4 Tips to Get “Unstuck” and Unleash Your Creativity!
Have you ever felt stuck, bored… completely uninspired?
It happens to the best of us. So today, we’re sharing our favourite ways to get inspired when the ideas don’t come easily. We hope these tips and tricks will help you to break through mental barriers, feel refreshed and come up with your next great idea.
#1 Have a ‘No Bad Ideas’ Brainstorm
You don’t have to go it alone, so enlist the help of your colleagues or a trusted friend for a brainstorming session. Before you begin, it can be helpful to set some ground rules to encourage everyone to speak freely and openly.
Rule number 1: there are no bad ideas! As a leader, you can set the tone by throwing out some completely wild suggestions. Take it a step further by rewarding the craziest suggestions or playfully discouraging any form of criticism or negativity. You might just find the best ideas are inspired by something completely ridiculous!
Next Step: Make a list of people to invite to a brainstorm.
#2 Change Your Perspective
Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best ones. Getting up from your desk and going outside for a breath of fresh air can do wonders!
By changing your physical state and surroundings, you can actually help your mind to think differently. Go for a walk, put on some music, head to a museum or wander through a few shops. Instead of thinking of these activities as distractions, think of them as a secret weapon when you need some inspiration.
Next time you find yourself stuck at your desk staring at a blank screen, give it a try and see what happens.
Next Step: Write down an activity to try or a place to go next time you need inspiration.
#3 Seek Inspiration in Unexpected Places
It can be tempting to look at your competitors, but why not try doing something completely different? Look for ideas from industries other than your own, and try to think of ways they could be translated to your own business.
For example, if you were trying to come up with a marketing campaign for a restaurant, you could try looking at what yoga studios or clothing brands are doing. You don’t want to steal anyone’s ideas, but by looking at brands you admire in different industries you can open your mind to trying things you never would have thought of otherwise.
Once you have an idea, be sure to take a step back and ask yourself whether it’s really an original concept, not just a copy of someone else’s.
Next Step: Write down five companies you admire in other industries.
#4 Just Start
Easier said than done, right?
Sometimes you just have to get out of your own way and start working! If you’ve tried all the prompts above and you’re still not feeling like a creative genius, stop waiting for a stroke of brilliance and start creating something. Read, write, make, draw… whatever it is you need to do, just get started.
Let go of any expectations of perfection and remind yourself that if you’re not happy with the results, you can always start over. What’s the worst that could happen?
Next Step: Get down to business!
