5 Common Challenges Creatives Face and How to Overcome Them

By Dana P. Rowe, PCC, CPCC, CPQC

Creatives often face a lot of challenges. From not knowing what to work on, feeling like all the ideas in your head are garbage, and just generally feeling unfulfilled.

It’s hard to stay motivated when you’re constantly facing these difficulties. But there is hope! The following post will explore five common creative challenges and how to overcome them to be more productive and fulfilled, whether you’re a creative professional or a dedicated hobbyist.

Being in a Rut

Trust me; we’ve all been there at some point.

You’re stuck in a rut and can’t seem to get anything done anymore. Your creativity is at an all-time low; you don’t feel like yourself, and to top it off, everything you come up with seems like the same old same old. What’re you gonna do?

Being in a creative rut is never fun. But there are plenty of ways to shake it off and get back on your feet.

One way to do this is by taking a break. It’s not always easy to relax, but taking breaks can help you clear your head and develop new ideas. Try going for a walk, going on a run, or taking a nice bubble bath.

Another way to avoid being in a rut is by setting time limits for yourself. It’s easier to develop new ideas when you limit your work-time to just one hour and then give yourself permission to take a break afterward. It’s a lot harder to get stuck in a rut and be super critical of everything when you only have one hour of work time left.

Speaking of being hyper-critical, the habit of negative self-talk can really put on the creative brakes. To avoid getting caught up in the mindset of ‘I’m not good enough because I haven’t created anything worthwhile,’ commit yourself to create something small, even if it’s just a doodle a day for a week.

Consider changing the way you work. Sometimes it’s helpful to try working outside of the box. For example, if you usually work on one project at a time, try switching things up by experimenting with jumping between multiple projects for a bit. Not only will this keep you feeling more refreshed, but it may also even help your creativity flow!

 

Languishing

The New York Times recently published an article on the phenomenon of “languishing” by Adam Grant. If your mind feels like a murky windshield on an overcast day — or if you’re pottering through the days without motivation — then that might mean languishing is taking hold of you. Languishing falls between two other mental health issues: depression (the absence of well-being) and flourishing (the peak of well-being).

There’s a concept called “flow,” and it may be the antidote to languishing. Research shows that flow is that state of immersion in a significant challenge or task that helps time, place, and self melt away.

During the early days of the pandemic, people who became more engaged with their projects managed to avoid suffering from as severe of depression as so many others did during this period.

Balance is the key here. Finding a manageable project with the perfect amount of challenge can put you in a splendid flow state and help you get motivated.

A conversation with a friend or coach can help you reconnect with your passion and remind you that you’re capable of creating exceptional work.

Finally, it’s crucial to avoid comparing your career and creative output to others. There will always be someone more talented than us and have what appears to be better luck, but we still have something distinctive to offer. No one has all the answers, no one pleases everyone all the time, and there is no set formula for success!

 

Staying Inspired

Staying inspired will make you more creative. And if you’re looking to be more inspired, open up your mind more to the possibilities before you. A study shows that inspired people share specific characteristics. Researchers Thrash and Elliot developed the “Inspiration Scale,” which measures how often a person experiences inspiration in their daily lives.

The researchers discovered that inspired individuals were more receptive to new things and had a greater absorption rate when working on projects. Openness was frequently the first trait revealed, suggesting that those who are more likely to be inspired are receptive to being inspired.

Another benefit of inspiration — cultivating more joy, awe, and wonder in your life — is that those inspired while creating tend to be more efficient and productive because they spend less time pausing and self-editing. Creativity and inspiration are intrinsically related since both imply finding new possibilities that were not previously apparent.

To get inspired, try doing something unrelated but creative. For example, you could try working on a project for someone else. Helping others is also a great way to get inspired and feel good about yourself simultaneously!

 

Too Many Ideas

One familiar challenge creatives face is being overloaded with ideas but not knowing which one to choose. Sometimes you can have so many ideas that it isn’t easy to choose just one.

The trouble with being too creative is that it can be just as debilitating, causing indecision, procrastination, failure to meet deadlines, anxiety, and even insomnia.

Trust me. I feel you. The struggle is real. Too Many Ideas Syndrome (TMIS) is a real thing! I believe we don’t hear much about it because complaining about having too many ideas is kind of like complaining about having too much money — an embarrassment of riches.

Okay, if this sounds familiar, the best thing you can do for yourself is to write it all down. Keep an ongoing notebook. Come up with as many ideas as possible without any immediate judgment or attachment to them. I recommend using a pencil and pad of yellow lined paper — old school.

Then go through those ideas and whittle them down to just a few that seem to be the most promising. Be merciless here.

When you do this with a pen or pencil, a certain catharsis happens when you cross out a word or an idea with a line. However, it’s also very satisfying to click delete from your computer keyboard. But please don’t delete anything forever until the initial brainstorming session is over. I’m fond of the “strikethrough” option in Microsoft Word and find it almost as satisfying as crossing out options with a pen or pencil.

Once you have chosen just a few ideas, it’s best to narrow these down even further. Decide if one is more interesting than the rest and use that as a starting point for your project. Bottom line — it will be easier to keep going once you begin working on something.

Remember, you don’t need to decide on the perfect project at this point. Just pick something for now, and then come back after it’s finished to see if one of your other ideas is better!

 

Negative Feedback

Is there really and truly such as thing as constructive criticism? The short answer is “no.”

If you still hear someone use the term constructive criticism in today’s work environment, let them know there is no such thing. Take these words individually, and it means “constructive – serving a useful purpose” “criticism – to disapprove of someone for their mistakes.”

Even so, many people feel as if they need to give unsolicited criticism. It’s often a way for them to confirm or justify their hard work and sacrifices, but it doesn’t benefit anyone else — especially the person receiving the criticism.

The best way to not be discouraged by negative feedback is to remember that you cannot please everyone (see Languishing above). Striving for this kind of approval is a surefire recipe for sadness and despair.

I mean, let’s face it: no matter how much you do, there is always going to be someone who prefers things the way they do them — and that means your efforts will never be good enough for them.

So when receiving criticism, keep in mind all of the people out there who would find what you create valuable and helpful, and be confident in focusing your efforts on providing them with precisely what they need.

Above all, especially when the intent is positive and well-meaning, try not to take feedback personally.

When feedback comes from a collaborator or creative team member, I first assume it comes from desiring the best for the project, and then I do my level best to find the grain of truth in the heart of the feedback. I almost always find a clue that helps advance our combined creative efforts when I look for that.

Final Thoughts

Creatives often find themselves in a creative rut when they’re feeling uninspired, unmotivated, or just plain overwhelmed. It’s important to remember that you are not alone and there is help out there for whatever challenges come your way. Whether it’s taking time to relax, de-cluttering your mind, challenging yourself with something new, or getting some feedback — there are many ways to get unstuck and move forward!

Creativity takes time and dedication, but there isn’t a set formula for success.

Be patient, work hard, and don’t compare yourself or your projects with others. You have something different to offer, and the world is looking for what you and only you can give.

Thank you for reading this post! If you’re looking for more like this one, be sure to check out the rest of my blog posts for Creative Artists and Entrepreneurs here.