We’ve all been there. We’re tasked with coming up with a great idea, but there we sit, staring at a blank screen, with nothing coming to mind.

It’s frustrating, to say the least. I call it “The Curse of the Blank Screen”, and it’s to be avoided at all costs. As a creative agency, Jester’s creativity is in high demand. And that means that when we come to work each day, we’re tasked to be inspired and motivated to come up with fantastic ideas of all kinds; for videos, text, images, web site designs, and more.

Here are a few secrets to keeping those creative juices flowing.

Get Out of Your Head

Staring at a blank page gets you nowhere. You need to get away from the page/screen, and do something different. When you’re looking directly at a problem, it’s nearly impossible to see it. Get out of your head, get out of the room you’re in, and go do something else. Go for a walk, call a friend, clean the house…anything but what you’re doing. Something I like to do is get on a bus and go somewhere. You see a whole different perspective of the city when you’re on the bus, and it’s a great place to get some thinking done. Jen always says she gets her best ideas in the shower or while driving. Find the place where your ideas can flow, and go there when you need to be creative. It really works!

Talk it Out

One of the things I love about working with Jen and Tony is that we are there for each other when we need to get the creative juices flowing. Talking out your ideas is a great way to explore creativity. Remember, when brainstorming, no idea is a bad idea! Talk freely and openly, say what’s on your mind, and don’t be afraid to be vulnerable. It’s in those moments that the best ideas come to mind.

Surrender to the Process

Creativity is a process. It goes through many iterations and doesn’t happen instantly. Don’t worry so much about the end result (but keep your goals in mind). Consider that each step in the process is getting you closer to your goal. Let the ideas ebb and flow, and put the project away for a while if you hit a dead end. You’ll be amazed at what can happen when you choose to let go, put less pressure on yourself, and let your subconscious do the work.

There you have it! The secret to creative thinking. What about you? Do you have any tips for developing creativity? Share in the comments!