from creativity, the more difficult it is for you to get back into the right rhythm. Even if you miss two days, it's hard to tune in. I'm already silent about weeks and months. Try not to take long breaks. Even if you write only a page or a paragraph, this is already considered. You keep yourself in great writing shape.

Think of writing as exercise. If the second is necessary for your body, then the first is the divine spark that you are endowed with, unlike many others. Don't bury your talent in the ground and act like a petulant child by rejecting it. Who will benefit from the fact that you give up and succumb to your laziness and unwillingness to tune in to work? It will be better for a bunch of your competitors who rub their hands in glee. It will be better for the critics Pupkin and Loshadkina (Wow, we zachmyli another nachpis. We are cool!) One more loser. Do you really want to be such a loser? Your will. It's only worse for you.

But if you want to prove to yourself first of all that you are capable of something in this life, go ahead. All in your hands!

P.S. For those who are now starting to come up with new excuses (no time, I'm so busy, etc.): how much time have you now spent reading this article? How many people have been aimlessly clicking with the mouse before, opening and closing various pages of the Internet? Even if 10 - 15 minutes, then think about the fact that during this time you could write a whole page. And don't say that you couldn't. They could, they just didn't want to. That's the whole point - just want and do.

"As expected, I was presented with a plethora of strategies ranging from listening all alone in the woods to 'Boards of Canada' to preparing a storm (recipe included) and waiting for the mind to clear.

Below are 25 strategies for sparking inspiration from creatives; I hope you find something useful for yourself here. I encourage you to share your favorite ways as well. It will never be redundant."

Nicholas Felton

Graphic designer, New York

To keep my creativity flowing, I follow a few tactics.

I try to rotate the course of my life, like crop rotation in agriculture. In odd years (eg 2009) I travel more and focus on personal projects and personal initiatives, while in even years (eg 2008) I try to work more and earn more. In odd years, I try to go on long trips. So in 2005 I spent 5 weeks traveling around the world. In 2007 traveled to China, Tibet and Nepal for 3 weeks. After both trips, I returned to my desk with my head overflowing with thoughts and ideas.

Another strategy of mine is that I constantly try to "keep my plate as full as possible". I take on a lot more work than I can realistically handle, and the fear of failing makes my brain work.

If I really find myself in a quandary and feel like all my plans are going around in circles in my head, I will leave the office. It makes no sense to blindly bang your head in search of a solution. I'll read a book or go draw in the park. I am against the use of brute force to get out of such states. It's like trying to get rid of hiccups.

Tom Muller

Graphic designer, Belgium

I don't want to use hackneyed phrases like "I draw inspiration from everywhere", but I do take ideas from the most banal subjects around me. To be honest, I rarely fall into a creative stupor, a sufficient number of ideas are bubbling in my head, the only question is time and priorities. For almost a year I start, quit and start working on a typeface again. And although it gives me great pleasure and provides an invaluable educational experience, it prevents me from working on something else. Thus, I rather fall into an intellectual stupor: I want to develop and move on, but not before I finish with the headset. I am very meticulous and slow because I want everything to be perfect. And so I keep running in circles.

The idea for the typeface came to me when I was looking at an old typeface I designed (yes, sometimes your own work can be a source of new ideas - that's what sketches and notes are for), a vintage book cover and Wim Crouwel's "Hiroshima" poster. So in the end, the subject factor always works.

I remembered watching a documentary on TV a few years ago about a Belgian comic book artist who turned Joe Haldeman's Infinity War into a graphic novel. A journalist asked him how he came up with so many models of spaceships, and the artist took out a piece of plastic protection for electrical wiring and told how one day, when he noticed this thing in his studio, he thought it was the perfect material for designing a spaceship.

So that. Ideas are everywhere, especially when you're not looking for them.

Audrey Kawasaki

Artist, erotic painting, Los Angeles

Whenever I feel like I'm falling into a so-called stupor, it's usually because I'm just distracted thinking about something that is not related to my work. Or I just can’t sit still, concentrating on work for a long time. For many years I just turned on music with my headphones, but lately I have become addicted to various information programs. Listening to such programs while I work makes my brain work in two directions, freeing its creative component from unnecessary thoughts and allowing it to work calmly. Shutting off daily distractions and kind of splitting myself into two halves is the best way for me to practically enter into meditation while painting.

