Working in a creative field can be incredibly rewarding and fun. You get to do the work you love, sometimes effortlessly, by simply working those God-given left brain muscles. However, it can also be very mentally taxing. Ever get those moments where you find yourself spinning your wheels and no matter what you try, you just can’t seem to generate a new direction or idea? It’s called a creative block.
Different types of creative blocks require different solutions, and there are tons of exercises available to combat them. My favorite exercise, however, is for when my brain is simply overworked from jumping from task to task and I need a breather from the task at hand. It’s also used for those moments when I just need a fresh idea. It’s called Doodling. I’m sure you’ve heard of it, but it’s not just any doodling. It’s a doodle exercise designed specifically to challenge yourself and sweeten up those creative juices. All you need is about 30 minutes. Here’s how it goes:
Step 1: Quickly draw random squiggles.
Step 2: Take a step back and analyze each of them. Look for familiar forms and shapes, and transform each squiggle into a new doodle.
You don’t have to be an artist to make this exercise work for you. The forms don’t even have to be pretty or realistic. Just take this opportunity to release all that pent-up frustration, and explore a new way to see your initial scribbles.
Step 3: Take the exercise a step further and color them. (Not required, but it’s relaxing.)
Step 4: Admire your creation! It may not be beautiful, but you did it. You created something new from something completely unknown, and you didn’t lose your mind doing it. You doodled the dust off your creative muscles!
Step 5: Now apply this same thinking to whatever had you stumped to begin with. I believe in you! Go forth and doodle.
