As some of you already know I also work as a freelance designer. To stay up to date I regularly read some design related blogs. A few days ago I found a list of 10 ways to cure a creative block recommended by Webdesigner Depot.

Creative blocks and lacks of motivation seem to be a problem especially to people working mostly with their brains. Perhaps you already experienced one yourself? When I read that list I noticed that I already use most of these first-aid tips when I'm in similar situations. Perhaps they'll help you, too because they aren't limited to cure designers. They're helpful to anyone who has a blockade.

Accept Your Creative Block

Once you've accepted it you can deal with it. By denying the status quo (which is you having a creative block) you avoid to change it.

Make Your Body Feel Good

If I'm mostly working with my head and hands, I tend to forget that we're consisting of a body which is a whole itself and that we should treat it that way.


Make it feel good. Have a hot long shower or even better, take a hot aromatic bath. Get out of your pyjamas and dressed. Have a good and healthy meal without sitting in front of your computer, desk or TV. The energy you feed to your body is the same energy available to you for your projects.


Exercise. That'll work wonders. Your body will be grateful for all the fresh oxygen and serotonin. It doesn't have to be anything complicated: I myself do skipping, headstands and sometimes swimming. Do whatever you like: taking a long walk, do gardening, go jogging... The list is endless, just move and exhaust yourself.

The tricky part is to get started (it always is) but once you did, you'll instantly feel better.

Clean Up

Clean up your workspace. A clean desk is amazingly helpful to concentrate and to stay focussed. Having a long hot shower and getting dressed is also part of the cleaning-up process.

It also make sense to declutter your head. If you think of what you'd still have to do (shopping, cleaning up, answering your grandma's phone call...), you can't focus on other things. The other day I stumbled upon the Getting Things Done method while reading some blogs about productivity and creativity.*

It seems to work for an amazing number of people and I guess that's because it's so simple. I don't use it myself. But I write lists and this helps me a lot to get my head free for the things I want to concentrate on. There's one suggestion I highly recommend: if there's anything to do which will take less than two minutes, do it immediately. This really frees your mind for important stuff you're up to do.

Another way to tidy up is to talk to your friends or even write a journal. During a talk, your friends may suggest ways out of your misery or simply cheer you up. They sometimes ask questions which lead you to new perspectives. Writing is a fantastic way to reflect your situation on your own.

Allow Yourself A Pause

We luckily aren't machines and that's why we can't work 24/7 at 100%. We need to rest and it is more than okay to do so. It's absolutely necessary we regenerate when we tired. Have a nap. Relax. Meditate. Just watch the clouds. Take a walk. Have a nice meal. Allow yourself to recover. The great thing is, some of my tools cover more than one aspect.

Find Inspiration

It's not a mystery how to do that. Just do something completely else for a moment. It is my experience that it doesn't matter what you do as long as it is different to the work you're stuck with. Our brain almost always finds a connection and a new way of solving our problems. Just feed it.

Play to trigger your inspiration. Doodle. Paint with your hands. Get inspired by little children around you. Have a look how fascinated they could watch flowers and insects, for example. Try to see what they see. Just do things for their own purpose.

Click to see the bigger version of a typical page from my notebook. There are notes, drawings, found quotes...
And after a while, suddenly there will be new ideas and your work will develope. Don't force it, it will happen. Again, allow yourself to take that time. If you won't, your block will become larger and larger. Always keep a notebook and a pen with you so you can secure your ideas instantly. Creative blocks apparently come back from time to time and a notebook can be a great source of inspiration as well as a tool for reflection.


This is my first-aid kit when I'm creatively blocked. I'm pretty sure there are more ways to overcome a blockade. Which works best for you? Feel free to tell via comments.

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* Reading blog posts and websites on creativity and productivity only helps if you turn off your computer and follow the tips. Really. NOW!