Unlocking Creativity: How a Wellbeing App Transformed My Approach to Creative Blocks
Another blank canvas. Another day where inspiration seems just out of reach. I can feel the familiar tightness in my chest, the frustration building as I stare at my screen, hoping for a spark that refuses to come. Creative blocks are something every designer faces, but that doesn’t make them any easier to navigate. The worst part isn’t even the lack of ideas—it’s the emotional rollercoaster that comes with it. The self-doubt, the anxiety, the nagging voice in the back of my mind that whispers, “What if you’ve lost it?”
But today, I’m not going to let that voice win. I’ve been on a mission lately to learn how to manage my emotions better, especially during times like this. And I have to say, the wellbeing app I recently started using has been a game-changer.
I close my design software and reach for my phone. The app’s icon has become a little beacon of hope on my screen, a reminder that I don’t have to go through this alone. I open the app and navigate to the section on creative blocks. There’s a whole module dedicated to managing the emotional toll they take, which makes me feel seen, understood.
The first thing I do is start a short guided meditation. The app has these bite-sized sessions specifically designed for creatives dealing with stress or a lack of inspiration. I close my eyes, earbuds in, and let the soothing voice guide me through deep breathing exercises. “Inhale, hold, exhale…” The tension in my shoulders starts to melt away, replaced by a sense of calm. I focus on the breath, on the present moment, letting go of the pressure I’ve been putting on myself. The idea is to create space, to let my mind relax and find its rhythm again.
After the meditation, the app suggests a journaling exercise. I’m encouraged to write down what I’m feeling—everything from the frustration of being stuck to the fear that maybe this block is more permanent than the others. As I type out my thoughts, I can feel the knot in my chest loosening. Seeing the words on the screen makes them less daunting, more manageable.
The next step in the app’s process is a short video on reframing negative thoughts. The speaker talks about how our inner critic often becomes louder during creative blocks, convincing us that we’re not good enough or that our best work is behind us. But she also explains how to challenge those thoughts, to recognize them as just that—thoughts, not truths. I take a mental note of the strategies she shares, feeling a bit more equipped to handle the doubt when it creeps in.
Finally, the app suggests a creativity-boosting exercise: a quick sketching session where the goal isn’t to create something perfect but simply to play with ideas. I grab my sketchpad and a pencil, letting my hand move freely across the paper. There’s something liberating about drawing without a specific outcome in mind. It reminds me why I fell in love with design in the first place—the joy of creating, of expressing something from within.
As I finish my sketch, I notice a shift in my mood. The frustration is still there, but it’s no longer overwhelming. I feel more grounded, more in control. This app isn’t just helping me manage my emotions; it’s helping me rediscover the joy in the process.
I know there will be more days like this, more creative blocks to face. But with the tools I’m learning, I feel more confident that I can handle them. One step at a time, one breath at a time, I’m learning to navigate the ups and downs of the creative journey. And for today, that’s enough.
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