You’ve got a great idea. But somewhere along the way, your brain just fizzles. You’ve got no energy left to finish what you started.
It’s happened to us all. You need to stay creative, but it’s just not happening. The inspiration that got you started is gone.
Well, below are ways that you can get those creative juices flowing again and, hopefully, get your project or task finished.
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Work Backwards
Set a long term goal first, then create a plan for how to achieve it. When it comes to solving problems, and keeping your creative spark bright, working backwards can provide a more unique and often smarter solution. As Jones says:
“Don’t worry about the ‘how’. Focus on the ‘what’. Your road map will literally unfold itself.”
Keep Notes on Everything
Writing down everything, no matter how small or insignificant, might save you one day. Jones suggests using a white board or idea board to keep your ideas prominent, and constantly writing and rewriting words and phrases. Snap a picture before you erase your ideas, and keep them in a special folder that you can easily navigate later.
Take Occasional Mental Breaks
Working yourself ragged isn’t good for your health or creativity. Boost your entrepreneurial creativity by taking a few minutes every hour or so to relax and listen to a song or read an article. It might be just what you need to push yourself over that last mental hump. It’s important to know when to keep working and when to take an extra five minutes for making the next pot of coffee.
Meet with Groups with Creativity
Surrounding yourself with other creative thinkers is a great way to get your brain in the fast lane. Medical Daily’s Sabrina Bachai writes:
“By surrounding yourself with other creative people, whether they excel in writing, music, or other art forms, it can help to propel your own creativity.”
Get Up and Do It
Sometimes the best way to boost your creativity is to just go ahead and plunge into a creative endeavor — if only to see what happens. Don’t let fear become a paralysis. You can worry forever if you or your ideas are good enough. At times like these, Bachai writes:
“Instead of sitting and wondering how you can make yourself creative, just go ahead and do it.”
Set Goals: Lots of Them
Writing at Create Hype, Lisa Jacobs suggests:
“If you don’t know exactly what you want from your business, take time to figure it out.”
Create a list of goals, both short and long term, and keep them on display somewhere you can see them and work towards them every day.
Take Constructive Criticism
Ask someone who doesn’t work for you for tips and advice in order to get the most honest answers. And be sure to take them into consideration the next time you sit down for a brain storming session. Being able to take feedback from someone who isn’t trying to fluff up your ego is important. Use that feedback to better yourself and your business. It’s an important step to boosting your entrepreneurial creativity.
Take a Bird’s Eye View
Take a few steps back and try to see things from a different viewpoint. Being able to separate yourself from the stress of troubling situations means being able to reach smarter and more creative solutions. As Jacobs writes:
“Businesses casually deal with the ebb and flow of the market every day — now you’re one of them.”
Never Stop
Being relentless in reaching and achieving your goals means you’ll be more willing to try new and innovative approaches. Never stop coming up with new ideas, even when inspiration seems to elude you. Give yourself a good shake and see what comes loose.
Break Down Your Problems
Take a problem or situation and break it down into smaller, more manageable pieces, write Drew Boyd and Jacob Goldenberg in Bloomberg Business’s The Management Blog. Then, down the line, you can manipulate and tinker with these pieces to come up with new solutions and concepts.
Keep a Journal
Having all your ideas in one place, like a journal or folder, is a great way to get everything into one ‘pot’ to start simmering, writes Kathleen Shannon of Braid Creative and Consulting. Keeping your ideas organized in a journal, something you always have with you or have access to, makes it easier to jot down quick thoughts or add to one from last month.
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Don’t Forget to Analyze
Coming back to your ideas later and researching them to make them more complete is a great way to make your solutions more solid and boost your entrepreneurial creativity. This often provides more creative solutions. Not all of your ideas are going to be wonderful. It’s important to go through and weed out the bad ones to give the good ideas room to grow.
These tips will hopefully get that creative block you’re facing unstuck. And, of course these are only a few. What tips do you have for helping to rejuvenate that creative spirit?
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P.S. Don’t forget to download your 21-day creativity challenge, now!
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