Inspiration blocks also known as creative blocks are every designer’s nightmare. One of the worst parts about them is that they come with no warnings. The feeling is familiar for most people: blankness takes over, your mind just isn’t in the right place and you can’t find any creative ideas no matter how hard you try. Whether you’re struggling to overcome such a block or you just want to prevent it, here are some tips that will help you function at your full creative potential.

Don’t stress yourself out

Remember, everyone has to deal with creative block every now and then. Don’t be too hard on yourself and don’t rush, it won’t help at all. It can be a scary situation when you’re completely blocked and the deadline is days away, but remember: one being afraid makes all the creativity die away. Also, rushing things can cause a “quicksand” effect which can make you feel frustrated. Reworking old work is a good place to start – it will help keep your skills sharp and also give your mind something to focus on, instead of going into a state of panic or depression.

Change your routine

Monotony is one of the worst creativity killers. It may be hard especially for some of us but leaving your regular trails can be a big step ahead when dealing with creative blocks. Step out of your comfort zone: go to new places, meet new people, watch new genres of movies. Try different activities: choose something new and what brings you fun. And don’t worry about being good at it, just go for it and try. You might be stimulated to see the world through a different perspective, therefore having a somehow approach of your work. It can also show you creative sides to yourself that you didn’t even know you had.

Get enough rest

It’s very important to get a good night sleep to be on top of your game, creativity and productivity wise. Avoid overdosing on energy drinks and coffee in order to fool your body to stay up more than it should, you can’t substitute a good rest with nothing. It is a known fact that freelancers have awful sleep patterns, and in time, that can leave its mark. You can even try to nap in the afternoons once in a while if you feel that it helps. However be careful: too much sleep can be just as worse as lack of sleep.

Exercise

Get out of the house: go for a walk or a run, it will clear your head. Exercise can be a great way to fight or prevent this kind of blockages and also gives answers that maybe you didn’t have at the first place. I find it more inspiring to go for a walk then sit in front of the computer for hours: you never know what you will see that might spark your imagination. Remember to take your camera with you when you go strolling on the streets.

Learn new things

There definitely needs to be balance of input & output. You need to keep yourself updated by learning new things and you have to create a passion for learning and sharing new things. Continuous learning helps people to become successful, in any business. Working too much on your own skill can sometimes get a little stale, so it’s always nice to change it up a bit and draw inspiration from other things. Besides sharpening your skills, it will also help you refresh and stimulate your mind, making it easier to come up with creative solutions.