We’ve all been there.

Staring at a blank page, an empty canvas, or just the ceiling, waiting for that spark of inspiration to strike…but it doesn’t.

Maybe you’re a writer, artist, entrepreneur, or just trying to get through your to-do list.

Whatever the case, a lack of inspiration can feel frustrating and even a little hopeless.

But inspiration isn’t always about waiting for a lightning bolt to strike. Often, it’s something we can actively invite.

I’ve searched around online for a few tips to share. Let’s discuss.

Getting Inspired When You’re Not Feeling It

Start Before You Feel Ready

This might sound counterintuitive, but action often leads to inspiration, not the other way around.

Instead of waiting to feel inspired, try doing the thing you’re resisting for just five minutes. Write a rough paragraph. Sketch something terrible. Brainstorm the worst ideas possible. Once you’re moving, momentum usually follows.

Change Your Environment

A change of scenery can do wonders. Go for a walk, re-arrange your workspace, visit a friend, or work from a coffee shop.

New or interesting environments stimulate the brain and can spark novel ideas. Even little shifts, like changing your music or lighting, can trigger fresh thinking.

Seek Input, Not Output

When you’re running on empty, stop trying to create and start absorbing.

Read a great book. Watch a documentary. Listen to a podcast outside your usual genre. Creativity often starts by remixing ideas you’ve absorbed from elsewhere.

Talk to Someone Interesting

Conversations can be one of the most underrated sources of inspiration.

Talk to a friend, mentor, or even a stranger about something unrelated to your work. Different perspectives can shake up our mental patterns and lead to unexpected insights.

Embrace Boredom

Boredom can be the doorway to creativity. When our brains aren’t distracted by constant stimulation, it starts connecting dots we didn’t even know existed.

Try putting your phone down, stare out a window, or go for a long drive without a podcast. Let your mind wander.

Allow Yourself to Rest

If you’re burnt out, exhausted, or overwhelmed, maybe what you might need isn’t more input, but rest.

Sleep. Do something fun. Unplug. Creative energy needs time to replenish, and rest is part of the process, not an obstacle to it.

What To Do When You’re Feeling Uninspired

• Listen to Yourself.
• Put It Away and Come Back Later.
• Ditch the Idea and Start Over with Something Different.
• Set a Timer and Brainstorm.
• Do Something Creative to Get You in the Zone.
• Watch/Listen to Something that Inspires You.

Final Thoughts

Feeling uninspired is normal, and it doesn’t mean we’re broken or uncreative.

It might be a signal though. Sometimes just to pause and recharge, or sometimes to try something new.

What are your thoughts? Please share some of your own tips below, thanks for reading!

Inspirational Quotes

How to Think Outside the Box

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