The Inevitable Creative Slump: How to Build Your Way Out When the Ideas Stop Flowing | Jared Roach, The Brand Architect

We’ve all been there. It’s that paralyzing, sinking feeling in your gut when you’re staring at a blank screen or a half-finished project, and... nothing. The ideas just won’t connect.

If you’re a professional creative, this isn’t just a "bad day"—it’s terrifying. It’s like watching a star basketball player suddenly lose his shot. This is how you feed your family. This is how you pay the mortgage. When the "shot" won't go down, the pressure builds, and that pressure makes the slump even worse.

But here is the truth: A creative slump is just a part of the construction process. Whether you are a graphic designer, an author, a doctor, or a CEO, you will hit a wall.

The question isn't how to avoid the wall—it's how to get over it. Here are two blueprints I use to break through the slump.

1. Curate Your Input

As a creative, your input is your most valuable currency. If you are struggling with ideas, it is usually because you’ve exhausted your current mental inventory. You need to bring in something new.

Don't just look for inspiration in your own field. If you're a designer, don't just look at more logos. Go somewhere "unrelated":

• Take a drive: Go through a neighborhood you’ve never visited.

• The "Michael’s" Strategy: I love going to craft stores like Michael’s with zero intention of buying anything. I’ll walk down the framing aisle or the fabric aisle—places I have no business being—just to see the colors and possibilities.

• Watch a Documentary: You’d be surprised where the "Eureka!" moments live.

2. Find Your Peace (Force the Relax)

It is almost impossible to create in a state of high stress. Ideas are free-flowing; they don't like to be squeezed. Oftentimes, the biggest "Aha!" moments come when you aren't even focused on the problem. They happen in the shower, at the park, or walking through the grocery store.

If you are required to come up with ideas repeatedly, you need to identify your "Peace Space" and learn how to get there quickly. Spending time worrying about being in a slump is just wasting time. Instead, spend that time getting to your space.

The Blueprint for Next Time

The next time you feel that paralysis setting in, don't fight the slump. Change your environment.

1. Stop the stress: Get to your peaceful place.

2. Change the input: Watch, see, or experience something completely new.

It’s a simple strategy, but with practice, it becomes second nature. You’ve got the tools—now go build something.

What’s your "Michael’s"? Where do you go when you need to refuel your creative tank? Let me know in the comments!

For more insights on building your brand and your business, tune into the Brand Architect Podcast.