Five tips to beat a creative block

dubai - Changing the environment around you may help get the juices flowing

Whether you are writing content for a pitch presentation or conceptualising the look of a space, thinking creatively is essential in most industries.

A poll conducted by IBM found that 60 per cent of CEOs stated that creativity was the most important leadership quality to have in order to be successful. However, coming up with innovative solutions is not always easy - many professionals from time to time find themselves facing a creative block, unable to move forward with the task at hand. So, what should one do if they find themselves in limbo between wanting to think of a more refined concept but not knowing where to find the inspiration? Here's how to beat a creative block.

Leave your desk
Sitting at your desk for long periods of time can leave you feeling uninspired. Get out of your seat and explore an area of the office that you have never been to before or head downstairs to the nearest coffee shop. Changing the environment around you may help get the juices flowing and enable you to finish the creative task set in front of you.

Spill your thoughts
Our brains tend to generate more thoughts than we can process. One of the best ways to work through a block is to visualise what you are thinking. Try writing out or illustrating your thoughts on paper as the doodles may help generate further ideas that could help with the end product. If you don't feel like putting pen to paper or you're on the go, try using a dictaphone or the voice recording application on your phone. Once the thoughts are documented, it is easy to go back, listen to them and use what is relevant.

Brainstorm
Sometimes taking a moment to brainstorm with colleagues provides you with the inspiration you need. Luckily there are an abundance of brainstorming activities that can be used to get the ball rolling. Try mind mapping, which involves expanding out from a central idea, Q&A sessions within the team to start thinking outside the box or consider unexplored angles of an idea. During brainstorming sessions, make sure to write down everything that comes to mind, no matter how ridiculous. You never know what will spark the next big idea and you might be surprised by what you come up with.

Stimulate your brain
Sometimes your mind needs an extra boost in order to think creatively. Find a playlist of productive tunes to fuel innovative thoughts or try your hand at guided meditation. Everyone's brain is different and you may have to try a few things before finding what works for you and your mind's idea generation process.

Don't panic
If you're working on a deadline and find yourself stuck at a crucial 'now or never' moment, try to stay calm. It can be difficult to relax when you're stressed but by panicking, it is more likely that your mind will come to a complete standstill and not be able to engage in creative thinking. Grab yourself a cup of tea and take a few deep breaths - the perfect concept will come to you eventually, you just have to trust in yourself.

The writer is founder and CEO of Design Haus Medy. Views expressed are his own and do not reflect the newspaper's policy.