19 December, 2019

Staring at a blank page or white screen with an empty mind is never easy. Inspiration works in different ways and capturing it and knowing what works for you is not simple. Whether it’s a blog you just can’t start, a tricky press release which is proving a struggle to write or a proposal which you lack the creative inspiration for, our minds go blank every now and again.

The most important thing is to not get stuck in a rut. Everyone will have a different solution, but here are some useful tactics the Amazon team likes to use from time to time.

Brainstorm

The classic! Loved by blue sky thinkers and loathed by others, it’s like Marmite. When you’re lacking ideas and inspiration hearing other people’s thoughts and using them as a springboard is always a useful exercise. Remember, many hands make light work…

The media

Looking at the news agenda can help provide some food for thought and seeing how other people approach a subject is always interesting. Have a flick through the day’s news and it could give you that inspiration you need.

Getting out into nature

An office is not the best place for you to get creative. It can be stuffy, repetitive and doesn’t harbour creativity. Getting out in the fresh air can really help you dust off the cobwebs and come back to your desk feeling refreshed. Taking a stroll through Thornhill Square on my lunch break gives me the chance to clear my mind and go back to work with a fresh perspective.

Music

Not only can it help with concentration, music can also be useful for finding ideas. Whether it’s a bit of classical or something electronic, it can help to get the creative juices flowing.

Moving around

Staying stationary and staring at the screen isn’t going to help you with that fresh-new idea. Try moving to the seat next to you, using a pen and paper instead of your keyboard. Little changes like this can help shake things up.

We’ve all been there, staring at a screen with nothing to write. Mix things up and do something different, it can really help. Something as simple as moving seats or talking to a colleague can be what it takes for you to have that ‘lightbulb moment’.

“You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.”
― Jack London