6 Ways to Overcome Creative Blocks
Creative blocks are inevitable—but they’re not a stop sign. They’re part of the creative process. Like a low tide before a big wave, a block usually signals a shift is coming. Whether you’re a designer, entrepreneur, artist, or a mix of them all— how you move through the storm determines what you create next.
At MKW Creative Co., we've seen firsthand that building brag-worthy brands means working with creative cycles, not against them. Here's how to honor your slumps, reroute your energy, and get back to making bold moves.
1. Rest like you mean it
When ideas feel stale or scattered, it’s not because you’ve already peaked— it's a sign to recharge.
Inside the Kiss My Aesthetic Facebook group, when creatives were asked how they tackle a creative drought, the #1 response wasn't "work harder." It was "take a break."
But not the doomscroll-for-hours-on-end kind of break.
We’re talking real, intentional rest.
Watch a cozy animated movie. Go on a stroll without your phone. Get bored enough to let your imagination wander back to you.
✨ Try this: Schedule a no-screens afternoon. Let yourself get deliciously, unapologetically bored.
2. Find your creative community
Creativity doesn’t thrive in isolation. It thrives with like-minded people.
Lettering artist Jessica Molina’s breakthrough—shared in Kiss My Aesthetic Podcast Episode 204: Crafting Your Artistic Style with Jessica Molina—happened inside an Instagram challenge, not a solo brainstorming session.
Energy is contagious. Surround yourself with people creating boldly, and watch how quickly your spark reignites.
✨ Try this: Join that co-working group, sign up for the creative challenge, or DM a fellow artist you admire. The right people will remind you why you started.
3. Let curiosity drive
Creative ruts happen when we stop asking, "What if?"
In Kiss My Aesthetic Podcast Episode 161: Avoiding Burnout as a Creative with Morgan Drinks Coffee, Morgan reminds us that curiosity is a muscle. And like any muscle, you need to stretch it consistently.
You don't have to pivot your whole brand. You just have to follow your intuition. What’s a path you’d love to go down with your brand? Once you’ve found it, start exploring.
✨ Try this: Create a "just because" mood board. Explore a new color palette. Give yourself permission to play without a finish line.
4. Time block your freedom
Structure and spontaneity aren't opposites—they’re dance partners.
In Kiss My Aesthetic Podcast Episode 158: What Does a Creative Director Do?, I share that a creative sprint is one of my favorite techniques. It’s simple: set a time, and don’t second-guess it. Less thinking and more doing.
When you carve out time for pure creativity, you give your brain room to stretch without judgment.
✨ Try this: Block 30 minutes weekly for a non-client creative experiment. Put it in your calendar and treat it like an important date.
5. Sync with your energy, not against it
Here’s one we don’t talk about enough: you’re not meant to operate at the same level every day.
In Kiss My Aesthetic Podcast Episode 166: Hormone Health for Creatives with Funk It Wellness, Kate Morton explained how syncing up your business to your menstrual cycle, (if you menstruate), can help honor your natural ebbs and flows.
For example, reflect during menstruation, take action during your follicular phase, take on discovery calls when you’re ovulating, and rest during your luteal phase. These are some ways to work in tandem with your capacity.
Your creative block might simply be due to the fact that you’re not meant to operate at 100% every single day.
✨ Try this: Track your energy levels weekly. Plan big creative pushes during your natural highs—and honor when your body is tired.
6. Paddle through when you have to
In Kiss My Aesthetic Podcast Episode 179: 10 Lessons from 10 Years in Business, one of my biggest lessons is that "Creativity isn’t always easy. But it is the job."
It might read as tough love, but it’s true. Some days, you won’t feel inspired. You’ll just need to show up, paddle forward, and trust that you’ll get into a flow again.
✨ Try this: Commit to one small action when you're stuck. Draft a caption. Set the next piece in motion.
Resources to keep your creativity moving
If you need an extra nudge, these resources are worth bookmarking:
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert — permission to create without fear
The Creative Act by Rick Rubin — reconnect with the "why" of creating
MKW's BINGOALS Canva Template — get playful about goal-setting again
Creative blocks aren't the end. They're an invitation
Creative blocks aren’t failures. They're feedback. They're your brain tapping you on the shoulder and asking for something new—more space, more play, more rest.
You don't need to wait for inspiration to come find you. You can go build it.
Ready to reset your creativity? Join us for a Kiss My Portfolio Challenge and design your own brag-worthy brand!
