Overcoming Mental Block

Looking at other work is a great way to get inspired, but what if you want to do something totally from within, relying on your own brain to come up with something without the benefit of external ideas? Here are a few tips that can provide that little bit of inspiration that can help you get the ball rolling if you are drawing a total blank:

1. Take a nap

Our brain has many different type of brainwaves and they ebb and flow depending on what we are doing. Each classification of wave is indicative of certain behaviors, for instance, when you are sleeping you will have high Theta activity, and when you are learning something new your high Beta waves will be more prevalent. Alpha waves are associated with creativity and lie in front of the Theta waves on the spectrum. As you relax and fall asleep your brain travels through the elevated Alpha wave state on it’s way to
it’s resting state.
Pay attention to what thoughts you have when waking up or falling asleep (A sketchpad next to the bed or napping spot is a great way to record things).

2. Take a shower

Just like taking a nap, the relaxation can elevate your Alpha waves.


3. Stare at something for a long time

Tile floors, patterned carpet, a pile of dirt. Our brains are made to recognizes patterns and shapes and if you look at a texture long enough, your head will start to define it’s own patterns on top of what you are seeing. Often, if you look at something that is seemingly random for long enough, you will start to see patterns and shapes in it, and if you continue to stare, you may see the patterns shift and change as you mind tries out various ways to create a cohesive whole out of what you are seeing. A kooky, but fun way to get inspired.

4. Close your eyes but keep paying attention to what you see

I’m not talking about taking a nap, I’m talking about actually attempting to see things through the back of your eyelids. Odd, I know but we’ve trained our mind to filter out a whole word of visual artifacts by simply closing our eyes. You’ll be amazed at what you can actually still ’see’ with your eyes closed, especially if you’ve been looking at something in bright light. It might take a minute or two, but sometimes you can get some really interesting visuals.


5. Pay attention to what your brain thinks up when you are sick, tired or severely lacking sleep

I am not suggesting you do this on purpose, but I have noticed that a mind that’s edging towards delirium for one reason or another is ripe with odd imagery and sensations that can really be inspiring later on. Take note of the things you see and hear in your head during the time when you’re higher reasoning capacities are diminished, they can be great food for design later on. And again NOT talking about doing drugs or anything that could be permanently harmful to that finely tuned instrument you’ve been blessed with in you skull.

6. Realize nothing is truly original

No human ever creates entirely out of a vacuum, we all build on what we hear and see and touch and feel. Don’t obsess over coming up with something that’s entirely unlike anything ever seen, it’s probably not going to happen. Instead focus on enjoying the process of creating something that is original enough to inspire others to look at things in a new way.

So there we have it.  What ways have you found to get inspired to create something truly original?  Feel free to share, if we get enough suggestions I’ll compile a new post and credit the contributors.