Any freelancer faces a creative stupor sooner or later. And, as a rule, he remembers that unpleasant feeling for a long time when you realize that you cannot come up with a single worthwhile idea. When in my head there are only solid stamps and it is extremely clear that the customer will not accept any of the proposed options. And you won't be able to make money. Creative stupor is a really serious problem, comparable in importance to creative burnout, which can rob a freelancer of working capacity for a very long time. But unlike burnout, which is most often the result of severe fatigue, the causes of creative stupor are somewhat different. What are these reasons?

Hard work

A lot of freelancers, in pursuit of good earnings, completely forget about work discipline and start overworking. Some even take pride in it, believing that work fatigue lends some meaning to their work. This is a big mistake. In a field like freelancing, fatigue is by no means a measure. successful work... On the contrary, if a freelancer at the end of the working day feels completely exhausted and overwhelmed, he is clearly doing something wrong. And the chances of "catching" a mental block in such a would-be specialist increase significantly.

Yes, it takes a lot of work to be successful as a freelancer. Nobody argues with this. But work is different. It is extremely important for a freelancer to keep his creativity at a certain level, otherwise he simply will not be able to regularly deliver original content. Namely, this is what is required of him. Customers do not need an executive worker, they need a person who will solve their problems. A person who looks at the problem with a fresh eye and proposes the most optimal solution.

In order to never face creative stupor, it is best to exclude all the reasons that may lead to its appearance. And the most common cause of mental blockages is fatigue. For a freelancer, if he wants to constantly stay in good creative shape, it is very important to find his balance between work and play. All successful freelancers have long understood that in order to keep up with everything and make good money, you don't need to work a standard eight-hour day. Anything a freelancer gets paid to do can be done in a much shorter amount of time if you plan well and stay focused on your work. Then you need to give your brain a rest. Failure to do this will make it much more difficult to generate new ideas.

Invalid priorities

Any serious freelancer strives to plan his work, otherwise you can get bogged down in routine and completely run all the cases. But you need to plan wisely and prioritize correctly. There are a lot of advantages to working according to the plan, but there is also one big disadvantage - for some freelancers, the to-do list can be a cause of creative stupor. The fact is that the work plan itself is a work-coercive document. And for many, this is a problem. Nobody likes to work out of hand, especially creative people. But you still need to work, so you need to do something.

If the creative stupor arises due to the fact that the most important things turn out to be unpleasant, then the To-Do list needs to be redone. Freelance work should by no means resemble torture, no matter how difficult it may be. If you try to generate ideas “through I can’t,” sooner or later the creative power will run out. A person is not a machine; in terms of creativity, his resources are extremely limited and you cannot mindlessly waste your creativity on performing work with a low priority. Cases requiring fresh thoughts and an unconventional approach should always have the highest priority. Therefore, in the schedule, such tasks should be set at a time when the freelancer is full of energy and is overwhelmed with creative energy. This approach almost completely eliminates the possibility of the appearance of mental blocks.

Difficult clients

In most cases, the freelancer himself is to blame for the creative stupor. But sometimes trouble comes from the outside if a difficult client comes across. A freelancer can gush with new ideas as much as he wants, but if the customer does not accept them, sooner or later the creative will drop to zero. What to do in this case?

The answer is obvious - you need to be more careful when choosing clients. If the customer himself does not know what he needs, working with him will turn into a real torture. In such conditions, mental blocks will appear literally at every step, because it is very difficult to generate ideas if you do not know what exactly needs to be done. There are many ways to make a picky or insecure customer become more compliant. And the most effective of these is the brief. Because the lack of a brief is very often the cause of creative stupor. And the larger the project, the more detailed the brief should be.

The brief is like a freelancer's guide. It describes everything that needs to be done, this is a ready-made program of actions, which in itself is an incentive to work and generate ideas. If there is no brief or it is not specific, this can lead to the fact that at some point the freelancer will lose his bearings and simply cannot move on. And his every next step will be accompanied by a creative stupor.

Procrastination

Sometimes it can be very difficult to understand whether creative stupor is the cause of procrastination or not. If a freelancer is inclined to leave important tasks for later, it will be very difficult for him to generate new ideas. Many freelance procrastinators know the impact of constant delays on creativity. It is very important to understand that procrastination is not laziness, but the psychological phenomenon and the approach to solving this problem should be completely different. If a freelancer knows that he is lazy, then he simply does not have enough motivation. But if he procrastinates, then this indicates that something is wrong with his work.

There are many reasons why a person starts to procrastinate. But more often than not, procrastination arises from poor planning. For example, if a freelancer sets himself a big and important task. The sheer scale of the problem to be addressed can trigger an attack of procrastination, which in turn will lead to mental blockages.

