Creatively Stuck and Procrastinating: My Special Talents
There’s nothing quite like staring at a blank page, canvas, or screen and feeling the sense of urgency to work and create but then to just… not. You know that little fire of creativity you used to have as a kid or in high school? The one that fueled your hobbies and studies and kept you inspired? Yeah, mine sometimes feels more like a flickering candle that’s about to be blown out by the slightest breeze.
Here I am, supposed to be “creating,” but instead, I’m scrolling through Instagram, reorganizing my closet (again), and convincing myself that maybe if I just watch one more episode of Criminal Minds, the inspiration will strike me. Guess what… it doesn’t.
But if you, like me, are a professional procrastinator with the ambition to be in creative work, then this little rant is for you. Let’s talk about how we get stuck, why we can’t seem to just DO THE THING, and maybe how to overcome this bloody cycle of putting things off until we’re in full-blown panic mode.
The Reality of Being Creatively Stuck
Creative blocks don’t just happen in some dramatic moment of failure where your hand freezes with the paintbrush hovering above the canvas, or the words dry up on your keyboard. No, it’s way sneakier than that. It’s like your mind has slowly turned into a foggy, overcooked minestrone, where ideas are either too vague or just plain blank.
For me, it often starts with this grand idea, like, a genius-level, “THIS IS GOING TO BE AMAZING” kind of thought. I’m embarrassed to admit how many ideas I’ve had: ideas for paintings, for blog post series, content creation, photography projects, hell I even began writing the first chapter of what would become my New York Times bestselling book! (I’m an ambitious gal). But then… nothing. My brain goes into avoidance mode faster than I’d like to admit. I tell myself, I’ll start tomorrow (yeah, we’ve heard that one before), but tomorrow turns into next week, and next week turns into, “Oh shit, I haven’t done a thing in months.”
It’s like my brain is a master at dodging responsibility, which, while impressive, is also very inconvenient. Because for all the Netflix binging and social media scrolling, I’m not actually recharging or enriching myself or gathering inspiration for the next big idea. I’m just avoiding. And guess what? That blank page is still there. Taunting me. And then the anxiety creeps in, and I end up calling my boyfriend in tears (hi, baby!)
The Procrastination Spiral
You know the drill: first, you feel stuck. Then you avoid. You even justify it by saying that half the work is done, the idea has been born! Phew, better relax for an hour to recover from that! (I’m shaking my head, too). Then you feel guilty for avoiding, which makes you feel even more stuck. It’s a fun little cycle of self-sabotage that we love to hate and jokingly complain about to our friends.
Here’s the thing: procrastination isn’t always laziness. Sometimes, it’s straight-up fear dressed up as “I’ll get to it later.” Fear that the idea you had isn’t as great as you thought. Fear that you’ll start and the grand idea won’t turn out the way you imagined, not even close. Fear that you’ll fail and everyone will see you’re not as creative or talented as you’ve led them to believe.
So what do we do? We delay. We wait for “inspiration,” which, as I’ve learned the hard way, is kind of like waiting for a phone call with the news that you’ve won the lottery. But Veronika, I hear you say, you don’t even play the lottery. EXACTLY! Inspiration is not this magical beam of light which strikes you at 3am after you’ve rewatched the first season of Lost (again). It actually tends to show up after you’ve started doing the work. But starting the work? Well, that’s what we procrastinators excel at not doing.
Actually Doing the Thing
Now, I’d love to say I have a foolproof, five-step plan for getting over procrastination, but I’d be lying. Let’s be honest, I’d be much more ahead in life if I had this all figured out. But I have gathered a few ideas to trick myself into being as productive as possible when I feel the procrastination goblin overcoming me.
-
- The “Five-Minute” Rule
This one is deceptively simple: commit to working on your project for just five minutes. That’s it. Five minutes. It’s like tricking your brain into thinking, “surely, I can manage that”. And nine times out of ten, once I’ve started, I end up working for longer. Because starting is the hardest part. Once you get over the initial resistance, it’s not so bad. - Set Ridiculously Small Goals
I’ll be the first to admit that I always bite off more than I can chew. I have grandiose ideas that on the whim of a moment of self confidence and borderline god-complex I think I can pull off anything. “I’m going to write a novel in a month!” or “I’m going to make an entire painting series”. Yeah, no. I can do these things, but I also need to be realistic. I’ve learned that tiny, bite-sized goals work best for my creatively stuck self. Instead of “write a chapter,” my goal is “write one paragraph.” Instead of “paint a masterpiece,” it’s “draw the sketch.” These small victories stack up, and boost your confidence in the process. They may feel like nothing in the moment, but trust me, progress is progress. - Embrace the Crappy First Draft
Perfectionism and procrastination more often than not, go hand-in-hand. If I can’t do it perfectly, why do it at all? I’ve learned (and am still learning) to embrace the idea that the first draft, the first attempt, the first anything probably isn’t going to live up to my expectations. Let’s be real, it might even suck. And that’s fine. Great, even. It means I’m in motion. You can always revise, edit, and tweak something, but you can’t improve a blank page. - Find a Ritual
Creativity loves ritual. Romanticize the moment. Seriously, make yourself the main character in the movie of your life. Some people light some candles, make a cup of tea, place some flowers in a vase on the desk, or put on a special CD or record that puts them in the zone. For me, it’s often all of the above. I make my space as safe and sweet and joyful as possible. See this activity for what it truly is: a sacred space for you and your self expression. The same process can be just as easily applied to more mundane tasks. Make the moment special, whatever it may be. - The Battle with Distraction
Distraction is our worst enemy. Our phones are literally portals of endless entertainment and dopamine hits, and it’s so easy to get lost in it. My friend sends me a cat meme, and 40 minutes later I find myself watching videos of how to make croissants out of rice paper and eggs. What I’ve found works (when I actually do it) is a little thing called “focus mode” or, you know, just leaving the phone at the other side of the room. Out of sight, out of mind. Because when you’re stuck, anything can feel more interesting than the task at hand.
- The “Five-Minute” Rule
Forgiving Yourself on the Hard Days
And finally, when you’re stuck, procrastinating, and feeling like you’re failing, it’s important to remember to show yourself some grace. Seriously, we’re human, and creative blocks happen to everyone. The key is not to let that inner critic beat you down for it. Some days you’ll feel on top of the world, and other days you’ll binge watch shows you’re not even that into. It happens. Just don’t get stuck in the guilt cycle.
Because that’s the thing with creativity: it’s messy, it’s inconsistent, and sometimes it feels like it’s hiding. But the more you show up, even when it’s hard, the easier it is to find it again. So just keep showing up. Even if just for five minutes at a time.
Love, V
