How to Get Yourself Into Creative Mode [13 Ideas To Try]

13 simple techniques to get yourself into creative mode and fight creative burnout- even on those days when nothing seems to click.

Don’t we all know the struggle… You’ve got multiple projects on your plate, clients expecting top-tier designs on tight deadlines, and somehow, you’re supposed to flip the creativity switch on demand. Some days, the ideas flow effortlessly. Other days? You’re staring at a blank screen, waiting for inspiration to show up.

The pressure is real—jumping from a uniform corporate website in the morning to a bold, playful branding project in the afternoon can leave your creative brain feeling scrambled. And when distractions pile up, getting into the right headspace feels impossible.

I’ve been there, and I know how frustrating it can be. But the good news? Getting into creative mode doesn’t have to be a mystery. There are simple, practical ways to reset your brain and get it ready for fresh ideas—even on those days when nothing seems to click.

I’m going to walk you through 10 simple techniques that actually work, and it doesn’t matter if you’re in the office, at home, or in between.

1. Rotate Between Projects 

📌 What this does: It keeps things fresh so you don’t get sick of staring at the same project for hours.
📌 How it helps: Switching between projects lets your brain recharge in the background. It keeps ideas from feeling stale and stops you from overthinking one thing for too long.
📌 When to do (or not do) this: Perfect when you’re feeling stuck or your creativity is running on fumes. Not great if a deadline is right around the corner and jumping between projects will slow you down.

There’s no denying it—working on one project for too long can kill your creativity. It’s easy to get lost in the weeds, staring at the same website design or branding concept for hours, feeling like you’re stuck in a loop.

The trick here is to rotate between projects. When you’re feeling that mental fog creep in, this is where you switch gears. Take a break from your current project and work on something else, even if it’s just for a couple of hours. Let’s say you’re working on a corporate website redesign and it’s feeling flat—switch to a branding project where you can be more playful with colors and typography. This way your brain gets a chance to recharge and see new things, which also keeps your ideas from going stale and stop you from overthinking one thing for too long.

2. Create for Fun, Not Just for the Clients

📌 What this does: Reminds you why you started creating in the first place.
📌 How it helps: When every project is for a client, you can start to feel like a creative vending machine. Making something just for fun—no revisions, no approvals—brings back the joy and helps you experiment without pressure.
📌When to do (or not do) this: If work is feeling like a chore, this is your reset button. If your inbox is on fire with urgent deadlines, maybe save the fun projects for later.

Sadly, it’s very easy to fall into the trap of “I’m too busy to work on anything that’s not for a client,” but that is extremely unhealthy for your mental state and your creativity. Taking time to experiment with a new technique, try out a new design style, or just let loose with a personal project is exactly what your brain needs to refresh your creative power. Think of it like exercising a muscle—it needs to be stretched and challenged in new ways so it doesn’t get stale.

In practice, maybe take an afternoon off from your usual projects and design something that excites you—maybe a new logo for a dream brand you’d love to work with or redesign NASA’s website. Don’t worry about how it’ll turn out or if it’s “perfect.” The goal isn’t to impress anyone but to reconnect you with what made you fall in love with your work in the first place.

 

3. Meditate (Yes, Really!)

📌 What this does: Gives your brain a chance to slow down and reset instead of running in a million directions.
📌 How it helps: Stepping away from the chaos (even for a couple of minutes) reduces stress and improves focus. It also makes it easier to approach your work with a fresh perspective.
📌 When to do (or not do) this: If your brain feels like a browser with 47 tabs open, try it. But if you’re deep in the zone and ideas are flowing, maybe save the meditation for later.

I know, I know—meditation advice usually comes with some guy telling you to “clear your mind” while you’re just trying to remember if you replied to that email. This isn’t that. Even a few minutes of sitting still, breathing, and not doom-scrolling can help reset your brain.