If the creative stupor is caused by procrastination, then you need to first figure out what exactly interferes with effective work. After all, something clearly prevents you from starting to do what you need to do. More often than not, the mental block is caused by some not very interesting work. To deal with procrastination and release creative energy, you can use the so-called "Swiss cheese" method. That is, not "eat" a large piece of conditional cheese (work) at a time, but bite off small pieces from it. Any work can be divided into several stages, each of which will be simple enough to perform and interesting in its own way. If a freelancer realizes that he has a creative stupor due to the fact that he cannot proceed to the first stage, then it is best for him to find such a task that will inspire him. The most important thing is to get started and it doesn't matter if the freelancer changes priorities a little. But this advice is useful only for those who often face bouts of procrastination. For a disciplined freelancer, the wrong prioritization will drastically reduce work efficiency.

High expectations

Excessively high expectations can also lead to creative stupor. Sometimes the task seems so interesting that the freelancer loses his objectivity. He begins to think that in order to cope with the problem posed, some kind of non-standard moves are needed. Needless to say, attempts to create something brilliant usually remain just attempts. And then fatigue comes and the understanding that there are no original ideas and where to get them is not clear.

High expectations are a real problem that can affect creativity. In order not to fall into a creative stupor because of unfulfilled hopes, you need to really look at things. Work is just work and needs to be done as well as possible. And no more. And if while working a freelancer every now and then comes across mental blocks, then this means only one thing - the task is beyond his powers. Yes, this happens very often. If the creative stupor is caused by a difficult task, then the freelancer has little choice. He needs to either give up the job or hire assistants. No other way.

Instead of a conclusion

Freelancing means intensive brainwork permanently. And you need to understand that during work, various problems may arise, including mental blocks. Yes, a creative stupor is an extremely unpleasant thing, but you need to be prepared for its appearance, since this is part of the job. To stay in good creative shape all the time, you need to follow a few simple rules. For example, don't recycle. Or not contact problem clients. Over time, any freelancer begins to understand what exactly can lead to the appearance of a creative stupor and builds his work in such a way that it does not interfere with the emergence of new ideas. And even if he is faced with a creative stupor, he always has several reliable ways to deal with an unexpected problem. After all, the absence of ideas in one particular head does not mean at all that there are none at all. There are always ideas, you just need to find and implement them. And the more a freelancer knows about the reasons for the appearance of mental blocks and ways to bypass them, the more successful his career will develop.

Creative stupor. Start delay

When a stupor appears between you and creativity, you feel indestructible helplessness. It blocks the road, distracts from the start, darkens the expected result. And it happens that there is simply no inspiration, which, in general, also stops the process.

Everyone knows such examples when creative person glorified as something worthwhile and gradually forgotten, without showing the world anything new. Why is that? But the makings and talent were definitely there, everyone was waiting for the continuation of their careers. Instead, there is a creative stupor and silence ...

Creative stupor of non-beginners

Imagine a situation when it is difficult for a person to decide and start, he is tormented by fear of failure and low evaluation of the results of creativity ... This is accompanied by high demands on oneself - it should only work out well, otherwise there is no point in doing anything at all. The onset of action is constantly being postponed, there are more and more doubts. A man stands at the start and he imagines laughing spectators in the stands. Sound familiar?

This is especially true in those cases when the first fruits of creativity were highly appreciated, and now a person sets the bar higher for himself - to do better, cooler, more perfect. Fearing not to jump over it, he still freezes in inaction. Already the idea seems stupid, and self-doubt distracts ... Attachment to the first good result interferes with going further. It seems to a person so perfect that to do it again, but it just won't be more perfect and better. So, getting attached to the first brainchild, he sits over it in a creative stupor and feels the chains of doubts. Soon, the desire to create is completely suppressed. Or man does everything according to one good pattern , simply because he was the first. Each subsequent work is nauseatingly similar to the previous one, and admirers of creativity gradually begin to lose interest in it. And new concepts are constantly presented as questionable, not as successful as the first.

Another option is sharp criticism and trolling of the fruits of creativity that cause creative stupor. The man evaluated his offspring in a completely different way, or at least not so badly. Maybe he understands that everyone starts somewhere. But he still takes it to heart and is afraid of a repetition of "failure". Although, in fact, not everything should always turn out perfect, everyone makes mistakes and messes up. Someone laughed wonderfully well, threw a sharp phrase about human creativity and forgot. And because of this, he abandons the dream of building a career, becomes helpless in front of low criticism and cannot control himself, start again. This will not escape even those who have been doing something for a long time, but stumble upon "well-wishers". Especially on the internet.

Or maybe it’s him, is that all? ..

In all these cases, a certain set of human characteristics play a cruel joke with him. And while its true nature remains behind the scenes of consciousness - in the unconscious - a banal misunderstanding of oneself leads to a creative stupor. A person asks questions: why I can't, why I don't start, why I'm afraid, why I postpone, why I refuse to do ...
System-vector psychology. About creative stupor

Each of the eight vectors has its own specific role, properties of the psyche and the peculiarities of thinking necessary for its implementation. The set of vectors given to a person from birth determines his aspirations, life values, profession, relationships in a couple, in society, life scenario.

