No matter how awesomely creative you are, slumps happen. You’ll run into lots of situations where you feel stuck or uninspired. And when that happens, you don’t need to just sit around and wait for inspiration to strike again at some point.

Instead, you can try out some of these suggestions for breaking out of a creative slump. See which ones work best for you!

1. stop and take a walk
2. write about it in a journal (or even a blog)
3. browse Pinterest
4. start a new creative hobby
5. make a list
6. keep a sketchbook with you at all times
7. look back at some of your past work on Instagram (or other social sites)
8. browse some relevant creative Instagram hashtags
9. read a book
10. focus on one really important goal rather than thinking about all the different things you’d like to get done
11. write your goal in large type and display it near your workspace
12. or find a new project that gets you really excited. use that energy to power through your workday as well
13. collaborate with other creatives on a project
14. temporarily move your workspace to a new room/location
15. or just pick up and go to a local coffee shop for the day
16. take a nap
17. look through the archives of some of your favorite creative blogs
18. find some new people to follow on social media
19. go through your social media accounts and clean out any that don’t post anymore or don’t inspire you
20. set up a photoshoot that has nothing to do with your work or current project
21. look back at a list or other materials that you made when you were feeling inspired
22. pull some photos to create an inspiration board for your workspace
23. read some inspirational quotes
24. look back at your recent accomplishments that you’re most proud of
25. talk about your slump with those closest to you
26. or even post about it on social media and see what your fellow creatives have to say
27. change up your routine – if you normally get out of bed at 9, try pushing for 8 and spend some extra time relaxing to see if that changes anything
28. unplug for a weekend
29. go on a road trip
30. take a look back at an old project that you let go and didn’t finish – see if you have any new ideas that fit with it now
31. rearrange the furniture in your workspace
32. indulge in some retail therapy
33. find some new music to listen to
34. watch a documentary or YouTube video about your industry
35. flip through some of your favorite magazines
36. look at cute pictures of baby animals
37. buy an instant camera and shoot some just-for-fun photos around your home or neighborhood
38. go out for a drink or two and then do some writing/art/whatever it is you do right when you get home (but wait til morning to edit it!)
39. sign up for an online course
40. try meditation
41. look for some writing prompts online and use them to kickstart your brain
42. listen to a podcast about creativity or your industry
43. clean up your workspace!
44. watch a movie with some great imagery (or a great score if you’re really sound-oriented!)
45. watch a show/movie that makes you extremely happy or sad – emotion can evoke creativity!
46. take a shower (or bath)
47. get really dressed up for no reason
48. be a tourist in your own city – go to a museum, a new restaurant, or any other cool/cheesy tourist things you have around
49. consider that the project you’re working may just not be working. weigh the pros and cons of letting it go and moving onto something else
50. just push through it. keep working and moving and inspiration may hit you when you least expect it

Do you have any ideas to add to the list? How do you normally break out of a creative slump?

Bonus: I’ve created a free printable of these ideas for you to keep on hand for when you experience one of those pesky slumps. You can sign up here to access it!