EP. 029 | 5 Ways to Get Out of a Content Creation Rut
Podcast Summary
Feeling stuck in a content creation rut? You're not alone. In this episode, I'm getting real about my own creative struggles and sharing five proven strategies to help you push through. Learn how to transform mindless scrolling into intentional research, mine your existing content for fresh ideas, and find inspiration in unexpected places. Whether you're a seasoned creator or just starting out, these practical tips will help you maintain consistency without burning out. I'll show you how to repurpose your best work, tap into your expertise, and break free from your industry bubble to find fresh inspiration.
Episode Highlights
01:17 - Scroll More Intentionally
03:36 - Look back at my own content
05:18 - Repurposing Content
07:36 - Look at my offers for content ideas
09:40 - Find inspiration beyond my niche
resources + tools
If you need a bit more help when it comes to repurposing your content, you need The Content Repurposing Guide! Inside of this mini-course you will learn my proven content repurposing techniques AND get over 100 different content repurposing ideas!
5 Proven Ways to Break Through Content Creator Burnout… believe me, I’ve been there
Struggling with content creation? Here's your practical roadmap to getting back on track and finding your creative spark again.
As a content strategist with over a decade of experience in creating content online, I'm going to let you in on a little secret: I'm currently in a content creation rut. Yes, you read that right.
Even after years of creating content, running campaigns, and teaching others how to show up online, I still hit creative walls. And you know what? That's completely normal.
Instead of hiding behind perfectly curated posts or pretending everything's fine, I wanted to share my raw, honest experience of navigating through these challenging phases. Because if you're feeling stuck right now, I want you to know you're not alone – and more importantly, I want to show you exactly how to push through it.
The Reality of Content Creation Burnout
Let's be honest – we've all found ourselves mindlessly scrolling through social media, hoping inspiration will magically strike. Hours pass, and instead of feeling inspired, we end up feeling worse about our own content (or lack thereof).
I've been there, and I've discovered that the key isn't to fight these periods of low creativity but to navigate through them strategically.
These ruts don't mean you're failing as a content creator or small business owner. They're actually opportunities to reassess, realign, and come back stronger. Here are the five strategies I personally use to break through creative blocks and maintain consistency, even when motivation is running low.
One: Transform Your Scroll Time
The first strategy might surprise you because it goes against what most people recommend. Instead of completely avoiding social media during creative blocks, I've learned to transform my scroll time into something purposeful and productive.
Here's what works for me: I set strict time limits using my phone's settings. Sometimes, I'll even turn it into a game – completing a task earns me five minutes of guilt-free scrolling. It's amazing how much more intentional you become when you're working with a timer.
But here's the real game-changer: during these periods, I actually avoid consuming content from others in my industry. This isn't about competition or negativity – it's about protecting your creative space. While I'll still engage with their content through likes and comments, I consciously choose not to deep-dive into their material when I'm feeling creatively vulnerable.
Two: Mine Your Own Content Gold
One of my favorite strategies for breaking through creative blocks is looking backward instead of forward. I regularly dive into my content archives, and I'm always amazed at what I find.
This retrospective approach serves multiple purposes:
It reminds me of topics I can revisit with fresh perspectives
It shows me how far I've come (those old posts might make me cringe, but they're proof of growth!)
It often reveals evergreen content that can be updated and reshared
It helps identify patterns in what resonates with my audience
Think about it – your perspective on topics has likely evolved over time. What you wrote about two years ago might be due for an update, or you might have new insights to add to old topics.
Three: The Power of Strategic Repurposing
Content repurposing isn't just a backup plan – it's a smart strategy for maintaining consistency while conserving creative energy. Recently, I went through some archived blog posts and extracted enough content for 30 LinkedIn posts. That's months of content, just waiting to be refreshed and reshared!
When repurposing content, think about:
Which pieces performed well in the past
How your audience's needs have evolved
New examples or case studies you can add
Different formats that might work better now
Remember, your audience isn't seeing every piece of content you create, and even if they did, they often benefit from hearing important messages more than once.
Four: Leverage Your Existing Expertise
Here's a strategy that often meets resistance: looking at your paid offerings for content ideas. I know what you're thinking – "Won't that give away my secret sauce?" Not if you do it strategically.
The key is to break down complex concepts into foundational principles. You're not giving away your complete framework or methodology; you're providing valuable snippets that showcase your expertise while naturally leading to your paid offerings.
For example, I regularly review my:
Workshop materials
Speaking presentations
Client deliverables
Course content
Service frameworks
From these, I extract basic concepts, definitions, or introductory principles that can stand alone as valuable content while hinting at the deeper work I do with clients.
Five: Find Inspiration Outside Your Bubble
The final strategy that consistently helps me break through creative blocks is looking for inspiration outside my niche. As a marketing professional, it's easy to get stuck in an echo chamber of marketing content. Breaking free from this can spark unexpected creativity.
Recently, I've found inspiration from:
Visual artists and their unique approaches to content
ASMR content creators (yes, really!)
Big influencers from completely different industries
Creative professionals outside the digital space
By studying how creators in other niches approach content, I often discover new formats, styles, or approaches I can adapt for my audience.
Moving Forward Through Creative Blocks
Remember, content creation ruts are temporary. They're not a sign of failure or an indication that you should quit. Instead, view them as natural phases in your creative journey – opportunities to reassess, refine, and potentially reinvent your approach to content.
These strategies have helped me maintain consistency even during the toughest creative blocks, and I'm confident they can help you too. Start with one approach that resonates most with you, and gradually incorporate others as needed.
Most importantly, be patient with yourself. Creating consistent, valuable content is a marathon, not a sprint. It's okay to have periods of lower creativity – what matters is how you navigate through them.