In fact, everything is simple, and one correct thought-insight can radically change your life.

The specific role of people with anal vector- accumulation of the experience of previous generations, systematization, cleaning from inaccuracies and further transfer of the collected information to the younger generation. These 20% of humanity have a better memory, and, unconsciously for themselves, each to a different degree, is aimed at the past. They have a greater interest in what was created by someone earlier than in what is considered relevant now or will be created in the future. Including what was their first personal creative experience.

System-vector psychology of Yuri Burlan. Anal vector, lecture excerpt

If these people did not look so attentively into the past, fearing to lose there something necessary for the future, then all future generations would have to start from scratch. Perfectionism is also attached to this, because if you do not draw an exact diagram for the student, he will never be able to assemble the entire mechanism. Such a "fad" on quality, accuracy, reliability.

Turning to the first experience leads to the fact that a person is afraid to start something new. He mentally puts into the framework of the ideal what was created by him earlier, without even realizing it.

In addition, a person seeks to complete everything he has begun. It even happens that in spite of the criteria of need. This can lead to the fact that he is unable to start something new, not finishing with what he started earlier. Can't switch. It is more focused on one activity in order to improve in it and achieve maximum professionalism. At times, thereby, blocking other possible ways of creative realization.

I was told. So this is so

A person with an anal vector tends to seek advice and guidance. He puts above himself the opinion of professionals who have already gained experience and can pass it on. But it often happens that a person makes mistakes and listens indiscriminately to everyone who has a title, diploma, awards. You shouldn't have done it.

Criticism or criticism is like a state of mind. System-vector psychology of Yuri Burlan

And besides, not every criticism is a criticism. And people with different vectorial set relate differently to the same creativity. Someone will say that this is garbage and there is nothing to waste your time on, while someone will enthusiastically praise.

If you are sure that you are doing a useful thing, do it. If someone is trying to convey to you that this is a waste of time - listen, think, but be able to draw your personal correct conclusion, and not imposed. It is necessary to distinguish between important opinion and just someone's opinion, criticism and constructive criticism, which will help to become better in what you do.

The fear of starting and doing worse than it turned out the first time or worse than the pros do - a stop sign on the way to the development of abilities and talents.

The time has long passed past midnight, you sit down for another "useful and interesting" text about choosing "the best mattress that you can buy inexpensively in our online store" and ... you understand that you cannot squeeze a word out of yourself. It's great if the problem is solved by the usual (although so unusual for copywriters) eight hours of sleep. And if the creative stupor lasts not the first day and overwhelms you more and more often? Take on the advice of our author Victoria who shared reliable anti-burnout remedies. And at the end of the article you will find a couple of useful recipes for calling a muse from our team (we promise, no black magic 😉). We give the floor to Victoria.

How do I keep writing, even if the muse is on time off?

Everyone knows that a copywriter is a creative profession. But I felt it fully. I have been writing for more than five years now and from my own experience I have felt the "burnout" of a creative personality.

Despite the experience and professionalism, the writer constantly needs recharging. H throughout my career, I notice that continuous creative work tires the author, drains his syllable.

I think only a copywriter of a copywriter can understand this. As a person who makes a living exclusively by copywriting, I can say that a fabulous number of characters per month need to be created for a salary.

Most of my acquaintances always tell me, with dreamy envy in their voice, about the advantages of a flexible schedule, although it is not so flexible, because the deadlines are specific, for violation of which there will be penalties. Every day you need to write more than 10-15 thousand characters, but the themes are constantly repeated. As a result, one gets the feeling that all the words have already been said by someone, and many - by me. And it's not that you don't know what to write (experience gives its own), but a real creative crisis sets in. Hands try not to briskly hit the keyboard, but push it away with all fingers. The very thought that it will be necessary to create the next text strains.

There is nothing unnatural in this, because everyone creative person generates and creates beauty in himself, but inspiration is not a machine, the author cannot work relying solely on technical abilities.

First of all, I want to say that with the constant writing of a lot of texts, the syllable becomes scarce and repetitive, if you do not read literary works, for example, classics. You can also modern prose, why not? This enriches the vocabulary. When you feel that you are beginning to speak with the reader in a new way, it gives creative strength. So II read hard: it improves mood and enhances professionalism.

For me personally, it was Japanese writers who became an example, because when you read their books, you forget about the time and the number of pages read. The syllable literally flows, so even in great works you do not lose the plot thread, all events are clear. My literary favorite is Haruki Murakami. Almost all of his works, read by me, impressed, especially "The Norwegian Forest". I consider the book by Frederic Beigbeder “Love Lives Three Years” to be superbly written: it is pleasant to read when the presentation of the text is interesting and understandable. I recommend Steve Harvey's "Act Like a Woman, Think Like a Man." The list can be continued endlessly, and this is great, because it means that there are many professionals in their field in the world.