Khoi Vinh

NYTimes.com Design Team Leader

Read a lot and draw a lot. Reading is a long-term strategy: constantly replenishing your stock of ideas, details, points of view, metaphors, symbols, and so on. You keep them in your head somewhere in the back so that later - sometimes much later - you will have a rich catalog of "starting points" at your disposal.

Drawing is an opportunity to activate all the information stored in the head to solve the problem: the process of drawing, the process of immediately visualizing various ideas, allows you to classify numerous disparate elements and establish unexpected connections between them. The main thing is to draw quickly, without being distracted by the technique of execution. This way you can stay within the content and not get bogged down in the form.

Kalle Gustafsson

Photographer, Sweden

If I feel lack of inspiration, I need to take time out. For me, this is the best option, to go on vacation for a week or two just to watch and listen. I listen to music and look at people. I would say that I can be inspired by anything, everything that happens around me, regardless of time and place. In search of inspiration, I just need to go beyond my work, get distracted.

Build

British graphic design studio

Solution :

2 medium-sized onions finely chopped.

Place a medium skillet over low heat with a few drops of olive oil.
Put the onion in the pan, salt and pepper.
Finely chop three varieties of fresh red pepper (Bird's eye, Scotch Bonnet and Bulgarian green or red).
Put the mixture of peppers in the pan, mix, fry for 8 minutes.
Add about 500 grams of ground beef to the pan.
Stir-fry for 2 minutes until minced meat turns brown.
Salt, pepper.
Add red beans and canned tomatoes and mix well.
Add a pinch of cinnamon.
Simmer over low heat for about 20 minutes.

Pour one and a half cups of Basmati rice into the pan.
Add two and a quarter cups of cold water to the pan (the same one used to measure the rice).
Cook over high heat until the lid stops rattling.
Reduce heat by half and cook for 8 minutes.
After eight minutes, turn off the heat and leave the rice covered with a lid for four minutes.

Put the rice on a plate, add the sauce.

Large glass of red wine (preferably Australian or New Zealand).

And now the most important part of solving the problem :
Take the plates and pots to the sink.
Open hot and cold water.
Add a drop of detergent (preferably for sensitive skin).
Start washing dishes, banishing all worldly things.
The mind is enlightened, new thoughts and ideas arise.

Treat yourself to a second glass of wine to enjoy the moment.

Mark Weaver

Designer, illustrator, Atlanta

When I need a source of inspiration to get creative gear going, I turn to experimental music, mid-century cinema and design, wildlife, and so on. To achieve maximum creativity, I have to sit in the woods, watch "Mad Men" and listen to "Boards of Canada" at the same time.

Chad Hagen

Artist, designer, Minneapolis.

Staying creative is hard work. To be honest, I don't think I was very talented when I entered art school. I fought to stand out. I fought to stay in school. You had to work hard to stay creative. But the only thing that kept me focused was my desire to be a good artist. I wanted to be really good. I wanted to be as good as those people who were actually talented. I kept thinking that if I work hard, study fine arts like math equations, eventually I can relax and just create cool stuff and let things take their course.

Those times never came. And I understand now that I never wanted them to come, because the most important thing that makes me be creative is my desire to be good.

If I ever have a creative block, the best way to deal with it is for me to go to a place where I would like to become even better. To do this, you need to look at the work of other people. In my opinion, there is no better way to spark your creativity than to look at the amazing things that others have done. Go to museums, galleries, exhibitions and so on. It always inspires me, awakens the desire to return to work and do something worthwhile.

Be good.

Jasper Goodall

Illustrator, freelancer, England

I have a couple of tips:

Take a break from the computer / notebook / sketches; visit a new city and just wander around the streets (I was once sitting in a cafe in Berlin and so many ideas came to my mind that I didn't know what to do with them all). I go to the local university library and dig through old graphic design and photography magazines, snatching things that strike my fancy. Then I go home, print them out and paste them into a special book for newspaper and magazine clippings (scrap book). After that, I usually have a lot of ideas in my head.