You don’t have to sit cross-legged in a candlelit room—just close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and let your brain chill for a bit. If your thoughts keep racing, that’s fine. Let them pass like background noise. The goal isn’t to silence your mind but to give it a break from overloading.

Perfect for when you’re feeling overwhelmed, distracted, or ready to throw your laptop out the window. Just…maybe meditate before making that decision.

4. Change Your Scenery to Refresh Your Mind

📌 What this does: Gets you out of the same old routine and gives your brain new input.
📌 How it helps: Sitting in the same spot every day makes creativity feel like a grind. A new view (coffee shop, park, or even just another room) helps break up mental blocks.
📌 When to do (or not do) this: If you’re zoning out at your desk, go somewhere else. If you need a controlled setup to focus (or Wi-Fi that doesn’t suck), stick with what works.

Sometimes, all you need is a simple change of scenery to get your brain back in the game.

It’s like this—when you’re always in the same place, your brain starts to get into a routine. It’s easy to fall into autopilot mode, and that’s when ideas start to feel stale. So, switch it up. It may be something as simple as taking your laptop to a coffee at the local café, or to the park, or even just moving to a different room at home.

Don’t overthink it. You don’t need a fancy workspace—just something that feels different. Even the smallest change of environment might be all it takes to restart the creative parts of your brain.

5. Set Boundaries with Clients and Notifications

📌 What this does: Stops the constant pings and last-minute “urgent” requests from derailing your work.
📌 How it helps: Turning off notifications (or at least muting the non-critical ones) lets you focus without distractions. Plus, setting response hours keeps clients from expecting instant replies at all hours.
📌 When to do (or not do) this: If every ding on your phone throws you off track, it’s time to set boundaries. But if it’s a high-priority project that needs real-time input, don’t ghost your client.

Sure, clients need updates, but if every notification is derailing your work, it’s time to set some ground rules.

Turn off those notifications, or at least mute the ones that aren’t critical. You’ll be amazed at how much easier it is to get into a flow when you’re not constantly interrupted by a new email or a Slack ping. It’s like hitting the reset button on your brain every time you get distracted, and that’s a recipe for burnout.

And while we’re at it, don’t be afraid to set some response hours. Clients will understand that you can’t always reply instantly. Having clear boundaries around your working hours sets expectations. You don’t have to be available 24/7 just because someone else thinks their question is the most urgent thing in the world. But, if a project needs a real-time answer or a quick check-in, obviously, don’t leave your client hanging. It’s all about balance.

Trust me, once you start managing notifications and setting some client boundaries, your focus—and your creativity—will get a serious power-up.

6. Move Your Body to Move Your Mind

📌 What this does: Boosts circulation, clears mental fog, and helps you break free from creative blocks.
📌 How it helps: Physical movement increases blood flow to the brain. Also when you’re not focused on the screen, your brain can process ideas in the background, often leading to those “aha” moments.
📌 When to do (or not do) this: If you’re feeling stuck or sluggish, step away from your desk and get moving. But if you’re already in a focused flow, don’t interrupt it—save the workout for later.

Physical activity gets the blood flowing and wakes up your brain in a way that sitting still never can.

Try a brisk walk, a short workout, or even some light yoga in the morning (or even better- in the office if you’re alone). The goal is to get your body moving so that your mind can relax and start thinking in new ways.

7. Take Breaks that Actually Recharge You

📌 What this does: Gives your brain a real reset instead of just wasting time on your phone.
📌 How it helps: Mindlessly scrolling doesn’t count as a break. Go for a walk, stretch, take a real pause—something that actually helps you come back refreshed instead of more drained.
📌 When to do (or not do) this: If you’re hitting a creative wall, step away. If you’re just procrastinating, be honest with yourself and get back to work.

We’ve all been there: taking a “break” that turns into an hour of doomscrolling through social media. Spoiler alert—this isn’t really recharging your brain. It might feel like it at first, but in the long run, you’re probably more drained than before, because it burns your dopamine receptors.