Exit to crowded places.For me, as a copywriter, the problematic aspect of my work is that I have to work from home, spend the day at my laptop. If a rush, it happens, there is not enough time even for a supermarket. But, you must admit that the absence of an office setting and a boss in a glass office has its drawbacks. One of them is the lack of communication, the flow of external information. Therefore, in moments of creative crisis, I give myself everything that I lacked - I walk more.

I arm myself with a glass of coffee and breathe the air in the park, it would be great to walk along the embankment. Beautiful view generates in us beautiful words, but in work it is, again, only good. You can meet nice people and chat.

Once again reassess your work... It has often disappointed me that copywriting and journalist are professions that are often confused. And our professional community is working much harder, but titles and laurel wreaths cannot be expected. The publications of the copywriter go even without a name. And sometimes I really want to leave a mark on the history of The New York Times ... In moments of creative crisis, I watch films about people who also write, freelance, and that inspires me. Looking from the outside at the person at the laptop, typing, I can not help but be tempted to sit down at my laptop. We create the Internet!

One of the "healing" films for my creative depression - " Breakfast at dad's ”, Where comic and not very moments of the copywriter's life are outlined in the plot. Gives strength and inspiration to the film " Trainee ”, Which, although not related to freelancing, shows how hard it is for people who create a business with the help of the Web, and how dedicated they are. I would like to draw the line of "cinema therapy" with a simple videoThe Expert , which has garnered over 5 million views on YouTube. The plot reflects the difficulty of getting into the top ten that all creative people face. After all, customers expect exactly what will correspond not so much to the terms of reference as to their vision of the result, and it is not so easy to understand this. But we all need to be humorous about it in order to do our job in a positive way. This video will definitely help you smile and get a dose of faith in your professionalism.

Before starting work, after a short vacation to recharge, I make myself a cup of aromatic strong coffee, for complete happiness I add a couple of slices of my favorite chocolate to it, and in a pleasant atmosphere I start to create again. For myself, I realized that the more beautiful the environment we create around us, the more likely it is that a wondrous and elusive muse will want to be in this cozy place.

Thanks to the copywriter Victoria for such a sincere text, great tips and inspiration!

Victoria has already taken advantage of and receives from us all the promised "buns"!

Have a cool idea for our blog? Do you want to go down in history, if not The New York Times, but at least the Miratext exchange?

Communication via:

• e-mail: gorbatenko.olga [dog] mirafox.ru;
• skype: olga_booklover (preferred method).

Recipes against creative burnout from the team« Miratext»

Victoria's article inspired us so much that we had a real brainstorming session and would like to offer you a couple more life hacks to combat burnout. We do not undertake to claim that each of them will suit absolutely any person, but it is definitely worth a try: suddenly you will find exactly what you need.

Try the Pomodoro Technique

If you do not look up from the screen for several hours, you should not be surprised at burnout: your poor body simply turned on"To the fullest" function of the instinct of self-preservation and tries to preserve at least a little of your health. A technician will help to force the body to turn off the self-preservation function and turn on the brain."Tomato" ... The whole point is to break the work into pieces. So,you have to work 25 minutes, then rest 5 minutes, then work 25 minutes again and rest 5 minutesetc. It will be easy to do with a dedicated timer. http://tomatotimer.ru/ or similar application for Android or iOS ... What to do in 5 minutes of rest? Crack with a stiff neck, move around, drink a cup of fragrant tea, holding a cookie in your free hand, not a mouse - whatever, the main thing is away from the computer.

Get out of your comfort zone (even if you haven't entered it 🙂)

Every copywriter has topics that he understands that are easy to write. And this is the main trap! No matter how much you adore children, believe me, after 58 text about choosing the best diapers, you will be jerked at the thought of “children's topics”.Take in work an article on a completely new topic for yourself.At first it will be terribly scary, because you do not know anything about her, you will need to spend time studying the nuances, there will be doubts that everything will work out at the proper level. But as a result of such "shock therapy" your brain will "reboot" and you will be able to return to the same children's theme (if, of course, new topic will not captivate you).

Change your location

A change of scenery is an ultra-useful thing. Try itwrite an article that is awesome for you in the park, on the beach, in your favorite cafe... This is not only pleasant, but also very effective: fresh thoughts, interesting phrases, ideas for structuring the article begin to come to mind. Try it!

Alex cornell

Famous blogger, musician and designer Alex Cornell

Faced once again with a creative crisis, I decided to ask twenty-five creatives a question: "What means do you use so that you do not lose creative inspiration in your daily professional routine?" As the designer expected, he was presented with a variety of strategies, from listening all alone in the Boards of Canada to preparing the storm and waiting for the mind to be enlightened.

NicolasFelton

Graphic Designer, New York

I have several tactics that allow me to keep my creativity flowing. I alternate the flow of my life like a crop rotation in agriculture... On odd-numbered years, I try to travel more and mostly work with personal projects and personal initiatives. And in even-numbered years, I prefer to work and earn more, then go on long trips. For example, in 2005, I spent five weeks traveling around the world. In 2007, I traveled to Nepal, China and Tibet for three weeks. These trips were so impressive that I returned to my desk with a head full of thoughts and ideas.

