Hi lovelies,

Whether you make a living from your creative endeavours or they’re simply the pursuits that lend meaning to your spare time, the unmitigated frustration of creative block is all too common to all too many. And in this digitally interconnected modern age, where distraction is ever present and the mind seldom has the chance to stop and breathe, it’s become increasingly common to feel mentally exhausted and creatively frustrated by the time you put pen to paper, brush to canvas or toe to stage.  

This feeling can go beyond mee frustration, however. It can lead you to feel that your wonderful talent has abandoned you and that you are no longer at home in the creative arts. That is, of course, nonsense. Your talent isn’t dead, just dormant. Your mind is like an engine that’s run out of juice. Here’s how you get it started again…

Don’t give in to frustration
First of all, frustration can do ugly things to us. It can cause us to be envious and resentful of other creatives. It can make us quick to anger and cause us to lash out at those closest to us. Follow the example of those who work hard to promote Peace and Tolerance. Don’t bury your frustration. That never works. Take the time to understand it and the factors behind it. The more we suppress things the bigger and more insurmountable they seem. If we dissect them by, say, making a list of things that are bothering us or are keeping us from concentrating, they seem much smaller and more manageable.

Stop what you’re doing and take a step back
Creative block only intensifies when we spend hours staring at a blank page or screen hoping that something will happen to ease our creative frustration. Stop what you’re doing. Take a step away. No, don’t instinctively reach for your smartphone. Instead, play some music and really take the time to listen to it. See if you can push yourself into some yoga poses or do some mindfulness meditation. At the very least, perhaps do the dishes or some housework. Something to give your overtaxed mind a rest. You may be surprised at how therapeutic it is. 

Connect with something that inspires you
Before you can create art, you need to be able to consume it. Connecting with the art that inspires you can be a great way to break down the barriers of creative problem solving and get the creative juices flowing again. It doesn’t even need to be directly related to your field. It just needs to be something that inspires you. Whether it’s listening to a brief concerto, watching some hilarious standup, looking at a painting or reading a few pages of a favorite book. There are no wrong answers here.

Take a walk
If all else fails, take a walk. You need to get yourself out of that environment or your frustration will only intensify. A brisk walk, preferably somewhere with trees, plants, flowers, birds and animals can help to elevate your mood and engage your mind, flooding the brain with endorphins, reducing stress hormone levels and helping you to feel much better about yourself when you return to your canvas.