Lacking inspiration?

Imagine you’re sitting at your desk trying to come up with a new concept, a brilliant idea, or the best piece of marketing material the world has ever seen. 

Stuck. You feel stuck. 

A mental roadblock in the way of greatness. Have you been there? I know I have more than I’d like to admit. 

So here are five ways I cut through lack of inspiration most regularly: 

1. Go outside. Walk through the woods or around the block. Fresh air often clears my head and helps me focus. Then go back inside, brew a cup of coffee, sit down, and do the hard work of just doing. 

2. Watch this Ted Talk. Christoph Niemann has challenged me to do the hard work of going through the process and fight against fear. 

3. Listen to these two podcasts featuring Josh Garrels. “If we bypass the process, the work will suffer," he says. Good art doesn’t just appear. Again, you have to walk through the mire work that’s just not…working. 

4. Try a different medium. Lately, I’ve been cutting construction paper like a kindergartner, scanning, image tracing, rethinking design and pattern development. 

5. Set a timer. Tell yourself you’ll just try for 20 minutes. I’m doing this at this very moment. It works, because often I’ll go beyond the allotment and get on role without realizing. 

What about you? Would love to hear your go-to’s in the comments!