Graphic Designer, Belgium

I rarely fall into a creative stupor, a large number of various ideas are constantly boiling in my head. Everything else is a matter of time and priorities. For a whole year now I have been starting, then giving up, then continuing to work on the headset again. And this process gives me great pleasure, and also provides invaluable experience, but this also prevents me from working on any other project. Therefore, we can say that I am falling into a kind of intellectual stupor: I want to develop and continue to move on, but not before I finish the project with the headset. I can call myself slow and meticulous, I want everything to be perfect. So I continue to run in a circle. The very idea of ​​the typeface came to my mind while I was looking at an old typeface that I had developed myself (yes, sometimes my own work can also be a source of inspiration, that's what notes and sketches are needed), poster by Wim Crouwel “Hiroshima »And a vintage book cover. Therefore, the subject factor works in the end.

AudreyKawasaki

Artist, erotic painting, Los Angeles

When I have a feeling that I am falling into a creative stupor, it happens for the reason that I am distracted and think about something that is not related to my work. Or I just can't sit still and concentrate on what I need to do. To cope with this, over the years I just played music on my headphones, or watch all sorts of news programs. Listening to them while working allows my brain to work in two directions: to free the creative component from unnecessary thoughts and to work calmly. Creating a kind of barrier to daily distractions and dividing myself in two is the best way for me to get into a meditative state while painting.

KhoiVinh

Team Leader for Designers at NYTimes.com

Draw and read a lot. I can compare reading to strategy: it is a constant replenishment of ideas, metaphors, points of view, details. In your head you keep everything you read so that later you will have an impressive catalog of "starting points" at your disposal. Drawing makes it possible to activate all the information that is stored in the head and helps to solve the assigned tasks. The drawing process itself is a visualization of various ideas and allows you to classify a large number of elements, to establish unexpected connections between them. The main thing is to draw quickly and not be distracted by the technique of execution. This is the only way to stay within the content and not get hung up on the form.

KalleGustafsson

Photographer, Sweden

If I have a feeling of lack of inspiration, then I need to take time out. In my case, this is the best option. I go on vacation for a week or two just to listen and watch. I look at people, listen to music. I could say that I am inspired by everything around me, regardless of place and time. To find inspiration, you just need to go beyond the usual work and be distracted.

Illustrator, designer, Atlanta

Whenever I need a source of inspiration to trigger creative mechanisms, I turn to experimental music, mid-century design or cinema, wildlife, and more. To maximize my creativity, I need to sit in the woods at the same time, listen to Boards of Canada, and watch Mad Men.

ChadHagen

Designer and Artist, Minneapolis

Staying creative all the time is hard work. To be honest, I don't think I was talented enough when I entered art school. I needed to work hard to stay creative. The only thing that made me focus was my endless desire to be a good artist. And I thought about this all the time, if I constantly do hard work, study fine arts, like complex and not very mathematical equations, then I can relax and do cool things, and also let events take their course.

If I have a creative stupor, the best way to deal with it is the place where I would like to become even better. And for that I need to look at other people's work. In my opinion, there is no better way to ignite your own creativity than to look at the amazing things other people have done. Such things can be seen in museums, galleries, exhibitions. It always inspires me, and it also makes me want to go back to work and do something worthwhile.

Freelancer, illustrator, England

I can give you some tips: First of all, you need to get distracted from the computer / sketches / notebook, take a walk down the street, visit new town... Once I was sitting in a cafe in Berlin, and so many ideas came to my mind that I had no idea what to do with them now. Sometimes I visit the library and bury myself in old graphic design publications or photography magazines. From them I snatch things that simply boggle my imagination. Then I go home and print them out or paste them into my booklet for magazine and newspaper clippings. After that, I usually have a lot of ideas in my head.

KimHoltermand

Photographer, Denmark

Every time I run out of ideas, I usually listen to music to regain my old frame of mind. For me, she is a tremendous source of inspiration. Many of my robots were created by listening to musicians like Sigur Ros (my favorites), Max Richter, Trentemøller, M83, Helios, Dead Can Dance, Jonsi and Alex, Air, Olafur Arnalds, Johann Johannasson ... the list goes on and on. Musical melancholy gives me a certain mood in which ideas are easily produced.

ErikSpiekermann

Legendary German typographer

1 Avoid(Do something different, back up your data, wash your car, run errands, and so on). 2 Think(Try to relax and think about the problem, give free rein to your thinking). 3 Explore(Look for suitable material, browse past projects. The main thing is to avoid Google, it takes a lot of time to find something worthwhile and useful). 4 Collect(Everyone has a lot of all sorts of rubbish. Namely, among him there should be something that will be most useful). 5 Sketch(Drawing is a very cool thing, even if you don't have a talent for drawing. Visualizing simple things helps bring them to life). 6 Reconstruct(The problem needs to be broken down into parts and looked at each of them separately, and then put all the parts together).

