Getting Over a Creative Block

As a creative, I often find myself facing a creative block. It’s inevitable, and each time it happens, I’m left wondering how to navigate through it. I think of the ways out I’ve tried before, and despite my best efforts, they don’t seem to work in the moment. But recently, I read a quote that truly resonated with me, and it finally sank in: “Creative people need time to sit around and do nothing.”

I’ve always agreed with this idea on some level, yet when I’m in the middle of a block, it often feels like doing “nothing” is counterproductive. It’s as if the urgency to be creative and keep moving forward outweighs the quiet space I actually need. This time, though, I’ve realised something new—each creative block is unique, and there isn’t one fixed solution.

This time, I gave myself permission to do nothing in the sense of creating art. I put my work aside, tried not to worry about it, and simply observed. I spent a few days stepping away from the studio, allowing myself to not feel the pressure of producing something. I realised that no matter how many materials I used, or techniques I tried, everything just felt... meh. So I gave myself the space to rest.

And in that space, something shifted. I began to express myself through a different medium—words. This blog post, for example, is how I’m communicating my thoughts now. And as I sit here writing, I feel like I’m finally back on track.

The conclusion I’ve come to is this: Your intuition knows the way out of each creative block, even when you don’t. But sometimes, we get so caught up in routines, productivity, and the pressures of deadlines that we forget we’re human. We forget that we, too, need to pause, to feel inspired, and to be immersed in life—not just in the act of creation. This is part of the natural flow of things.

Now, I’m starting to think that creative blocks are not obstacles to fear, but moments with something to teach us. Whether it’s a lesson in slowing down, a reminder to look at things from a different perspective, or simply a chance to be present in the moment, creative blocks are there for a reason. They are not something to avoid, but rather, something to embrace. They’re not enemies, but friends that arrive to offer us wisdom.

When we view creative blocks through this lens, they stop feeling daunting and instead become opportunities to learn and grow. The world can wait while we make space for these moments, and sometimes we just need a little reminder that it’s okay to pause, to be still, and to trust that our creativity will return when the time is right. 

Hope this helps. 

With love, 

Sofia Líbera