Are you in a creative rut? How to dig yourself out

Most jobs today require a certain amount of creativity. It doesn’t matter what the field of employment is; even the “serious” professions need some imaginativeness and innovation to help make you more productive. I don’t do a great job when I’m stuck in a creative rut and I know I’m not alone.

Here are a few pointers that help me keep my creative juices flowing and who knows, they might work for you too.

1. Working with others

Creativity can be contagious. I can tell from my experience that working with other people has helped me stay on top of my creative game. You can collaborate on a new project, help each other with certain parts of your job, and give each other feedback. Collaboration comes in many forms, which are all mutually beneficial.

2. Taking a time out

This can sometimes be impractical, especially if you are working with strict deadlines. However, when you are stuck on a project or task, the best thing to do is step away from it for a little while. Maybe looking at it with a fresh pair of eyes can reveal something new that you might have missed before.

3. Listen to some music

The type of music varies with the individual. For me, classical music is a great

creativity booster. It helps me to relax and concentrate on the task at hand while giving me an energy boost. The music you enjoy works best in this case.

4. Make time for self-care

The truth is, it will be difficult to get work done when you are burnt-out and feeling frazzled.  Ignoring your wellbeing makes your creativity suffer and distorts your thinking process. Meditation comes in handy and is a great self-care practice that also helps generate new ideas

5. Stay positive

Or at least try to. I do my best work when I’m in an upbeat mood. People react differently, of course, but research shows that even having positive thoughts like love can get you to be more creative. So, the next time you are stuck in a creative rut, do something that makes you happy like watching funny cat videos or babies running away from toys.