SiScott

Illustrator, graphic designer, England

Creative crises happen quite often for me (as with most creative people, as far as I suppose?). To deal with them, I have the only sure way - to continue to work further and generate ideas, even if they seem insignificant. Bashing your head against a wall in search of a solution is the hardest and most hopeless thing in the world.

I draw my inspiration from books and poetry. Besides reading, music has a very productive effect on me. Words are able to kindle something in me and there is a desire to create further, think, investigate, analyze.

Artist, Designer, Michigan

The first and best option for me to struggle would be to stop trying to force myself to do something and just distract myself from work for a while. Taking breaks is important enough.

In search of inspiration, I usually go to a bookstore. This is my favorite pastime. There I can really relax. A stack of books, magazines and coffee. Sometimes I can take my computer with me, but mostly I take the opportunity to look away from the screen and flip through paper pages, look, read and learn something new for myself. A publication about music, art, design, culture, tattoo, music - that's what I like the most. I am overloaded with this information and this fact helps me to get out of the creative stupor.

Illustrator, artist, California

I don't get into a creative stupor so often, but if it happens, then I just take a break. I do not paint and do whatever I want until the time when I again feel that I want to get to work. I try to avoid creative crises, so I constantly activate my thinking activity, read podcasts, watch DVDs. I also love meeting friends who have other interests.

There are very few direct sources of inspiration in my field, so most of the work I create is what my friends talk about and what interests them the most. For example, I am not a big fan of horror movies or movies about people who have risen from the dead or movies about magic crystals that have magic power, but I paint all this because my friends talk about it. In general, it happens in its own way for everyone. I have it like this.

Creative Director at Google Create Labs

- I take a long shower. Standing in the shower, I think very differently. He is able to wash away all my old thoughts and makes me feel renewed.

- Do the cleaning. The mess around me prevents me from thinking clearly.

- If these two options did not work, then I sit behind the wheel of a motorcycle and go for a drive, trying not to think about the project at all.

In the end, in some incomprehensible way, the stupor passes.

Design studio, Denmark

Our studio consists of two designers who work closely enough with each other. We very often collaborate with freelancers, they cannot be called part of our creative process. We try to constantly look for inspiration in something, so everything that can inspire us we add to the archive so that sources of inspiration are always at hand. Anything can act as such sources. If this is something that we see on the street, then we photograph it. In addition to street events, such sources can be magazines, fashion shows, books, blogs, movies, and more. If we start working on a new project, then first we discuss it, tell each other how we see it, then leaf through our "archive of inspiration", make sketches. Once the visuals have been assembled, we can begin the creation process.

Designer, illustrator, artist, Brooklyn

For me, the best way to get out of this stupor is to take the Amtrak to either side. But, unfortunately, I cannot resort to this option as often as I would like. However, I really like this forced sitting in one place. It is much more comfortable than on airplanes. My grandfather traveled to Alaska every year and wrote novels while traveling. It seems to me that traveling through railroad somewhat similar to my grandfather's trips to Alaska. When you move around the world, you start to feel alive.

However, this is not always easy to do. AND most of time I just rush through my work. If I begin to feel a lack of inspiration, then I put up with the fact that I can make some mistakes. And I continue to work further.

MINE

Christopher Simons Graphic Design Studio, San Francisco.

Three factors can be named that contribute to the onset of a creative crisis: the realization that you are in a dead end, the awareness that you are in a dead end and do not know how to get out of it, the awareness that you are in a dead end, you know how to get out of it, but you doubt that you can do it. First I ask myself, am I really stumped? It so happens that we think that we are stuck or want to think so, but in fact we are following the right trail and do not even know about it. Some paths are inevitable. A crisis can be just a hole in the way; I am not doing anything. Being at a dead end means not having a clear idea of ​​the problem that has arisen. In this case, the best medicine is perspective. I consider it in a territorial and temporal aspect. When I get distracted from the problem, it becomes easier for me to look at it from the outside. Sometimes, instead of struggling to find a solution, it’s better to do something that is less relevant. Watch a movie or go to an exhibition, for example. Something from another world may turn out to be a solution to a problem that I am trying to ignore. I'm getting cool. Sometimes there may be a problem that I can find a solution to, but it seems very difficult to me. I overcome this uncertainty with one trick: I take on other, easier tasks that are irrelevant: finishing a blog post, tidying up the garage, and so on. After successfully completing these tasks, I become confident that I can do anything. And when I once again return to an unsolvable problem, it already becomes another item on the list for me. And there is no excitement.

