5 Tips to Overcome Creative Blocks Caused by Cabin Fever

I am a self-employed copywriter who lives in Upstate New York, and my van has been in need of serious repairs so this last winter has been spent battling cabin fever and fighting to keep my sanity as a creative service provider. Typically this disorder is known as writers block, and it is easily identified by frantically searching for a muse or miracle to come and do your work for you (or at least point you in the right direction.)

However, I believe that graphic designers, artists, and other creative service providers experience the same difficulties, and that creative blocks aren't limited to writers. I also believe that long winters, boredom, inactivity, and cabin fever are some of the worst causes of these creativity blocks.

If you rely on your creativity to provide a source of income, these dry spells can be a serious problem, and so I'd like to share these 5 tried and tested methods to deal with, and hopefully cure, the lag that's been slowing you down.

Feel free to modify any of the specifics to fit your own unique needs and preferences, while following the actual concept of why each tip works.

1. Start your day right!

Cabin fever, aka being stuck in a small area for too long resulting in extreme boredom (and, in severe cases, depression)starts the moment you wake up. What is the first thing you do in the mornings after getting out of bed?

Make and eat a nice breakfast, take a shower, do some exercises or stretches, and get your energy flowing physically... otherwise your mental energy will continue to suffer. Also, if you smoke... don't light up a cigarette first... it kills your energy for the rest of the day.

2. Get active throughout the day, in any possible way.

If you can get outside and go for a walk, do it! Don't let the snow stop you! Dress for the weather and make some hot cocoa when you get back inside... there are so many things you can do like building a snowman, taking pictures while out for a walk, or - if you're able - going sledding.

In some situations it's not always that easy. I also have two young children who just so happen to hate the cold, so it's not as easy for me to get outside. There are still activities you can do inside, including exercises/stretches, dancing, cleaning, housework, even making homemade play dough to play with!

There are many reasons that being active helps fight creative blocks, but the most important is that activities keep your body and mind healthy while also fighting off cabin fever and depression. Do what you can, but don't do it sitting down!

3. Play a game that encourages creative thinking.

Yes, you can even play video games or online games... and this truly does work to get the creative energy flowing as long as you play a creative thinking game. (Not a mindless game that's easy to zone out in.)

You may already have a favorite game you play, but it never hurts to try something new and different. Here are my two favorite games to play online that always help me get the creative juices flowing.

• XSketch - an online Pictionary game with social features. I must disclose that this game can be very addicting. Outside of the expected help that comes from creatively sketching various phrases, I also find that the socialization with other players is a tremendous help in breaking cabin fever.

• Words That Follow - this is an excellent game for writers to fight writers block with. Three or more players are needed, and it is a timed competition to see who can come up with the funniest caption for different pictures. There are several rounds, and the last round (my favorite) comes with a theme. For example, you may come up with a caption in the form of an advertisement slogan or a website (fictional or real) where the displayed picture might be found.

4. Cook!

Find and follow a recipe for something new, or make something up on your own as you go along. Whether you make an omelet or a chocolate cake from scratch, you'll have just as much fun making it as you will eating the end results.

Again, the secret is in the activity... keeping busy and distracting yourself. When you try too hard to be creative, you're only burning yourself out and pushing it further away. Good ideas may come with effort, but great ideas only occur by surprise when you aren't looking for them.

5. Take random pictures.

This may not work for a photographer. Also, it sounds ridiculous and it might actually be as ridiculous as it sounds. For some reason, it works like a charm for me so it's worth sharing. When I feel especially bored or "dull", I'll grab a camera and take very random pictures of anything. Still photos, such as the leg of a chair or the inside of my fridge.

Of course I love taking snapshots of the kids, or a motion picture of my Pekingese. The reason it works, I think, is that looking through these pictures gives me a different perspective on how big the world is... even in a small place. You might suddenly find an abstract beauty in something commonplace, such as a scrap of paper that landed on the floor next to the trash can.

I hope these tips help you to overcome your own obstacles, and above all else you'll remember not to force creativity... because that's just not possible!