For anyone who regularly thinks creatively, you could find yourself staring at a blank page every once in a while. Every artist in their career experiences creative burnout and moments where you struggle to find even one new idea. Luckily for you, we have found some tips to help you finish your next big piece.

Try to get your creativity flowing

If you’re feeling stuck, the best way to get ideas flowing is to do something creative without any pressure. This could be something as simple as doing a writing prompt or doodling in your notebook while thinking of ideas. If this doesn’t lead to the perfect idea, though, that’s completely fine. These exercises are there to help you get into the mode of creating without feeling overwhelmed or under pressure.

Look to other artists for inspiration

When you’re stuck, go back to pieces that originally inspired you. Read your favorite book and think about what you loved about it. Go to an art gallery featuring your favorite artist and see if there is anything that you could incorporate into your own work. The best way to get out of a rut is to look at the works of others and see if there’s anything you can do to make it your own.

Know when you need a break

Your brain needs a break after you do any type of work whether creative or otherwise. By taking a day off instead of constantly blankly looking at your project, you will be able to give yourself the break that you desperately need. Take a well-deserved nap or a walk out in nature for a pause in between working. Especially when it comes to writing, giving yourself enough time to walk away from a project before it’s due is necessary to produce good work.

Acknowledge that your work doesn’t have to be perfect

Oftentimes what can be holding you back is the fear of failure. Your last project may have been your best yet, and you’re afraid you might not produce the same results this time around. Or on the contrary, you may have had a big failure and are lacking the motivation to continue. Either way, acknowledging that your work doesn’t have to be perfect and just starting is a big way to make some progress. Always remember that the earlier you start before your next big deadline, the longer you have to make other drafts or change it. After all, perfection isn’t key, but consistency is.

Move on to something else and come back to it

In some cases, you may have to walk away from a project for a while in order to refresh your mind. For someone who may be working on many different types of projects, you can spend this time working on another piece before coming back to the one you are stuck on. You may even find inspiration on how to fix the piece you are stuck on by starting something completely new! Having multiple pieces of work going on at the same time can ensure you aren’t wasting your time trying to force something that isn’t working while still staying productive. Be sure not to overwhelm yourself by doing too many pieces at once, though!

Being an artist of any form comes with its disadvantages. Creative burnout is certainly one of them! With this list you are sure to start pieces without constantly feeling burnt out!