I'm relatively new in my first real job, and creative block is hitting pretty hard, way more than I expected. When I interned, the ideas flowed like water. But today, trying to do a storyboard, I just felt totally stuck – zero inspiration, couldn't even start. Maybe it's stage fright? What's your top strategy for working through it?

Take a little break. Remove your body and mind from anything advertising for at the very least a few hours. Find another thing like a picture to colour or puzzle to solve to occupy your mind for some time. Then get back. Also, remember that we’re not machines who can generate ideas like some vending machine. Hope you get through.

Reference material - books, movies, magazines. Use of colors and type. Have your file of things that inspire you. Start building that and it will become your go to.

When you hit a creative wall, back up and return to the basic "six questions" to try to jumpstart the process. Who is your target audience? What does this product do? Where can it be bought? When is the best time to buy or use this product? Why should the customer buy this product instead of a similar one? How can you make a lasting impression on those reading/viewing/hearing the pitch for this product? Salesmen will tell you that the best way to close a sale is to force the customer to say "Yes" to three questions during your pitch. Suddenly, it's their idea to buy this thing and not yours. The 5 Ws and an H trick forces you to answer questions. Many times the Draino needed to unclog your mental sink will magically appear in your answers. If you focus too much on being cutesy, quippy and clever you are trying to be the star of the show and forgetting that the real star is the product/service you are selling.

Agree with what the others are saying. You're definitely not alone. Honestly, the moment I realized I could take a break and not have to push through every time, my blocks got easier to deal with. I’ll go for a short walk and just let my brain wander. Sometimes I come back with a full concept. Other times, just less stress, and that’s still a win.

My friend, YouTube the research done on magic mushrooms and free yourself.

Sometimes the fear of not being good enough paralyzes your thoughts. You have to take it less seriously and have fun. Don't worry about what people think. Say the stupid thought. And remember you were hired because you're good at what you do and they need you there.

Steal like an Artist

Beat way to fight through it is let it all happen. Don’t force it. Get outside, take a shower, do random things and the brain will naturally start thinking about those ideas again.

Inspiration can come from unlikely places. Sometimes I like to do something different from normal, listen to different types of music, read in genres I don’t usually. Getting out of the tunnel vision helps me spark some different ideas going forward.

This just happens sometimes. Unplug for a bit. Sleep on it if you can.

Go for a jog, the ultimate un-blocker.

Write a bad idea down. Like an awful idea you wouldn’t show to anyone, but put it to paper. Then write another shitty one. You have to exorcise your demons and it’s cathartic to get shit ideas out of your system. Exfoliate them. When you get the garbage out the good ones will come.