Even the most seasoned professionals hit creative blocks from time to time. The key is to squash them. Sometimes this means clearing your head. Other times it means drawing inspiration from those around you.
Regardless of what works for you, it’s essential you have a few go-to ways to spark your creativity. To give you a bit of inspiration, we’ve compiled our nine favorites:
Peruse Inspirational Art History Books
From the creative brush strokes of Post-Impressionism, to the bold, modern geometry of Stuart Davis, there’s always something to learn from the best of the best. Our go-to collection of great works is History of Modern Art by H. H. Arnason.
Take a Shower
Perhaps it’s the steam. Maybe it’s the warm water relaxing our muscles. Regardless of the reason, some of our best ideas come to us while we’re scrubbing away.
Go for a Walk
Don’t bring your phone. This isn’t a time to catch up on work emails. Just walk. Stretch your legs. Clear your mind. Refresh your senses. You’ll be amazed at how ready-to-work you are when you get back to your desk.
Read a Short Story
Novels are great, but they’re long. If you start The Last of the Mohicans, you might find yourself still buried nose deep in literature at the end of the day. That’s why short stories are ideal. Our copywriter is quite partial to A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg.
Get a Cup of Coffee
Let’s face it, when you’re burning the candle at both ends, sometimes you need a little help. If you’re like us, coffee is a saving grace. Plus, going to get a coffee is a great opportunity to step away from your desk and give your mind a breather.
Browse Your Favorite Website
Who do you aspire to be? What businesses or business professional do you secretly (or not so secretly) admire? Use their website as inspiration. Look at how it’s structured. Consider their use of copywriting. What’s working for them? While we’re in no way supporting plagiarism, you can definitely use them as a source of inspiration.
Do a Word Association Brainstorm
Get a blank piece of paper. In the center, write the end goal of your current project. Next, write all the words associated with that goal. These could be single words, general statements or detailed tasks. The point of brainstorming in this way is simply to get your ideas flowing and to capture them.
Change Your Location
Sitting at the same desk in the same chair and staring at the same five pictures taped to the well can get more than a bit monotonous. Change things up! If you’re at home, work at your kitchen table. If you’re at an office, spend a few hours in a coffee shop or see if the conference room is empty.
Get Feedback From a Colleague
Whether your project is in the draft phase or the brainstorming phase, two brains are better than one. Ask a colleague you trust if they’re free for a chat. Share where you are and what you want to accomplish. Ask for their perspective. Spitball ideas together. Sometimes the most off the wall thoughts can lead you to success.
Do you use a trick we missed? We’d love to know about it. Tweet us your tip and we’ll update our list.