Kim Holtermand

Photographer, Denmark

Whenever I run out of ideas, I usually use music to get me back in the mood. Music is a huge source of inspiration for me and my work was created while listening to the likes of Sigur Rós (always my favorite), Hammock, Max Richter, Air, Dead Can Dance, Helios, Johann Johannsson, Jonsi and Alex, M83, Olafur Arnalds, Trentemøller...we could go on and on.

Usually musical melancholy creates a certain mood in me, from which ideas begin to be produced.

Erik Spiekermann

Legendary typographer from Germany

There are 6 ways:

1. Avoid
Do something else, wash your car, back up your data, run errands...
2. Think
Relax and think about the problem, give free rein to your thinking...
3. Explore
Search for stuff, look through your old projects, but avoid Google - it takes too long to find something useful...
4. Collect
We all have a lot of rubbish, among which there should be something that can become useful ...
5. Sketch
Drawing is cool, even if you don't have talent. Simple visualization of elementary things helps to bring them to life...
6. Deconstruct

Take the problem apart, look at each one, and then put the pieces back together...

Si Scott

Graphic designer, illustrator, UK

Actually, I have a creative block quite often (like most creative people, I guess?). I found the only way for me to deal with it - to continue to work and generate ideas, no matter how insignificant they may seem. Banging your head against the wall in search of a solution is probably the most difficult and hopeless thing in the world!

I draw inspiration from poetry/books. Reading and music have quite a productive effect on me - the words kindle something in me, and I want to create further, they make me think and start to explore and analyze.

Chuck Anderson

Designer, artist, Michigan

The very first and best option for me would be to stop trying to force myself and get distracted for a while. Taking a break is very important. After that, I usually go to the bookstore in search of inspiration. This is my favorite way to spend time, it really relaxes me. Stack of books and magazines and coffee. Sometimes I bring my computer, but mostly I take the opportunity to tear myself away from the screen and flip through the pages, read, look, and learn a lot. Art publications, music, culture, design, sports, tattoos - that's what I love the most. I am overloaded with this information, which almost always helps me overcome my creative block.

Deth P. Sun

Artist, illustrator, California

I don't get into a creative block that often. When this happens, I just take a break, stop drawing and do whatever I want until I feel like I want to start working again. I try to avoid creative crises, for this I try to intensify my mental activity by reading, watching DVDs, listening to podcasts. It is also very nice to meet friends who have other interests.

There are very few sources of inspiration directly in my field, so most of the work that I draw is what my friends are talking about and what they are interested in. For example, I'm not a big fan of undead horror movies, the healing powers of magic crystals, but I draw all of this because my friends talk about it so much. In general, everyone probably does it in their own way. I have so.

Ji Lee

Creative Director at Google Creative Labs

When I'm in a creative block, I do the following:
- I take a long shower. For some reason, in the shower, I think differently. It washes away all my old thoughts and makes me feel refreshed.
- Do the cleaning. Can't think clearly when there's a mess around me.
- If it hasn't worked yet, I'm going to ride a motorcycle and try not to think about the project at all.

Somehow, in the end, something works.

design unit

Design Studio, Denmark

Our studio consists of two designers who work closely with each other. We often hire many freelancers, but they are not part of our creative process. We try to constantly be inspired by something, so we archive everything that inspires us so that sources of inspiration are always at hand. It can be something that we see on the street (then we photograph it, of course), books, magazines, fashion shows, movies, blogs and so on. When we start work on a new project, we first talk a lot about how we see it, then go through our "inspiration archive" and then sketch. When the visual component is composed, we proceed to the creation process itself.

Mike Perry

Artist, designer, illustrator, Brooklyn.

The best way to get out of your stupor is to take an Amtrak train somewhere. Unfortunately, I can't do this as often as I want, but I like this forced sitting in one place, much more comfortable than on airplanes. My grandfather used to go to Alaska every year, and during the trip he wrote novels (dangerous, I know), but it seems to me that the train journey is somewhat similar. As you move around the world, you begin to feel alive.

