Creativity Blocks? Try These 7 Weirdly Effective Tips That Actually Work

We’ve all been there. That awkward moment when your brain says, “Let’s create something amazing!” and your hands go, “Nope. Not today.”

I used to think creativity was like a magical switch. Flip it, and boom – masterpiece! But nope. Creativity is more like an old radio. Sometimes, it crackles. Sometimes, it’s static. And sometimes… you need to smack it a little.

Over the years, I’ve discovered some surprisingly effective tricks that work when the usual advice (take a walk, eat a banana, stare at clouds) just doesn’t cut it. If you’ve been wondering how to boost creativity when your spark feels completely fried, this is for you.

So here it is – my personally tested, gently strange, and highly effective list of things I do when the creative river dries up.

And yes, I made a free “Creative Reset Sheet” to help get you back in the zone. Because even weird little tricks can unlock big creative magic.

1. Make Bad Art On Purpose

This is not reverse psychology. This is creative rebellion.

Set a timer for 10 minutes and make the worst thing imaginable. Use ugly colors. Write nonsensical words. Draw with your non-dominant hand. Add glitter where glitter doesn’t belong. Bonus points if it looks like it was made during a sugar rush.

You want to know how to boost creativity? Sometimes, the fastest way is to stop trying to be good. Perfection is creativity’s worst enemy. The moment you allow yourself to create junk, the pressure lifts. And that’s when your real ideas sneak back in – quietly, like cats with paintbrushes.

🎯 Bonus: Frame it. Call it “experimental.” Laugh maniacally. Hang it above your desk as a trophy.

2. Clean Something You Hate

I don’t mean full-on Marie Kondo your life (unless you want to). Just clean a drawer. Wipe your desk. Delete 5GB of old downloads. The goal isn’t a spotless room – it’s pattern interruption.

If you’re stuck and wondering how to boost creativity, sometimes the answer is surprisingly simple: make your brain feel productive elsewhere. Your brain loves to feel useful. Tidying something physical gives it a win, and often? That tiny victory pokes a hole in the creative block, and suddenly the ideas start leaking through.

No incense or alphabetized spice racks required. Just a little motion to shake the mental snow globe.

🎯 This also helps if you’ve been doom-scrolling and need to recalibrate your eyeballs.

3. Phone a Friend and Talk About… Anything Else

Yes, literally anything else. Pancakes. Shoes. That weird dream you had about flying giraffes on roller skates. Nothing is off limits.

When you’re stuck in a creative spiral, trying to force inspiration is like yelling at soup to boil faster. It doesn’t work. But a spontaneous, silly conversation? That’s mental alchemy.

If you’re wondering how to boost creativity without even touching a pen or opening Photoshop, distraction is your sneaky best friend. Talking about something completely unrelated resets your brain like a button you forgot was there.

🎯 Extra points if they’re not in your field. They’ll see your block from a totally different angle.

4. Write a 6-Word Story

Just six words. Not five. Not seven.

Here’s one I wrote last week:
“Laptop crashed. I became a poet.”

Or this gem:
“Her doodles whispered secrets to stars.”

It’s low-stakes. It’s oddly satisfying. And it quietly whispers to your dusty inner storyteller, “Hey, wake up, we’ve got stuff to say.”

If you’re wondering how to boost creativity in a tiny, manageable way – this is it. No blank canvas panic. No big idea pressure. Just six words. That’s all it takes to spark a little magic.

🎯 Challenge: Write one on a post-it and stick it where you create.

5. Try the “Ceiling Stare” Method

It’s weird. It’s stupid. It’s genius.

Step 1: Lie down.
Step 2: Stare at the ceiling for 5 minutes.
Step 3: Do. Nothing. Else.

Seriously – don’t scroll, don’t plan, don’t even mentally reorganize your art supplies. Just… stare.

This isn’t procrastination – it’s a reboot. A blank screen for your brain. If you’ve been frantically Googling how to boost creativity, this tip is like turning your creative Wi-Fi off and on again.

You’ll be shocked at what bubbles up once you stop trying to force the ideas out. Silence is underrated. So is your ceiling.

🎯 Warning: You might nap. That’s allowed.

6. Let’s Get Weird

Pick something totally absurd and design for it.

Examples:

• Design a poster for an alien jazz concert.
• Create a logo for a time-traveling snail.
• Invent packaging for a drink called “Emotional Damage Cola.”

The goal? To get silly. Loudly. Messily. Gleefully. Silliness lowers the stakes and quiets your inner critic. And when that happens? Boom – creative magic.

If you’re wondering how to boost creativity without pressure, perfection, or rules – this is it. Make something ridiculous on purpose. You’re not wasting time. You’re letting your imagination off the leash.

🎯 Need inspiration? I’ve got a free list of 30 ridiculous prompts – want it in the next post?

7. Use the Toilet Paper Trick

Hear me out.

You know when you’re mid-shower or halfway through a toilet paper refill and suddenly – BOOM! – the best idea you’ve had all week slaps you in the face?

That’s not magic. That’s neuroscience. Your brain finds connections when it’s not hyper-focused. It needs a break from you trying so hard.

So next time you’re stuck and desperately searching for how to boost creativity, don’t stare at your sketchbook like it owes you money. Go fold laundry. Refill the TP. Rearrange your spoons. Just don’t bring your phone.

Let your mind wander. That’s where the wild ideas live.

🎯 Download my “Creative Reset Sheet” to keep by your desk, so when inspiration hits – you catch it!

When the Spark Flickers…

Creativity isn’t a faucet you can just turn on. It’s more like a wild butterfly that shows up when you stop chasing it with a net.

Let yourself play. Get bored. Make something ugly. Clean a junk drawer. Do something strange. Trust me – it works.

I’ve been creating for more years than I’ll admit without coffee, and these weird tricks? They’ve saved me over and over again.

And now, they’re yours. Go give one a try. Or all seven.
(And if you do, let me know – I’d love to see your “bad art.” 😄)

Free Download: The Creative Reset Sheet

How to Boost Creativity: 7 Weirdly Effective Tips That Actually Work 👉 Click here to download your free Creative Reset Sheet (PDF) – Includes quick warm-ups, “bad art” challenges to spark joy and ideas.

Want More?

You can explore my Premium Content section for high-res clipart, brushes, and design assets that’ll jump-start your next project.

And hey, if you’re ready to create with purpose, visit my FiveCatsGraphic Etsy Shop for original designs and printables!