Feeling Creatively Blocked? You're Not Alone
Ok, so marketing is kind of a wild ride. Sometimes it flows, and other times, well, it grinds to a soul-sapping halt. Deadlines show up early. Budgets shrink overnight. And your brain? It decides now is the time to go quiet. If you’ve ever stared blankly at a campaign brief thinking, "I’ve got nothing," yeah—same here.
And here's the twist most folks overlook: That block in your head might actually be coming from somewhere a bit lower. Like your spine.
Why Your Body Might Be Blocking Your Best Ideas
That thing nobody puts in their quarterly planning decks? Your nervous system. And yet, it’s kind of the quarterback of the whole operation. You can have all the tools, tech, and trends in the world, but if your body is out of whack—say, shoulders hiked up to your ears or a back that's been slumped since 2020—it messes with everything. Especially the ideas.
In fact, I’ve been visiting a chiropractor for years, and the difference it makes is not just about fewer neck cracks. It's about clearing out the static so I can actually think straight. Less tension, fewer headaches, more headspace. That sense of "oh wow, I’ve got my groove back"? It often hits after an adjustment.
What Happens When Your Brain Has Room to Breathe
Let’s be real. When your team is low-key running on fumes, you see it in the work. Nothing clicks. Pitches feel off. The performance isn’t bad, per se—it’s just... meh. And meh doesn’t win awards, doesn’t close clients, and definitely doesn’t get forwarded to the CMO.
The Sammy Awards, for example, are packed with winners who didn’t just have numbers—they had *narratives*. They shaped stories from strategy. That clarity? It usually shows up after a little reset. The kind where your body isn’t drained and your brain isn’t fogged up from sitting like a pretzel all day.
So, yeah, self-care isn’t a vibe—it’s a performance tool. And no, you don’t need a retreat in Sedona to get started.
Five Simple Ways to Get Unstuck (Without a Brainstorm)
- Hydrate like it’s your job. Your brain’s thirsty. So is your creativity.
- Book that chiropractor appointment. Especially if you’re mid-campaign or crawling to quarter-end.
- Walk and talk. Seriously, if Steve Jobs did it, you can too.
- Stretch before you strategize. A bit of mobility work can untangle way more than tight hamstrings.
- Try something woo. Acupuncture, red light therapy, tarot cards (kidding-ish)—whatever gets you feeling like you again.
Marketing Needs More Than Metrics. It Needs Energy.
Here’s the thing: Marketing teams aren’t just content machines. They’re human. And creativity—especially the kind that lands awards and drives leads—doesn’t show up when you’re out of whack. Whether you’re writing a killer campaign or trying to get buy-in for a wobbly budget, your nervous system kind of needs to be online.
So, if things feel stuck? Maybe it’s not the brief. Maybe it’s your back.
Treat your body like it’s part of the team. Because honestly, it is.