Beating Creative Block

The company is counting on you.  Your team is depending on you.  There’s a deadline to meet.  YOU are the one they are relying on to be creative…to come up with a new format, to relook at an old method of doing something, to design a new program.  There’s only one problem.  You reach into your cranium and there’s nothing there.  Not only are the creative juices not flowing, they’ve dried up like a puddle during a heat wave.

Now what?

What do you do when so much is riding on your creativity and “ya got nothing” to share?

Allow me to offer some thoughts as a voice of experience.

For 15 years, I toured the country as a stand-up comic – writing my own material.  I have authored many books and magazine articles.  And for 7 years I wrote for a national television variety show providing 25+ jokes a day 5 days a week.

So that’s the experience I bring when discussing this issue.  There was no option for writer’s block or going blank.

If you experience that void in your creativity – start implementing these practices:

·        Spend time in an area that relaxes you.  That can be on a mountain, sitting under a tree, sitting in a tree stand, relaxing by a brook.  Allow your mind to just relax and wander.

·        Spend time only with positive, uplifting and encouraging people.  Negative gossipy people will only drag you down and squash your creativity.

·        Carry a tablet and pen with you at all times.  Make sure you are able to write something down the moment you think of it.  That even includes having pen and paper next to your bed.

·        Do something creative.  Go to an art museum.  Go to a place where you can glean the creativity of someone who has been there.

·        Read.  Did you get that?  Read.  And, be selective of what you read.  Learn from those who have written things about your field or area of expertise.

·        Eliminate or at least minimize distractions.  This includes television, video games and movies (unless the movie motivates you).  Bill Cosby once said that there is nothing good on television.  He also said no one became successful watching television.

Allow your mind to develop creatively.  And, in the process – be careful with your self talk.

Have a great week

Ron Orendi