This is why instead of scrolling, take a real break. Go for a walk, stretch, or do something that requires your body to move. Even stepping outside for a few minutes to get some fresh air can reset your mind in a way that scrolling through your phone can’t.

On the other side of the spectrum, if you’re hitting a creative wall, don’t just sit there trying to push through it. Step away for a bit, give yourself some space, and come back with a fresh perspective.

 

8. Try Board Games with Your Team

📌 What this does: Gets everyone to think creatively and work together.
📌 How it helps: Games get you thinking in new ways, and the fun vibe can ease up any creative tension. They are also a way to bond with the team.
📌 When to do (or not do) this: If your team’s feeling a bit stuck or burnt out, this is the perfect excuse to hit pause and shake things up. But if deadlines are looming, maybe hold off until after the big push.

Another great way to restart your brain and take a break is to have some fun with your team. Puzzoles and board games are a great way for all of you to relax and can actually help you think outside the box. Games like Catan, Codenames, or Pandemic are great for getting everyone to collaborate, solve problems, and just get the brain gears moving.

9. Challenge Yourself with Something New

📌 What this does: Keeps you from getting too comfortable (which is another way of saying stuck).
📌 How it helps: Trying a new style, tool, or medium forces you out of autopilot. Even if it’s rough at first, you’ll come back to your usual work with a fresh perspective.
📌 When to do (or not do) this: If your work is feeling repetitive, shake things up. If you’re already drowning in new tasks, maybe save the challenge for later.

Sure, if you’re juggling a ton of tasks, now might not be the time to jump into something completely unfamiliar. But if you’re starting to feel stuck or bored, the best way to get out of a creative rut is to step away from your usual routine. Trying something new—even if it’s just for fun—can work wonders. Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be anything huge or intimidating.

Try mixing things up with a new style, tool, or even a technique you’ve never explored before. It might feel awkward or messy at first, but that’s part of the fun. When you get back to your usual projects, you’ll notice things start to click in a fresh way, and suddenly, you’ll see everything through a different lens.

10. Stop Chasing Perfection and Just Start

📌 What this does: Gets you past the “thinking about it forever” stage and into actually making something.
📌 How it helps: Waiting for the perfect idea or the right mood? That’s a trap. Just start, and you’ll figure it out as you go. Perfection happens in the revisions, not the first draft.
📌 When to do (or not do) this: If you’re stuck overthinking, stop and just put something down. But if it’s a project that requires precision (final client work, branding, etc.), don’t rush past the details.

Here’s the thing—perfection is overrated. Instead of sitting around thinking about it forever, just start! Even if it’s not perfect, get something down and let the magic happen as you go.

The first draft is your sketchpad, not the finished masterpiece, while “perfection” comes later when you start refining, tweaking, and adjusting. The more you try to wait for the perfect moment, the longer that blank screen is going to stare you down. So, take a breath, put something on the page (or canvas, or code), and trust the process.

If it’s client work or branding with all those nitty-gritty details, sure, don’t rush through the final touches. But for the most part? Start creating no matter how chaotic is gets, you can always tidy up later.

11. Use Trends and Outside Inspiration

📌 What this does: Keeps you inspired without making your work look like everyone else’s.
📌 How it helps: Checking out trends and other artists can inspire you with fresh ideas, but copying them straight up? That’s okay too,  but put your own spin on it and make it feel like you. After all, you search for creativity, not cheat codes.
📌 When to do (or not do) this: Great for when you’re out of ideas or need to stay relevant. But if it starts feeling like you’re just following the crowd, dial back and trust your own style.

It’s a very great practice to search for inspiration in what’s trending or check out what other artists are doing—after all, that’s how we grow and stay fresh. If you’re feeling stuck or running low on fresh ideas, using trends as a starting point is fine, but if you let them dictate everything you do you may end up doing what everyone else is doing and, from a psychological perspective, this isn’t great for your confidence as a creative mind.

