Image by Dong Nhut Tran from Pixabay
Let’s be real—some days, the creative spark just isn’t there. You sit at your desk. You stare at the screen. And your brain? Crickets.
I’ve been there. Way more times than I’d like to admit. But over the years, I’ve found a few tricks that help me push through—even when my brain feels like a wrung-out sponge.
So, if you’re sitting there thinking, “I’ve got nothing,” keep reading. I promise it gets better.
I Start With a Brain Dump
When I feel stuck, I stop trying to be clever. I grab a notebook or open a blank document and just let my thoughts spill out. No pressure, no fancy sentences, no goal—just writing.
Sometimes I list random to-dos. Other times, I vent about how I’m stuck. The magic here isn’t in what I write—it’s that I’m writing something. Anything. It gets the wheels turning without the stress of creating something “good.”
I Revisit Old Ideas
After the brain dump, I’ll scroll through my old idea lists—the ones I jotted down and forgot about. Most of the time, I find a title or half-formed thought that sparks something.
Maybe I wasn’t ready to write that post before, but now it clicks. And if it doesn’t? I might still borrow a piece of it to start something fresh. It’s way easier than starting from scratch.
Templates Are My Besties
If I’m really dragging, I grab a template. Not a cookie-cutter one—but a structure that helps me get moving. For example, a simple “5 Tips” list or a “How-To” format gives my brain a path to follow.
Having a format takes away the overwhelming feeling of endless possibility. It narrows my focus just enough to make progress. And once I’m rolling, the creative energy tends to follow.
I Talk It Out
When typing isn’t working, I open the voice recorder on my phone and start talking. I pretend I’m explaining the topic to a friend or answering a question someone asked me.
This method lets my thoughts flow more naturally. Later, I go back, transcribe what I said, and clean it up. Surprisingly, some of my favorite lines come from these unfiltered rambles.
I Change My Scenery
Nothing dries up my creativity faster than staying in the same place all day. If I’ve been sitting at my desk too long, I move. I might go sit outside, switch to the kitchen table, or even write from the floor with a blanket.
The change doesn’t have to be dramatic. Just shifting my physical space often helps shift my mental space too. A fresh view can lead to fresh ideas.
I Let Go of Perfect
This one’s the hardest, but it makes the biggest difference. When I feel blocked, it’s usually because I’m chasing perfection on the first try. That’s a losing game.
Now, I give myself permission to write something messy, even bad. Because messy drafts lead to something real. And real can be edited. A blank page? That’s impossible to work with.
Final Thoughts
Creating content when your brain feels empty is hard—but it’s not impossible. You don’t have to wait for inspiration. You just need momentum.
Start with anything. Use old notes. Try a template. Talk it out. Change your space. But most of all, let go of the need to be perfect. The ideas are still in there. You just need a way to shake them loose.
And once you do, you’ll be surprised at what you create—even on the emptiest of days.
Related: Apps That Make My Life Way Easier (and a Few That Waste My Time)
Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a true crime junkie and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings and Southern Bred True Crime Junkie. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and fifteen grandchildren.
