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Denial. It’s a constant game of psych-out. You’re stuck, and you’ve probably got a deadline fast approaching. You’ve lost all creative mojo and someone just kicked over your energy bucket. Face it, you’ve got creative’s block.

So now what the hell do you do? Your first inclination might be to fire up your iPhoto Inspiration album, or maybe visit that Flickr pool. You might also peep your bookmarks to see if anyone has any fresh design ideas. The problem with nearly all of these? You’re still stuck and are probably more inclined to borrow their ideas instead of innovate new ones. And now, instead of just having creative’s block, you’re cheap.

Do not fret, my Web companions! It’s time to think outside the box, possibly outside the timebox, too. You’ve got the project, now you need the inspiration, the motivation, the passion to get it done. Great, now give it to the junior designer and get home for dinner.

Seriously though, here’s a brief way to clear out your head and get back into the full swing of things.

• Go for a walk. I really appreciate you sticking around to read about this, but get off your ass and get outside.
• Take a nap. Stress and sleep depreivation are known causes of Web cheesery. Try to get the same amount each night so you’re never thrown off on a particular day.
• Frag. Although I don’t have any statistics on hand, I’m sure laying waste to the office Halo n00b will cheer you up. Sometimes you just need a lighter heart to get back on the ball.

So, even though you’re in a creative rut, you’ve got some options. Take a good look at your surroundings and see if that’s inhibiting your work, too. Your workspace might need a realignment to help you stay creative and focused.

Copyright © 2008 Mark Otto.