It happens to all of us and it leaves behind nothing but frustration. I’m referring to the ol’ brain fart, mind freeze, blank canvas, writer’s block…  How can one grease up the wheels of creativity and kick start the brain into producing brilliant ideas again?

First, it’s very important to realize that creativity isn’t something that just happens. You have to work at it. From a post titled, AH-HA! Break Through Creative Blocks in 4 Steps, found on the Direct Creative Blog:

“Creativity isn’t just a moment. It’s a process. And despite what you might think, the process isn’t disorganized at all. In fact, if follows definite steps that you can apply to your everyday work to help free your mind and unleash your creative powers.”

Different fields of interest have their own ways of busting through a creative block. They are all great ways to get the mind going. I suggest trying a variety of them to see which one works for you.

Keeping a journal is a trend starting to gain momentum in the real estate industry. As noted in an article by Stephanie Andre, ‘the simple act of journaling has proven instrumental in allowing [people] to become aware of the negative thoughts that block their success.’

“Once these thoughts are identified, the process of making significant shifts in thinking can begin and this inevitably leads them to succeed,’ states Kim Ades, founder and president of Frame of Mind Coaching.”

An article in HOW magazine offers other methods for freeing up ideas in the mind. They include mind mapping, reviewing articles, looking at competitors’ websites, and free-word-association exercises. I think even doodling can work to get ideas flowing again. It only takes the tiniest spark to ignite a firestorm of creativity.