We’ve all been there. You are trying to come up with new ideas for your product line, and you are drawing a blank. No matter what you do, you cannot think of anything to create that makes you happy. These creative slumps are no fun at all. When your creative mind is your bread and butter, things can get very stressful when you can’t think of new and innovative ideas. I wanted to offer some helpful tips to bust out of that creative slump, or at least ones that will help you feel better about being in one. Just remember, it will pass.

This is probably the most challenging suggestion on the list. Trust me, I know firsthand how hard it is to do. We tend to beat ourselves up if we are struggling because we don't allow ourselves enough grace or credit. Creative slumps, mental slumps, any kind of slump, are normal, expected and can be overcome.

If you're feeling frustrated and struggling to come up with new ideas, it’s important to take a break. Without this pause, your frustration can escalate and hinder your progress even further. Giving yourself time to step away can help clear your mind and foster creativity. Move on to something else that is unrelated to your work. This could be something as simple as moving to a different room and watching TV, sitting outside and taking a breather, or reading a book. Come back to your work when you are feeling better. You need to take the time you need to recalibrate and reset so you can start again with a clearer head.

This is a challenging situation. Often, we hesitate to seek help out of embarrassment, feeling that we should handle things on our own. However, asking for someone else’s opinion or suggestions can sometimes spark ideas we didn’t realize we had. While crowdsourcing can be valuable for new projects, reaching out to someone close to you who understands you well can be particularly insightful. They might help uncover the creativity you didn’t know was there. Additionally, drawing inspiration from your favorite artists can be a powerful way to ignite new creative ideas. Explore their work—it might just spark something within you.

Your brain needs a change. Engage in activities outside of your usual creative realm. This could be anything from reading a new genre, trying a different hobby, or learning a new skill. This could surprise you and create inspiration from something completely random and unrelated to your work. You might end up enjoying it and finding your new favorite hobby.

Feeling burned out from overworking? Is your routine starting to feel too monotonous? Slumps can be triggered by many factors or sometimes, seemingly nothing at all. What’s important is recognizing that experiencing these slumps and feeling frustrated is perfectly okay. What isn’t helpful is punishing yourself for not overcoming it quickly or for being in a slump at all. Remember, we’re all human and have our ups and downs. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is give yourself a break and take time to recharge.

Jessica Adamany
Development Manager | IndieMe Marketplace