But this is not always easy to do. So most of the time I race through my work. If I feel a lack of inspiration, then I just accept that I might make some mistakes, and continue to work.

MINE

MINE Graphic Design Studio (Christopher Simmons), San Francisco

There are three factors that contribute to the onset of a creative crisis: the first is to understand that you are in a dead end. The second is to understand that you are in a dead end and not know how to get out of it. The third is to understand that you are in a dead end, to know how to get out of it, but to doubt whether you can do it.

Accordingly, I have three ways to solve the problem:

1. I ask myself, am I really stuck? Sometimes we think we're stuck, or we just want to think we're stuck, when in fact we're on the trail and we don't even know it. Many paths are unavoidable. The crisis may just be a hole along the way.

2. I don't do anything. Being stuck very often means not having a clear idea of the problem. The best remedy in this case is perspective. I consider the perspective in terms of time and space. Distracting from the problem, it is easier for me to look at it from the other side. Instead of struggling to find a solution, I'd rather do something irrelevant like going to a museum or watching a movie. Eventually, something from this other world will turn out to be the solution to the problem I'm trying to ignore.

3. I become cool. Sometimes a problem arises that I know the solution to, but it seems too complicated to me. One trick helps me overcome this uncertainty: I start working on other, irrelevant, easier tasks: finish a blog post, clean up the garage, finally paint the office switches. By successfully doing many small things, I gain confidence that I can do everything. And when I return to that unsolvable problem again, it already seems to me just another item on my list. And no excitement.

air side

Creative agency, UK

1. Set an alarm for 5 am. When it rings, you have two options: get up and enjoy the unique feeling of this time of day, or fall asleep again and have the most delusional dreams (REM sleep is easier to see and remember). One of these two will definitely inspire you.

2. Don't sit in meetings waiting for something to click in your creative mind. Don't read about design, don't look at Google and YouTube pictures. Don't force yourself - get out of the studio. Go to the theater, museum, concert, take a break from work, take a walk, stop staring at the monitor, turn off your mobile and TV, chat with your friends about some nonsense.

3. Diversify your interests. The wider your interests and higher cultural education, the more significant your projects will be for clients. Put yourself in the place of the client and try to imagine how they will perceive your way of thinking. Generate a bunch of ideas, exchange opinions with colleagues, test your way of thinking on them, think about the subject, look at it from different points of view, and then be strict and adamant when creating your project. Or not. Be guided by your animal instincts, because you are so tired of forced and far-fetched answers that take away all the joy of life that you can’t even remember why you went into the creative industry if everything is decided by committees and compromises. Draw a lot, just for the sake of drawing. Ignore style. Be bold in your judgments, provided that you are extremely talented, otherwise, listen. Listen anyway.

dress code

Andre Andreev and Dan Covert, Design Studio, NYC

Dan: If I get into a creative block during my daily micro work, I surf the web, go for a walk, take a movie, buy a book, go to a museum, or do other things from the standard set of inspiration clichés. Although sometimes I get tired of looking for these very sources and I just try to clear my head after leaving the office. Ideas usually come when I least expect them.

Andre: When it comes to everyday creativity, I try to stick to a strict schedule. I work on one project no more than 2-3 hours. I don't spend all day on one project unless it's absolutely necessary. I turn off e-mail and IM, or check them once an hour. Tight time management helps me because when I have 2 hours to finish my work, I am fully focused on elements and details that I might have overlooked. I think it helps me to be more creative because I look forward each time to the moment when I can take on a project again and force myself to take my mind off it and think about what else I can do for it next time. The schedule also allows me to switch from one activity to another. Multitasking is not for me, I can't IM, sign a contract, talk to an intern, wait for e-mail and try to design something at the same time. I need to get rid of all the distractions and focus on one single project.

