How to Stay Creative When You’re Feeling Totally Uninspired (Yes, We’ve Been There Too)
There’s a version of creativity we see online that looks like flow state magic. Paintbrushes sweeping gracefully across the page. Sketchbooks overflowing. Fonts being lovingly crafted at midnight while lo-fi beats play and fairy lights glow.
But in real life? Sometimes creativity looks like moving a rectangle half a centimetre left… then making toast instead.
And that’s okay.
At Cosy Fox, we’ve had those days too. The “I am a creative person and yet I am creating nothing” kind of days. The important thing to remember is: creativity isn’t linear. It’s seasonal. It ebbs and flows. Sometimes it goes quiet. That doesn’t mean it’s gone. It just means it’s resting.
If you’re feeling burnt out or totally uninspired, here’s a cosy guide to help you gently reconnect with your creativity.
1. Step Away from the Blank Page
It feels counterproductive, doesn’t it? But staring harder at a blank screen rarely helps.
Instead, try:
Going for a walk and noticing small textures, colours, or details in your surroundings
Listening to music you haven’t heard in years (bonus points for dramatic film scores)
Making something just for you (an imperfect doodle, a messy collage, or a wonky lino print)
Creativity loves to creep in when you stop chasing it.
2. Revisit Old Work with Curiosity
We do this often at Cosy Fox—open an old file or forgotten sketch and suddenly, the spark returns.
Why this works:
You’re not starting from zero (and blank pages are intimidating)
You get to see how much you’ve grown, which is quietly motivating
Old ideas often carry new potential, especially after time away
Not every past project needs to be revived, but it might just nudge something back to life.
3. Try Something Tiny
When the thought of a big project feels overwhelming, shrink the task. Here are some playful, low-pressure ideas:
Design one Instagram story template
Write a haiku about your to-do list
Make a colour palette inspired by the last snack you ate
Letter your name in three different styles
Doodle a quick comic about your day
Little sparks lead to bigger ones. This is about momentum, not masterpieces.
4. Borrow a Muse (or Make a Moodboard)
If you’re creatively blocked, try absorbing inspiration instead of forcing output.
Explore a designer’s portfolio whose work you admire
Create a no-rules Pinterest board based on a feeling or season
Look at design outside your niche: book covers, old postage stamps, weird museum signage
Watch a short film or read a short story
Revisit a font or layout you loved last year
You don’t need to invent from nothing. Creativity thrives on input.
5. Build a Creative First Aid Kit
We swear by this one. A Creative First Aid Kit is a personal collection of things that help reignite your creative spark.
Here’s what ours includes:
A playlist of instrumental tracks that feel cinematic and atmospheric
Screenshots of fonts we love (plus a few we’ve made ourselves)
Kind feedback from past clients or collaborators
A folder of half-finished personal projects we still secretly love
A stack of picture-heavy magazines and art books
When we’re stuck, we don’t force it. We dip into the kit. It’s all about reminding ourselves that we’ve done this before. We’ll do it again.
Rest Is Part of the Process
You don’t need to be “on” all the time.
Feeling uninspired doesn’t mean you’re not creative. It doesn’t mean you’ve lost your edge or run out of ideas. It just means you’re human. And your creativity might need a little space to breathe.
So if you're in a lull, here’s what we want you to remember:
Uninspired does not mean untalented
Resting is not giving up
Quiet days still count
Give yourself grace. Make a cuppa. Step away for a bit. Your creative spark is still in there, it’s just brewing something new behind the scenes.
And when it’s ready, it’ll come back. It always does.
Your Cosy Creative First Aid Kit
Feeling stuck? Keep this little list nearby and reach for it when you need a creative boost:
Revisit an old project you half-finished but still secretly love
Make something just for yourself (a doodle, a collage, a playlist)
Take a walk and notice 5 small things you normally miss
Make a colour palette based on something unexpected (snacks, shoes, moods)
Create a "mood playlist" to soundtrack your next design session
Open a favourite design book or flick through a magazine
Watch a short film or animated ad just for the visuals
Scroll your own past work and notice what still makes you smile
Screenshot a layout or font you love for your inspiration folder
Write one sentence. Just one. That’s enough to start.
Your creativity isn’t gone. It’s just waiting for a softer invitation.
