5 Tips to Get Out of a Creative Rut – Don’t Wait for Inspiration!

As a freelance writer, I need to be self-motivated to run my business and create engaging blog posts for my clients everyday.

However, that’s sometimes easier said than done. Whether you work in a creative industry or not, no one can feel inspired 24/7 – and it’s easy to get in a creative rut.

So, how can you boost your creativity and find a bit of inspiration? Let’s take a closer look.

5 tips to get out of a creative rut

I’m a very creative person, so I hate feeling uninspired and uncreative. Here are 5 tips to get out of a creative rut. It’s not always easy, but it is possible!

1. Just start

If you’re feeling blocked, chances are you just need to get going. One of the best ways to get out of a creative rut is to do your project anyway. So seriously, just start.

a table with sketchbooks, paints, coffee and other creative tools
Photo by Rachael Gorjestani on Unsplash

Inspiration will come and go, so it’s best not to rely on it. If you’re starting a new passion project or you want to take up a new hobby, don’t keep putting it off.

I once read that you should start long before you’re ready. While this might not always be the case, sometimes you just need to give yourself a push. Take the leap to get out of your rut.

2. Motivate yourself

As Stephen King says in his fantastic book ‘On Writing’, sometimes the muse just doesn’t come. And in those cases, you’ll need to work through it.

There are a few ways to motivate yourself to work on your creative projects, such as setting yourself goals or taking yourself to a creative space to be around inspirational people.

Whether you’re facing a problem in a creative project or in your work, learn how to motivate yourself when things get tough. It doesn’t have to be your best work, but it’s a start.

3. Do something else – anything!

If you’re stuck in a creative rut, why not do something different? It sounds counter-intuitive, but taking your mind off your creative project can actually get those juices flowing.

You could:

Are you stuck in a rut because you need to try a new angle? If you’ve come up against a problem, consider changing your approach or pivoting your project.

I like to write a blog post for myself when I’m not feeling creative. It unlocks something in my brain and helps me create new content for my clients.

4. Create limits for yourself

I often create false restrictions for myself, especially in my work. If I want to generate lots of new ideas or start a new blog post, I’ll give myself a very short window to get everything down.

person drawing a graphic design
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

I might not finish the project, but pushing myself to meet a restrictive deadline makes me forget about the task in hand and just get started. It’s a great way to get out of your own head!

5. Reach out to a friend

I love reaching out to my friends and family when I need a bit of inspiration. You can get advice on a creative problem or bounce ideas with another creative in your industry.

Even if you don’t discuss your creative project, sometimes just having a conversation about something completely different can open up your mind and get you back on track.

How do you get out of a creative rut? What do you do when inspiration is low? Do you have any tips for creatives?

Let me know all your thoughts in the comments below 🙂

Happy reading x

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Author: Not-So-Modern Girl

I’m Eleanor, welcome to my little corner of the internet! I’m a freelance content writer and book lover from Yorkshire. On my blog, I write about life as a 20-something, including posts about freelance life, blogging, book reviews and more. I also write resources for bloggers and writers on my Gumroad account, including my ebook 'The Art of Blog Writing'.

17 thoughts

  1. Love this! I think you’ve made some great suggestions, especially about just starting. Once I get started, I always find the ideas start flowing and then I don’t want to stop! Talking to someone about your project is also a good way to unlock ideas. My other go-to would be exercise- going for a walk or doing a yoga class always seems to free up my mind and make me ready to return to the page!

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    1. Yes definitely, sometimes you have to force yourself to start rather than overthink! I love chatting about my projects, it always helps 🙂 that’s so true, getting some fresh air or exercise seems to unlock something in my brain x

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  10. Good day. I enjoyed your post and agree just getting started when in a rut. I remember in college where I studied English Literature and at times I would have 3 literature classes and seemed like I had to write a paper day- near the end of the semester I ran out of ideas for my papers- yet when I completed just the title page, I felt a sigh of relief as at least I had gotten started. Sometimes just putting anything on paper can lead to momentum. Other times we put too much pressure on ourselves and that can stifle creativity. As you suggested, take your mind off of writing and do something else- I find walking to be helpful to clear my head and generate ideas. Praying helps me as well, maybe especially while walking. Thanks for the advice and God bless you.

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    1. Thank you, Christopher! I agree, sometimes just starting is such a relief. It can help those creative juices flow – and maybe get the job done quicker. It’s so important to avoid putting pressure on yourself, as you say. That can be the enemy of creativity. Thank you for sharing your experiences 🙂

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