A common struggle for designers everywhere is consistently being able to come up with new & unique creative ideas. It’s called Creative Fatigue, and it has been a problem for just about everyone in the creative industry one time or another. However, there are ways to reboot your brain to surpass the creative fatigue so you can once again get the creative juices flowing.

One of the most obvious things that can promote creative thinking can also make it or break it. Staying hydrated and eating plenty of food is a massive factor in the creative process. That’s right, coffee isn’t the only brain food out there. Getting the brain started is one thing, but you need the fuel to keep the brain going and to function at maximum capacity. It’s always good to drink a glass of water while drinking your morning coffee because coffee dehydrates you at the same time. It can be hard to eat in the morning for some people because not everyone has an appetite right when they wake up. If you’re one of these people, try to eat at least a piece of fruit or try smoothies just so you can get some natural sugars in you to boost brain function.

Staying fueled up is a huge part of the creative process and should never be overlooked.

Along with nourishment being a huge factor when it comes to inspirational juices, eyestrain can be hurting you more than you think. When you get into the groove on a project for long periods of time it can be good to take a break and walk around a bit to get your eyes off the monitor. Not only is the blue light from monitors straining on your eyes and brain but also, it’s good to get up and get the blood moving through your whole body. Getting the blood flowing will get more to the brain and that will increase brain function ultimately giving you the creative edge that you need.

Getting the blood flow to your noggin is important, but relaxation can be just as important for inspiration. You have deadlines approaching and work to do, but your brain is so overloaded you don’t even know where to start! Many people like to turn to things like yoga and meditation. Yoga is good for stretching and relaxing body and muscles. While doing yoga with your extremities you are also relaxing your strongest muscle, the brain. Meditation can take you to a place far from the deadlines where you’re can achieve overall relaxation while thinking about absolutely nothing. Think of these methods as a few different ways to reboot your brain so you can maximize your output.

Once you have rebooted your brain, and you have got the blood flowing again, it is time to start creating again. Even if you do all of the right things it can be tough to come up with things out of thin air. The best thing you can do is take advantage of some of the online resources there are to get inspired. A few of the resources are Behance, Dribbble, and Designspiration. If you aren’t already familiar with these websites, they are where creative professionals go to post work along with digital portfolios. They make it very easy to see what’s trending, compare different work, and to get inspiration. Once you get a good perception on what you want to make you can get started!

Creative fatigue is a typical problem for creative professionals everywhere, but it’s up to you if you want to take the time to get past it so you can make the best work that you can. If you stay hydrated and fueled up, take frequent breaks from computer strain, relax your mind, and take advantage of the resources that are out there, then you can surpass Creative Fatigue and can reignite your creative fire.