Dan: Our studio is arranged in such a way that there is often a partial overlap and coincidence of what each of us does. We don't put any pressure on people as to who should bear the full burden of creative responsibility. This is somewhat discouraging, but allows us to be freer in some things. As for the creative crisis in the broad sense of the word, we always strive to develop our business in different directions.

Andre: In the broadest sense of the word, my inspiration comes and goes. I can't predict when I'll fire up another project again. I just try to be happy in my personal life, which in turn contributes to my performance. A productive work is one of the components of a happy personal life. So I try to do as much of what I like as possible: play football, read books, play video games, date a girl, get drunk, it all depends on my mood. I find it hard to be creative if something is bothering you or you are angry or upset.

Dan: We work in different directions, it's very refreshing. One day we can do motion, the next day we can do a t-shirt or branding. Training also helps a lot, because every week we get to know new talents and ideas. We learn from them, just as they learn from us.

almost Modern

Graphic studio, Rotterdam

We are a graphic designer and artist. It's a very dynamic combination, in the sense that we're always looking at a problem from different angles. Our views and methods are often contradictory, this creates a driving force. We think this is a very productive way of working. It turns out a very lively and progressive union. We never stand still.

In addition, we also like to create works for ourselves. To maintain clarity and hone craftsmanship. Therefore, in order to move forward, we keep ourselves busy all the time.

Atmostheory

Christopher David Ryan, design studio, USA

I often feel a kind of creative block. It's not like I couldn't do anything creative at all. It's just that sometimes nothing that comes to my mind seems to me to be something special. For as long as I can remember, I've always sat down and just let my creative juices flow. But that doesn't mean juice is always sweet.

I have noticed that the more I force myself to achieve a result in such moments, the more likely it is that I will be left with nothing. However, I have some weapons in my arsenal against creative block: walking, talking, painting, reading, vintage shopping, digging through old records, yoga, TV, red wine, whiskey, and so on. In search of inspiration, I definitely avoid the Internet. I think it's too simple and too banal.

My brightest ideas usually hit me at the end of the day, when I least expect it: when I'm in bed, in the shower, on the subway, in a meeting. When I'm not at all in the mood to search for an idea. It feels like the energy that I spend throughout the day looking for these very ideas creates a cloud around me. And it must certainly dissipate in order for the ideas to reach me.

Kevin Dart

Freelance illustrator, Los Angeles

I have a lot of ways to get rid of creative dullness. For example, surf the net in search of cool photo references, browse old drawings, find and listen to new music, leave the house, sit down to draw in a cafe. But for me it's best to talk with friends. They always have a new look at the problem, which I did not even know about. Or some cool illustrations I haven't seen yet. Or just words of encouragement that will get me moving again!

Invisible Creature

Design and illustration studio, USA

Run away. Such a simple word with a myriad of interpretations. In short, we're just leaving. Where? Always different: a bookstore, a coffee shop, an antique shop, a cinema, a park, a forest, a river bank, sometimes just our living room. The goal is always the same - to see or feel what inspires us. It doesn't have to be something new or fresh, but something that will make us want to come back with new clear perspectives to our pencils, pens, mice, tablets. We often have project discussions in the local coffee shop, not in the workplace - that's how the best ideas are born.

In general, such refreshing (out of office) moments of reflection, whether they last all day, half a day, or a few minutes, can be very fruitful. We've even begun to include them in our monthly work schedule, which should have been done a long time ago.

national forest

Creative Think Tank, California

Justin Krietemeyer: I go for a long run, bike ride, or walk with my dog. Anything but project work. Good ideas are stored in fat, so if I burn some of my fat, I can release them and use them. I will take my phone with me and write down the ideas that come into my head. The worst thing is to tense up and try to do everything at once.

Tess Donohoe: When I lack inspiration, I get up and move away from the computer. I find that staring at a picture, or worse, a blank screen, is a surefire way to get frustrated. I like to walk or run along the street, looking around. I usually find solutions to difficult problems when I'm not thinking about them. Interesting images and patterns are born in my head when I just look around: at a passing ice cream truck, or at the asphalt on which I run. And usually when I don't think about a project for a while, I always come up with a new idea.

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