Creative ruts are part of every artist’s journey — yes, every artist. But a rut doesn’t mean you’ve lost your talent or your path. It just means you need to shift, recharge, or reassess. Here are 8 honest, practical ways to move through it without losing your spark.

1. Take the Pressure Off

Sometimes the best thing you can do is stop trying to force it. Give yourself permission to rest. You are not a machine.

2. Change Your Medium

Try something completely different: if you’re a painter, try collage. If you’re a photographer, try poetry. Creative cross-training often reawakens dormant joy.

3. Go on an Artist Date

Spend a few hours alone doing something that inspires you — visiting a gallery, bookstore, thrift shop, or even just people-watching in a park.

4. Set a Tiny Creative Goal

Make one small thing: a 5-minute sketch, a photo, a poem with 5 lines. The point is momentum, not mastery.

5. Create with No Outcome

Allow yourself to make “bad art.” Set a timer and just play. Let go of judgment. Sometimes the freedom to fail brings back the flow.

6. Read or Watch Something New

Sometimes you need new input before new output can happen. Read a novel, listen to a podcast, or watch a documentary on another artist’s process.

7. Talk to Another Artist

Isolation can deepen a rut. Reach out to a fellow artist or collective member. Talk, vent, laugh — connection is medicine.

8. Revisit Old Work

Look back at where you started and how far you’ve come. You might rediscover a thread you want to pick up again.

Final Word
Creative ruts aren’t roadblocks — they’re reminders. Rest. Reflect. Reconnect. The muse will return, especially when you treat her kindly.