Is It A Creative Block Or Creative Overwhelm?

There’s a difference, especially when it comes to your next steps

Creative blocks have become synonymous with the creative experience. We’re conditioned to believe that we need to label our down days as days full of creative block.

Lately, I’ve been thinking up a new word for a different kind of mountain creatives are left to climb — creative overwhelm.

Creative overwhelm exists when you have so many ideas but not enough energy, mental capacity, or time, to help bring them to life.

While creative overwhelm and creative blocks may manifest in the same ways initially, like with a feeling of being stuck, the main distinguishing factor is how you can decide to work through them.

Creative blocks respond well to creative stimulation — going out, talking to other creatives, or experimenting with different outlets, for instance. If you’re feeling creatively overwhelmed you want to go towards the other extreme — peace, quiet, and patience.

Two of a few tangible steps you can take in order to tame your creative overwhelm are to focus on time management and prioritization. Block off some time for yourself, maybe at your favorite coffee shop, and jot down every single idea you have. Nothing is too small or…