How to Get Out of a Creative Rut
Many creative professionals get the sinking feeling they’ve officially come up with their last creative idea one time or another. One week, creativity can feel like an inexhaustible natural resource. The next, you’re feeling depleted, leaving you helpless in front of the mound of assignments that you have to tackle.
Creative ruts—periods of decreased creativity and inspiration—are an inevitable part of your creative process. They have a number of causes, including a lack of challenging work, an excess of challenging work, excessive self-criticism, a lack of stimulation, and more.
The bright side of creative ruts being so common is that many creative professionals have developed best practices and strategies for getting through them as quickly and painlessly as possible. That’s why we reached out to some of Squarespace Circle’s Community Leaders* for their top tips on overcoming creative ruts and blockers.
A great first step to getting out of a rut is figuring out why you’re feeling stuck in the first place. Are you overwhelmed or understimulated, or is it something else entirely? Once you’ve identified the nature of the problem, it’s easier to solve.
Dealing with overload
Perhaps the most common source of ruts and blocks is overload. The more intimidating a task, the more likely you are to avoid it. And sometimes, creative ruts are just another form of procrastination.
One way around this is to lower the bar of getting started. “I use a timer when I work to ensure I keep moving forward,” says Circle member, Community Leader, and Launch Happy founder David Alex. If you’re having trouble getting started, set a timer with a laughably low time limit, and work until you hear the alarm. “I ask, ‘What if I just do this for two minutes?’ All of a sudden my creativity flows,” says David.
Many creative professionals have parts of their job that they love and parts that they don’t. If you find yourself frequently getting stuck on the same mundane tasks, consider outsourcing that part of the job. “I usually find others to do the things that make me fall into creative ruts,” says Circle member, Community Leader, and Spark Plugin founder Rasmus Myhrberg. “That way, I can stick to the things that I’m good at and think are fun. They’re usually the same thing.”
Dealing with stagnation
If your current work isn’t naturally challenging, there are ways to make it more engaging. “I gamify my creative process by asking questions like: Can I get this done in half the time it normally takes me?” says David. An aggressive, self-imposed deadline might be exactly what you need to get going again. “It’s not about getting out of the creative rut as much as getting into something that will revive your creativity.”
Rasmus also points out that it’s possible to make your work more creatively challenging. “Creative ruts often happen when you’re not improving any more,” he says. Look for examples of work that excite you and set a higher bar for yourself by trying to emulate some of it. If you’re in a long-term rut, Rasmus suggests enrolling in a short course to up your skill set. Not only does this help you get out of ruts—growth is inherently satisfying and motivating—but it can take your career to the next level.
Find stimulating environments
One of the most common recommendations from Circle Community Leaders is to seek external stimulation: take a walk, go look at the work of other designers, dig into one of your hobbies. “The most effective way for me to get creative when it's not coming to me naturally is to go on a photo walk,” says Circle member, Community Leader, and E2A Studio founder Eric Anderson. The point of his walks is to slow down and capture photos of the things he sees, taking time to acknowledge what others might miss. “Creative people are like radio receivers,” says Eric. “Sometimes you have to work on being in tune—at the ready to receive ideas.” Creativity is both an active and passive process. “While all this is happening in the front of your mind, the back is still working on your creative problem,” he says. “Before you know it—BAM—you've got an idea!”
Stop ruts before they happen
Ideally, it’s best to avoid creative ruts and blocks altogether. Many of our Circle Community Leaders reported that, thanks to a number of preventative strategies they’ve developed over time, they experience creative ruts much less than when they first started.
Some of these preventative measures are just simple good habits. “Get up early and start working right away,” says Rasmus. “This gives you a good start of the day and helps you to stay focused.”
Other measures are ways of building inspiration into daily life. Circle member, Community Leader, and web professional Miko Coffey sets aside time every week for “Learning Breakfasts,” where she watches and reads different designers’ content along with her morning coffee.
Many Community Leaders stressed the importance of being around other creatives. “Find a community of designers,” says David. Other people can be sources of inspiration and of challenge. “You need others who are ahead of you.”
Lastly, take steps to stay motivated. “Most of the time, you just need to remember to go back to the why behind what you are doing,” says David. “The bigger the why, the larger your capacity to handle your workload.” And make sure you reward yourself along the way. “Simple things like a nice dinner with friends or a new item of clothing,” he adds, “are great rewards to motivate you to get to work!”
A special thanks to our interviewees for sharing their expertise.
David Alex started building websites with no coding background on Squarespace in 2016 and has since built over 150 websites. Through Launch Happy, David and his team have worked on over 1,000 sites focusing on design, SEO, and customizations. He is also a contributor on the Circle blog.
Formerly a Squarespace Template Developer, Eric Anderson founded E2A Studio. Today, he builds pro-level websites on the Squarespace platform for small businesses, start-ups, and individuals through a set of tailored services.
Miko Coffey is a web professional with over 20 years of experience. She takes a holistic approach to meeting her clients needs, combining her vast marketing and creative knowledge with her skills in design, content marketing, and digital strategy. For the last decade, Miko has primarily focused on SMEs, startups and small charities.
Rasmus Myhrberg is the founder of Spark Plugin, a design extension for making unique Squarespace websites. He has worked with UI and UX design for the past 15 years, and founded three design focused companies during this time.
*Squarespace Circle’s Community Leaders program is an opportunity that honors members who have made significant contributions to the community. Learn more about the Circle community.
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