Ways to Get Out of a Creative Rut
Every creative experiences a slump at some point. You know the feeling: you’re staring at your blank canvas—whether that’s your camera’s viewfinder, an editing screen, or a notebook—and the ideas just aren’t flowing. The good news is that it’s completely normal to lose momentum now and then. Below are some tried-and-true methods for breaking free from a creative rut and reigniting your inspiration.
“YOUR SUCCESSES DO NOT DEFINE YOU… AND NEITHER DO YOUR FAILURES.”
- MORGAN HARPER NICHOLS
To start, if you’re ever feeling in a funk or unmotivated… just go read any of Morgan Harper Nichols’ work and you will feel instantly seen and encouraged!
think we all can relate to burnout or feeling stuck in a “creative rut” so to speak. We’ve all been there.
These are a few ways I’ve tackled the burn-out-monster and found ways to spark new creativity and excitement with my business. I hope this blog post can give you a place to land if you’re in that season right now, a few ways to start feeling motivated again!
I. CHANGE YOUR ROUTINE —
This may seem straight forward, but sometimes stagnation is the issue. Switch up the “normal” to get things stirring! Sometimes, a simple change of environment can spark new ideas. Try working from a coffee shop, library, or scenic outdoor spot instead of your usual desk. If time allows, take a short trip or even a walk in a new neighborhood. Seeing different surroundings can help shift your perspective and stir up fresh concepts. A few other thoughts —
A regular social media scroller? Take a break. Yep, put your phone away or delete the app that sucks your time and energy. Sometimes just being overloaded with what everyone else is doing can be an energy and creativity sucker! It doesn’t give your brain a chance to come up with your OWN things. Give yourself a break from it, step away from the comparison.
TV watcher / music listener / podcast binger while you work? If you tend to always pair one of those things with working, maybe it’s time to change it up! Try multitasking in a new way, give your brain a rest of the usual added on stimulation. Sometimes I even just put white noise on repeat to keep my brain focused! Try “Flight to Amsterdam” for a couple hours and see if you like it!
These are just a few ways to switch up simple parts of your routine — that can be a huge way to get the creative juices flowing again.
II. BRAIN DUMP —
This is a huge step to getting my brain back into a creative groove! Whether you grab a journal, pull up a blank word doc. or notes on your phone, or even use a piece of scrap paper — do a brain dump! Simply give yourself space to just write down ideas or thoughts. Sometimes our biggest road blocks are because we just don’t give ourselves the time or space to get those thoughts and ideas out of our head and process them.
It may seem like you grab that pen or put your fingers to the keyboard and nothing happens, but give it a minute. Just start writing down things you want to do, things your frustrated with, things you love that you’ve been doing, or whatever else flows into your mind.
I think you’ll surprise yourself with what comes out — think limitlessly!
III. SHOOT SOMEWHERE NEW + TRY NEW THINGS—
For all you photographers — shoot somewhere new or in a new setting that challenges you! This might sound obvious, but I know how easy it is to pick the “safer” option: always choosing the same locations you’re used to, planning shoots at the same time of day because it’s easy, or rescheduling shoots because the weather isn’t exactly what you wanted. Yes, sometimes these are valid things you have to roll with — but SOMETIMES, you have the creative (key word) power to choose something that pushes you out of your comfort zone.
For a long time, harsh light terrified me! But, one shoot I decided to place my couple in a bright patch of light, something I would normally never do, I found an entirely new way of being creative with lighting. I enjoy the way I can play with light because I overcame that fear. It’s given me a whole new realm of creative freedom… it made me excited to shoot in new ways!
Some other ideas…
Add elements to your composition: shoot with prisms, shoot through other objects, do more wide shots or close up shots, etc.
Try new equipment, shoot with new lenses, challenge yourself in that way. You can RENT gear super cheap to try it out!
Explore! GO somewhere new! Don’t be afraid to drive a couple extra hours to experience a new landscape or city scape! Shoot indoor and outdoor — whatever is “irregular” for you — do that!
Try new angles, really thing about the way your shooting and push yourself to do new things
IV. TRY A NEW MEDIUM —
If you’re a photographer, pick up a paintbrush. If you’re a writer, try creating a short video. Exploring a different creative outlet can revitalize your approach to your main craft by stimulating new parts of your brain. Once you return to your regular work, you may find you’ve gained fresh ideas and techniques.
V. PLAN A STYLED SHOOT —
One of the biggest reminders I want to leave you with is: you have the control to change the space you’re! A huge way to take creative control and try something totally new is — a styled shoot! This is a blank slate for you to put a vision into action, no expectation or delivery stress. Collaborating with another creative can be an instant spark. Reach out to friends, fellow photographers, or industry peers to brainstorm joint projects or simply swap ideas. Discussing someone else’s process and challenges can help you reframe your own.
(Not sure how to approach a potential collaborator? You can try brainstorming conversation starters in my ChatGPT blog post. It’s a handy way to practice pitching ideas before reaching out!)
So, take charge, reach out to others in your area and start dreaming up something! This will get all your creativity flowing again!
YOU
GOT
THIS
VI. LEARN SOMETHING NEW —
Taking an online course, attending a workshop, or diving into an educational blog post can open doors you didn’t know existed. Whether it’s a new editing style, a fresh angle on marketing, or an entirely different approach to storytelling, expanding your skill set often reignites creativity.
Extra Boost: Sometimes, searching “new photography trends” or “fresh editing techniques” and letting AI tools like ChatGPT summarize the key points can help you quickly assess what’s worth exploring deeper.
VII. REVISIT OLD WORK WITH NEW EYES —
Go back to a past project—maybe a shoot you loved but never fully edited or a piece you shelved months ago—and see if there’s a way to give it new life. You might discover hidden gems or realize you have new skills to elevate what you created before.
YOU GOT THIS —
Set Small, Achievable Goals
When you’re feeling stuck, large projects can seem overwhelming. Break them into bite-sized tasks that are easy to tackle. Instead of telling yourself to “finish editing this entire wedding,” focus on something like “cull the first 100 images.” Each small win builds momentum and helps you recapture your creative flow.
Embrace Mindful Practices
Meditation, journaling, or even quick breathing exercises can center your mind and reduce stress, which often is the hidden cause of creative blocks. If you’re feeling particularly tense, try a guided meditation app or write down your thoughts in a free-flow journal.
Note: Some creatives integrate ChatGPT into their journaling routine by using AI prompts for reflection or idea generation. It can be a fun way to keep your mind engaged.
Feeling uninspired happens to all of us. The key is recognizing that a creative rut is temporary—and there are many ways to push through it. By changing your environment, experimenting with new mediums, collaborating, and breaking projects into smaller steps, you’ll rediscover the joy and innovation that drew you to your craft in the first place.
Remember, creativity thrives on curiosity and openness. If you’re willing to try new methods and give yourself the grace to take breaks, you’ll find your way back to that sweet spot of energized inspiration. Keep exploring, keep learning, and your next breakthrough might be just around the corner.
You got this.
