Tide over creative block

Q. I’m a second year student of BDes. in Human Centered Design in one of the premier colleges of the country. In the past few months, I have been unable to go outside due to the Covid-19 lockdown. I feel like now I’m not inspired enough and am losing creativity. I am not able to do even college assignments. What should I do?

—  Rishi Aggarwal

A. For finding solutions, we must first begin by deeply understanding our problems. What you are experiencing is lack of inspiration and a sense of loss of creativity, and it is called a Creative Block. People in creative professions such as authors, painters, digital artists and musicians often face this. Creative block is the period when one experiences stalled creativity. The reason for this temporary block can vary from the need for having perfectionism to the external circumstances causing negative thoughts, for instance, the ongoing Covid-19 situation.

 Danielle Krysa, author of the 2014 book Creative Block said that “I think it’s pretty safe to say that every creative person has experienced a block at some point,” Creative blocks are normal, infact some of the most iconic artists such as Claude Monet and Jackson Pollock.

 Here are some ways in which you can overcome this issue, sitting at home!

 Changing the workspace

It is often said that familiarity breeds contempt. If you are used to working at the same desk for years, or if you’ve been working in your own studio, it is time to change things up. Move your desk to another place, or just arrange the things in your studio differently. When we get too used to a working space, our thoughts and flow of creativity often get restricted.

Eliminate the need for perfection

Creativity is often stalled when people find the need to attain perfection in everything they create. Perfection is a state of being flawless. The need for perfection doesn’t lead to contentment, and this can breed self-doubt and a low self-esteem. Creativity thrives when you don’t seek perfection. Do not be afraid of making mistakes, look at them as a learning experience!

Take frequent breaks

If you find yourself working on a piece of text, artwork or music for many hours at a stretch, it is a good idea to take a step away from it. Doing seemingly mundane things like sleeping, taking a shower or even listening to classical music makes your subconscious mind work. In this process, you are essentially breaking away from the conscious working pattern that you are so used to. This can lead to an increase in creativity and more ideas.

 As Jennifer Arnold said, nothing can be accomplished without the hope of accomplishment.