When you tap into your flow and creative spark, it can make you unstoppable. You find a drive that fuels you to produce consistently, over and over again.
But there are times when that creative energy fades, and starting something—even something you love—feels nearly impossible. Some call it a creative block; others call it burnout. Either way, if you find yourself in this space, getting out of it can be challenging and exhausting.
This week, I want to share some techniques I've learned to either maintain my creative flow or reignite it when it fades.
Consistency:
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned, and often hear from others, is the power of consistency in creative practices. Whether it’s drawing, writing, or working on my podcast, maintaining regularity is key. Long breaks, over months, can disrupt your rhythm, making it hard to rebuild the momentum you need to enter a state of flow again.
By adopting a “little but often” approach, you keep your creative muscles active, preserving the mindset and energy that fuels your work. The more you practice, the more familiar you become with the feeling of being in flow—and that awareness helps you slip into it more easily.
Space:
Equally important is understanding the value of space—both physical and mental. Space allows you to recharge, find new inspiration, and rekindle your creative hunger.
When you’re deeply immersed in a project, stepping away and focusing on something else can provide a fresh perspective and renewed energy when you return to your craft. Giving yourself permission to take breaks can often lead to even greater focus and creativity in the long run.
This space can mean a change of environment or a break from your usual routine. Finding space gives your mind the opportunity to take in new experiences and draw fresh inspiration.
Creating space also involves breaking old habits that may have served you up to a point but now need to shift in order to elevate you to the next level. It’s about allowing room for new habits and ideas that can fuel further growth.
Mindset:
Mindset is crucial for maintaining creativity. If you don’t believe you can create something great or doubt your own potential, you’re already holding yourself back. The belief that you can—and will—create is the foundation of success.
Many people tell me they can’t draw or paint like “more talented” people, but I don’t agree. The problem lies in their mindset. Comparing yourself to others is a trap, and it often leads to frustration and failure.
The best creatives and artists develop their own style over time. They embrace an experimental and positive mindset, willing to try, fail, and try again. That’s the key difference.
Great artists don’t see failure as an end; they see it as growth. They push boundaries, explore new ideas, and are constantly willing to step outside their comfort zones. This mindset is what enables true creativity to flourish.
Patience:
You won’t always be able to come up with brilliant ideas or tap into your creative flow on demand. It takes patience to understand that many of the best ideas emerge after sorting through countless mediocre ones.
Many musicians, for example, talk about writing hundreds of songs just to create a twelve-track album. They go through the process of getting all their ideas out, knowing that eventually one lyric or melody will spark something great.
It’s like washing away the mud to eventually uncover gold. Patience is key in this process, as there’s no set timeline for when a breakthrough will happen. You have to trust the process.
Learning to embrace the act of creating “bad” work is essential, because it’s often the stepping stone to creating something great. Cultivating a patient, observant mindset that can recognise this progression is critical for long-term creative success.
Vision & Trust
Having a vision is essential for creativity.
Musicians often talk about hearing songs in their heads before writing them. Artists can see their paintings before ever touching the canvas.
The ability to visualise something in your mind gives any creative an edge. Imagination is a powerful tool, and learning to trust your mind only enhances your capacity to envision new ideas and concepts.
Vision is intuition, and building a strong connection to your intuition is crucial. As a creative, you need to be able to see the path ahead, even if it’s just a rough outline. Having a vision offers a guiding direction—a flexible framework to move toward.
You have to trust that this direction will lead you somewhere better.
The challenge lies in merging vision with action. But once you release yourself from the pressure of making perfect decisions, you’ll flow more naturally and create more effectively. Over time, you will learn to trust what you see in your mind, and your inner vision will become the compass that guides your creative journey.
Experimentation & Failure:
Failure = Growth
Too many people fear failure and making mistakes, without realising that most successful creatives have built their achievements on the lessons learned from their mistakes.
You can’t always make the perfect move. Being creative means experimenting and responding to the outcomes of those experiments. Mistakes are an inevitable part of the process.
The most successful people aren’t afraid of being wrong or making mistakes. They understand that mistakes are invaluable opportunities for growth. In fact, they often embrace failure, knowing that each setback brings them closer to mastery and greater success.
Being a creative means accepting that creativity is a process of constant success and failure. The only way to improve is through continuous experimentation, learning, and growth.
I am Will Flindall, host of the Valley of Outlaws Podcast where I speak to those who have decided to take control of their life and follow a passion or instinct.
If you feel like you could be getting more from your life, then maybe one of the conversations I’ve had with the Outlaws might help you kickstart a change.
Peace x
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