Creative Agency, England

Set your alarm at 5 a.m. and when it rings, you have only two options: either get up and enjoy the unique feeling of this time of day, or go back to sleep and have strange delusional dreams. One of the two options will definitely inspire. You shouldn't sit in a creative meeting waiting for something to click in your mind. You shouldn't read about design and watch pictures on Google or YouTube. You should not force yourself, it is better to leave the studio and go to the theater or to a concert, or to a museum. The main thing is to take a break from work, get some air, stop staring at the monitor, turn off your mobile, talk with friends about any nonsense. Expand your interests. The wider they are and the more culturally educated, the more significant your projects will become for clients. Try to put yourself in the client's shoes and try to imagine their train of thought. Generate tons of ideas, share them with colleagues, test your train of thought on them. Think about the project, view it from all points of view. Be strict and adamant when creating your project. Or, on the contrary, be guided by your instincts, because you are tired of far-fetched and tortured answers that only take away the joy of life so much that you cannot even imagine why you went into the creative field, if everything in it is decided by committees and compromises. Draw a lot, just for the sake of drawing. Be bold in your judgment if you are extremely talented, otherwise just listen. Listen anyway.

Dan Covert and Andre Andreev, Design Studio, New York

Dan: If I happen to fall into creative stupor during my daily work, I go for a walk or surf the net, or take a movie to watch, I can buy a book or go to a museum, do some things from the standard set of clichés for finding a source of inspiration. However, sometimes I get tired of looking for these sources and just try to clear my thoughts by leaving the office. Ideas come to me when I least expect them.

André: When it comes to everyday creativity, I have a tough schedule that I try to stick to. I'm working on a project, that's all. I don’t spend all day on one project if it’s not strictly necessary. I try to turn off IM and e-mail, or check them only once an hour. Time management helps me a lot. If I have two hours to finish the job, I concentrate on details and elements that I might have overlooked.

It seems to me that this helps to be creative. I look forward to the moment when I can again take on the project and force myself to distract myself from it a little and think about what I could do for it next time. Thanks to the schedule, I can switch from one activity to another. A large number of tasks are not for me, I cannot simultaneously talk on IM, have a conversation with an intern, sign a contract, try to project something and wait for an e-mail. I need to get rid of everything that distracts me, and also focus on only one project.

Dan: Our studio is designed in such a way that very often there is overlap or overlap of what each of us does. We don't put pressure on people to be creatively responsible. This can be a little discouraging, but it allows us to be much freer about some things. And if we talk about the creative crisis in the broadest sense of the word, then we are constantly trying to develop our business in several directions.

Andre: If we talk about my inspiration in the broad sense of the word, it appears and disappears. It's hard for me to predict when I will be able to fire up a new project again. I try to be happy in my personal life, which in many ways has a positive effect on my performance. Being productive is one of the main factors in a happy personal life. For this reason, I try to do as much of what I love as possible: I read books, meet a girl, play football or video games, get drunk, it all depends on my mood. In my opinion, it's hard to stay creative when you're worried, angry, or upset.

Dan: We're working in different directions, which is a little refreshing. One day we can do motion, and the next day we can do branding or a T-shirt. Learning helps a lot too, so every week we work with new ideas or talents. We learn from them just as they do from us.

Graphic studio, Rotterdam

Our studio is a designer and artist. This combination can be called very dynamic, in the sense that we always look at the problem from several angles. The methods and views we use are often highly controversial, but this creates a driving force. We find this way of working very productive. Our union turns out to be quite lively and progressive, so we never stand still. In addition, we enjoy creating artwork for ourselves. It helps to maintain clarity and hones the craft. Therefore, in order to move forward, you need to keep yourself busy all the time.

Christpher David Ryan, design studio, USA

I often feel a kind of creative stupor. I can't say that I couldn't do something creative at all, it's just that from time to time, I don't perceive anything that comes to my mind as unusually special. For as long as I can remember, I just sat down and let my creative thoughts flow. But this juice was not always sweet.

I noticed that the more I demand results from myself in such situations, the more likely it is to be left with nothing. But in my arsenal I have a stock of weapons from the creative stupor: talking, drawing, walking, vintage shopping, reading, yoga, watching old records, red wine, TV, whiskey and so on. When looking for inspiration, I only avoid the internet. This option seems to me too banal and simple.

The brightest ideas come to me at the end of the day, when I least expect it: when I'm on the subway, in the shower, in bed, at a meeting. In those moments in which the search for ideas is least tuned in. I get the impression that the energy that I spend in the flow creates a cloud around me in order to dissipate and then ideas get to me.

KevinDart

Freelance Illustrator, Los Angeles

I have a bunch of ways to get rid of the creative devastation. For example, search the web for cool reference photos, find and listen to new music, view old drawings, draw in a cafe, go out for a walk. The best way for me is to talk with friends. They can always demonstrate a new way of looking at a problem that would never even occur to me. Or some beautiful illustrations that I have not seen before. Or just encouraging words that make me move on.

