How to Create Content When You’re Not Feeling Creative
We’ve all been there. The blank screen. The blinking cursor. The overwhelming feeling that you’ve run out of ideas, or worse, that none of your ideas are good enough.
Creating consistent content is a non-negotiable, whether you’re a solo business owner or part of a marketing team. But what happens when your creativity just… vanishes?
At Plum, we get it — and we’ve built our membership platform to help you through this kind of rut. The truth is, creativity isn’t a constant state. It comes in waves. And the trick isn’t to wait until you’re inspired — it’s to build a process that works even when you’re not.
Here are our tried-and-tested strategies to help you create content even when your creative tank is running on empty.
Have a Content System in Place
A good system beats inspiration every time.
When you’re not feeling creative, a pre-planned system can save the day. This might include:
- A bank of content ideas or prompts
- A folder of templates (hint: our Canva classes show you how!)
- Evergreen topics that always perform well
Use tools like Trello, Notion or Google Sheets to log your ideas. Then, when your brain needs a break, you can rely on your system instead of starting from scratch.
Repurpose Old Content
Don’t reinvent the wheel — just give it a fresh set of tyres.
You’ve already got content worth reusing. Blog posts can become carousel posts. Instagram captions can be turned into Reels scripts. Old newsletters can be refreshed with updated tips or stats.
Try this quick checklist:
- What content has performed well before?
- What can be broken into bite-sized chunks?
- What can be rephrased or reformatted for a different platform?
(Our downloadable Content Repurposing Flowchart inside the Plum membership is built for this exact purpose!)
Use Templates as a Launchpad
Templates reduce decision fatigue and speed up the design process. They’re not about being lazy — they’re about being smart.
Inside Plum’s Canva classes, we show you how to set up and use custom templates that match your brand. That means on the days you’re not feeling inspired, you’re never starting with a blank canvas.
Start with structure, then fill in the gaps. It’s a confidence booster and a time-saver.
Lean on Prompts & Trends
When your brain’s foggy, prompts and current trends can guide the way.
Some of our favourite prompts include:
- “The biggest lesson I’ve learned this year is…”
- “If I had to start my business over tomorrow, here’s what I’d do…”
- “One mistake I see people making all the time is…”
You can also borrow from what’s trending — just be sure to make it yours. Use trending audio, but speak to your audience. Join viral conversations, but with your insights.
Schedule “Non-Creative” Content Days
Not all content needs to be groundbreaking.
Use your low-energy days to create:
- FAQs
- Behind-the-scenes content
- Quick tips
- Testimonials or reviews
These types of posts build trust and keep your feed active without requiring a huge creative push.
Create First, Edit Later
Perfectionism is the enemy of momentum.
When you’re feeling creatively blocked, permit yourself to create bad content first. Don’t judge it. Just write or design something — anything.
Editing and refining can happen later. For now, focus on building that muscle again.
Remember: Creativity Comes From Action
This might sound backward, but creativity isn’t just something you have — it’s something you build through doing.
The more you show up, even when it’s hard, the easier it becomes. By taking small steps — like tweaking a template, writing a sentence, or scheduling one post — you shift your brain from stuck to productive.
As one of our favourite sayings goes: “Start before you’re ready.”
Final Thoughts
Your business doesn’t stop when your creativity dips. And it doesn’t have to.
That’s why Plum’s membership platform includes one-on-one coaching, ready-to-use templates, downloadable resources and step-by-step Canva lessons — so you always have a way forward, even on the off days.
So next time you’re staring at a blank screen, remember: you don’t need to be inspired — you just need to start.
Sources
- Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1996). Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention. New York: Harper Perennial.
- Amabile, T. M. (1998). How to kill creativity. Harvard Business Review, 76(5), 76–87.
- Grant, A. (2016). Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World. London: WH Allen.
- Clear, J. (2018). Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones. New York: Avery.