Instead, take what inspires you and run with it—twist it, stretch it, make it your own.

12. Time-Box Creative Work

📌 What this does: Stops you from either procrastinating forever or working yourself into the ground.
📌 How it helps: Setting a timer (like 45 minutes of work, 15-minute break) makes it easier to stay focused without burning out. It also prevents projects from dragging on longer than they need to.
📌 When to do (or not do) this: If you find yourself losing focus or overworking an idea, try it. But if you’re in a deep creative flow, don’t stop just because a timer went off.

Sometimes, we fall into that all-or-nothing mindset where we either can’t stop working on it, or we can’t seem to get started. That’s where time-boxing comes in.

Let’s say you’re working on a new web design and you’ve been stuck trying to figure out the layout for what feels like forever. You know you need to move forward, but you keep second-guessing everything. Here’s what you do: set a timer for 45 minutes and get to it. You can tell yourself, “I’m just going to focus on this for the next 45 minutes,” and then—take a break! After your short break, you’ll have a clear head and be ready to jump back in with fresh eyes.

The Pomodoro Technique is a great example of time-boxing. You focus on your work for short bursts, usually 25 minutes, then take a quick break. You can track your time with basic mechanic timers or the most simple time-tracking apps.

It also works both ways. If you’re stuck in a deep creative flow and that timer goes off, skip the break for now! But if you’ve been staring at your screen for hours, that timer is your sign to step away for a little. You’d be amazed at how much a simple reset can get the wheels turning again.

13. Play Like a Kid (Seriously)

📌 What this does: Gets your brain into the creative zone without forcing it.
📌 How it helps: It’s a quick warm-up like sketching, color play, or freewriting. It loosens up your creativity so starting a big overwhelming project isn’t so hard.
📌 When to do (or not do) this: If you’re struggling to get going, warm-ups help. But if you’re already in the zone, no need to slow yourself down with extra steps.

When was the last time you just messed around with no goal in mind? Kids don’t sit there agonizing over whether their crayon drawing is good enough—they just go for it. Tapping into that same energy can be a game-changer for creativity.

Try random creative exercises as your warm-up routine: doodle nonsense, mash up two completely unrelated ideas, redesign a famous logo in a totally different style, or free-write the weirdest story you can think of. Do something playful without worrying about whether it’s useful or good.

Bonus tip: 14. Keep Work and Personal Life Separate

📌 What this does: It creates a solid boundary between work and personal time, so they don’t mix.
📌 How it helps: It lets you fully recharge during your downtime and keeps your focus sharp when you’re working. You avoid burning out by making sure your brain isn’t “on” 24/7.
📌 When to do (or not do) this: When you feel like work is invading your personal space or your stress is carrying over into your free time. This is when you’re most vulnerable to burnout and you absolutely need to put yourself first. In fact, there shouldn’t be a case for “when not to do this”. 

Alright, hear me out. I know the phrase ” personal life” provokes distrust in the corporate world, however, the fastest way to burn out and lose your creative edge is by letting work take over every inch of your personal life. You need to set that clear boundary. Keep your work stuff, well, at work, and give your mind a proper break. When you keep your work from creeping into your free time, you actually give yourself the space to recharge—and it helps you come back to your projects with fresh energy.

This one’s a must when you catch yourself thinking about work while you’re supposed to be relaxing, or when you’re working late into the night just to get through everything. If you find yourself working weekends or obsessing over client revisions outside of work hours, this is the first thing to dial in. It’s time to read that non-work-related book you were putting off for later, schedule that DnD session with friends, or just go outside to touch some grass.

 

And there you have it—13 tips to help you break through the creative blocks, stop overthinking everything, and get your brain back to doing what it does best: creating!

And if all else fails, just throw in a cat video break—because let’s be real, we all need a distraction (and funny cats) sometimes.