Megan Sharma's Blog: The Savvy Surgeon's Wife

10 ways to overcome a creative block and find inspiration

2/1/2017

We’ve all had moments in our lives and in our careers when we just weren’t ‘feelin’ it’.

Maybe we were ploughing through an extraordinarily busy time with our heads down and our thoughts only on the end game. Perhaps we were going through the motions without passion. Or maybe we sat impatiently waiting for inspiration to strike, only to be disappointed.

Whether you’re a stay-at-home-parent, banker, composer, interior designer, event planner, journalist, artist, photographer, firefighter, scientist, or doctor, we—as human beings—all need a bit of inspiration to brighten up our days.

I am a practical person, admittedly very type A, but I am also a dreamer. There is nothing more exciting to me than the birth of a new and fabulous idea, one that I must scramble to write down fast enough.

But what happens when those ideas stubbornly refuse to reveal themselves in all their glittering glory?

Here are 10 strategies to help you break down your creative block and usher in inspiration:

1. Set aside your frustrations. Put some space between you and whatever is getting you down. Take a breather! No, really. It’s helpful to breathe deeply and slowly for even a minute to calm your nervous system and clear your mind. If you’re not into deep breathing, simply find something else to temporarily distract you from your woes. Note exactly when you will come back to the task you endeavor to tackle.

2. Work up a sweat. Getting your blood pumping is a guaranteed path to a better mood, thanks to the feel-good hormones, endorphins. I recommend doing the kind of exercise you enjoy, not something you dread. For me, it’s either Zumba or hip hop dance class, or cycling away on the elliptical machine while reading my latest book pick (right now it’s True Story: Murder, Memoir, Mea Culpa by Michael Finkel. So tough to put down!).

3. Snag some fresh air. It’s biology, people. Humans were not designed to spend their waking hours in a microscopic cubicle drinking stale coffee. Alas! Get outside. Go for a walk. Observe ‘the nature’.

4. Don’t be afraid of silence. Constantly, mindlessly, fruitlessly multi-tasking. I am just as guilty as the next person. It helps me to take at least 20 minutes each day, usually en route to my daughter’s day care, to drive in silence and concentrate only on the road ahead. No radio. No phone calls. Just me. Occasionally I am interrupted from my quiet reverie with a killer idea.

5. Do things you enjoy with people you love. What makes you happy? Is it swimming? Playing video games? Wine tasting? Reading to your kids? Curling your hair? Getting a massage? Doesn’t matter what it is—do it! And invite your loved ones to join you and share in your joy.

6. Banish negative thinking. Glass half empty. Glass half full. No glass at all? Take control of your mental drinkware and aim to think positively. Don’t beat yourself up for not having a mountain of great ideas up your sleeve. Instead, remind yourself that you are intelligent and capable, and that inspiration will come to you at the right time.

Photo credit: kalyan02 via Visual Hunt / CC BY

7. Nourish your body. I am a believer in the mind-body connection, because I have seen its power in my own life. I know that when I am getting plenty of sleep, eating nutritious and clean food, and exercising regularly that I tend to be happier, more satisfied and more productive. Try it out and see how it works for you.

8. Ask how you can help a friend. Helping other people and turning away from our own selfish needs is another way to tap into your happy hormones. It could be as simple as striking up a conversation and offering advice, or volunteering to take some weight off someone else’s shoulders.

9. Seek beauty. Beauty truly is all around us, and it can deeply impact us, if we’d only notice it. Stroll through a garden or conservatory. Visit an art or history museum. Catch a photography exhibit. Marvel at a ballet performance. Stop to listen to a street performer play guitar. And, sure, walk along a beach at sunset with the love of your life. Why not?

10. Be prepared for the lightning bolt moment. When you open yourself to creativity, it will eventually find you. Be ready! Always keep a pen and paper handy. Record voice notes. Email or text message yourself. In that moment when inspiration appears, follow it through, and always be grateful.