If you're a graphic designer or social media manager like me, you've probably experienced that frustrating moment when your creative energy just vanishes. One minute you're overflowing with ideas, and the next, you're staring at a blank screen, wondering if your brain has decided to take an unplanned vacation.
It happens to me more often than I'd like to admit. And honestly, it still catches me off guard.
I remember one particular project where creative block hit me hard. I had just landed a big client who wanted a complete rebranding—logo, color palette, social media strategy, everything. It was a dream project, and I was excited. But after a few hours of staring at my screen, trying to sketch out initial concepts, I realized… nothing was clicking. Absolutely nothing.
Usually, I’m the type to bounce from one idea to the next, filling pages with sketches, mood boards, and color palettes. But this time, all I could do was open and close Photoshop, scroll through Instagram, and stare blankly at a blinking cursor. The pressure was building, and with every passing hour, the stress grew. I started questioning myself. Am I really a creative person? Why can’t I come up with anything right now?
Step 1: Acknowledge the Block
The first step was admitting to myself that I was stuck. Instead of pushing through and pretending like everything was fine, I let myself feel frustrated for a moment. I even called a friend (also a designer) and vented about how lost I felt. Surprisingly, just acknowledging the block helped me take some of the pressure off.
Step 2: Step Away and Reset
I know this sounds cliché, but I forced myself to step away from the computer. I went outside for a walk, no phone, no podcasts, just silence. It’s hard for me to disconnect like that—I always feel like I should be "on," whether for clients or for myself. But something about the fresh air, the rhythm of walking, and getting out of my head helped me reset. Sometimes, when I'm stuck in my own space, it feels like the walls are closing in, and a simple change of environment can make a huge difference.
Step 3: Do Something Completely Different
One thing that’s worked for me is doing something entirely unrelated to design when I’m creatively blocked. On that day, after my walk, I decided to bake cookies. Yep, cookies! It had nothing to do with the project, and maybe that was the point. There’s something about working with my hands—measuring ingredients, mixing dough—that taps into a different part of my brain. It’s meditative. And while I was waiting for them to bake, an idea popped into my head. It wasn’t a full concept, but it was something I could build on. I jotted it down quickly before it disappeared, and just like that, I felt the fog lifting.
Step 4: Revisit Inspiration
Sometimes when I’m blocked, I realize that it’s not because I’ve run out of creativity; it’s because I’m overwhelmed or disconnected from what excites me. After baking (and eating way too many cookies), I revisited some of my old favorite design blogs and portfolios. But this time, I wasn’t looking for anything specific. I just allowed myself to get inspired. I browsed through colors, typography, and branding that I loved. It wasn’t about comparison—it was about reminding myself why I love this job in the first place. I even dug out some old sketchbooks from my early design days. Flipping through those pages brought back memories of when design felt more like play and less like work.
Step 5: Let It Be Imperfect
The hardest part of overcoming creative block is letting go of the need for perfection. I’ve learned (after many stressful late nights) that my first ideas don’t have to be perfect. They just need to exist. So, I started drafting concepts for my client without the pressure of getting it “right.” I allowed myself to create messy sketches and color combinations that didn’t make sense at first glance. The more I let myself play, the more ideas started to flow. That initial concept I jotted down earlier started evolving, and soon enough, I had something I was proud of.
What I’ve Learned About Creative Block
Here’s the thing: creative block is inevitable. No matter how long you've been in the game, you’ll face moments when your brain just won’t cooperate. But I’ve learned that the worst thing you can do is force it. Instead, I try to step back, do something different, and trust that the ideas will come when I give myself the space to think freely.
And when the ideas finally do come, there’s no better feeling. It’s like finding a hidden path you didn’t know existed, and once you’re on it, everything starts to fall into place.
So if you’re ever stuck like I was, take a breath. Step away. Go for a walk, bake some cookies, or dive into something completely different. Inspiration has a funny way of finding you when you stop searching for it so hard.