Design and illustration studio, USA

Escape. This simple word so many different interpretations. If we take the simplest one, then we leave. Where to? It always turns out differently. It can be a bookstore, an antique shop, a coffee shop, a cinema, a forest, a riverbank, a park, sometimes even just a living room. The goal is always the same - to feel or see what would inspire us. Moreover, it does not have to be something new or fresh, but something that could return us to the desire to take up work. We very often discuss our projects in a coffee shop, and not in a study - in such an environment the best ideas are born.

In general, these refreshing moments of reflection, whether they last an entire day, a few minutes, or half a day, can be very rewarding. We have included them in our work schedule a long time ago.

Creative Think Tank, California

Justin Krietemeyer: I go for a long run, dog walk or motorcycle ride very often. I do anything but project-related work. Good ideas are stored in fat, and if I burn a little of mine, I can free them and use them. I take my phone with me to jot down the ideas that pop into my head. The worst option is to strain and do it all at once.

Tess Donohoe: If I lack inspiration, I get up and walk away from the computer. The surest way to get frustrated for me is staring at a picture or a blank screen. I like walking and jogging down the street. You walk or run, looking around. I find solutions to difficult problems when I don’t think about them at all. Interesting patterns and images appear in my head when I just look around: at the asphalt, at the ice cream truck, at the trees. More often than not, when I stop thinking about a project, new ideas come to me.

Imagination and creativity can dry up from time to time, leaving the artist with a blank canvas. Here are some tips to help you regain motivation and energy to get back to business.

Steps

Part 1

Shake up your daily routine. Stop. Feelings of rush and pressure don't help creative process... Take some time to go somewhere. Go outside, nature and relax. Inspiration will come back to you when you are ready to receive it.

Create multiple projects at the same time. If you get stuck or bored working on one project, you can take on another. Add challenges to your work so you don't get bored. Juggle several projects at once to keep yourself busy.

Change materials. If you're painting with paint, start with clay. If you're creating a collage, try using a pen and ink. Explore new materials and use new tools. Pay attention to shapes, rhythms and colors in your life and outside your studio. Grab your camera and start shooting whatever you like.

Part 2

Look for inspiration in places, people and events

1. Visit the garden, your favorite spot in the city, or have a picnic. Go to a concert. Take a few days off if necessary. Sometimes a simple soul or a good book is enough to bring back inspiration. The main thing is to turn your attention to something that is not related to your work.

   Research thoroughly all aspects of what you want to create. Visit a library or bookstore.

   • Visit a large bookstore and head to the art or photography section. Sit upright on the floor or in a nook and enjoy your reading.

2. Find other fine art exhibitions that interest you.

   Sign up for an art workshop. Draw and create with other people. Ask other artists what they think of your current work, but don't be intrusive. An outside look may be just what you need. If you feel the design is the problem, find another way.

   Find something in your Everyday life that you would like to draw or sculpt. Take pictures of the everyday things that surround you. Then go through the photos and redraw the ones you like.

   Find a muse. It can be a person or an animal - anything that inspires you.

Part 3

Deal with emotional stupor

Realize that you may be intimidated by the complexity of your project. In this case, you should take a step back, carefully study all aspects of the project and its design, and then slowly start moving forward.

Take care of your health. Ignoring bodily, emotional, and spiritual needs will only hurt your creative process. Take a little more time for yourself.

1. Fight the fear that your project should be perfect or shouldn't exist at all. It doesn't have to be perfect - in general, what is "ideal"? Allow yourself to create "bad art", as it is still better than no art at all. Many creations are born out of persistence and study, not thought. Start playing with this canvas.

   • The fear of creating "bad" art stems from comparing your own creations to those of other artists. Instead, try comparing your artwork to your earlier projects to see how your craft has improved. Little by little, you will improve your style and make those changes to it that are right for you and do not depend on how you think others want your art to be.

Part 4

Just do it
• Most artists and creatives go through a creative stupor from time to time. This is normal and can be quite frightening nonetheless! Don't compare yourself to others. Most artists consider the creative stupor to be a very important part of the creative process. Some artists benefit from working hard and thoroughly exploring the theme of the project, but not all - it works differently for everyone.
• If all else fails, try writing a list of habits that are interfering with your creative process. Maybe you procrastinate until the last minute? Or are you suffering from depression? Get rid of it with therapy or medication.
• Don't think too much about the project. This can cause unnecessary stress. If you feel tension in your neck or shoulders, go for a massage.
• Listen to new music. Try something you've never listened to before.
• Be more sociable. Involving people in your life can bring you back inspiration.
• Watch a few films, but only in the cinema. Visuals can bring you back inspiration. You need to stimulate your brain to start creating again.

Warnings

• Don't tell anyone about your difficulties initially. Just let them go. If you talk about them, they can become "real". You may also be imposed a lot of unnecessary advice, which will only upset you even more, instead of motivating you. Meet your creative stupor with open arms!
• Don't start thinking about whether you can sell the job or not. Just do it for yourself.
• Don't start taking drugs / drinking alcohol to get inspiration back. These substances will only exacerbate your depression and limit your creativity.