Creative blocks are a common struggle. As LEGO builders, sometimes inspiration just dries up, leaving us staring at a pile of plastic with no idea what to build. We’ve co vered this topic recently, and Casey McCoy had some excellent tips on breaking through bu i lder’s block, as did the Builder Improvement Initiative.

Sometimes the bricks just don’t make sense.

I recently experienced a particularly nasty creative block that seemed to stifle every spark of imagination I had. This is my story of how I broke through that block and rediscovered my love for building. But first we have to go back…

The Creative Blockade

The pandemic had given me a hard reset and made me evaluate how I lived. There were major upheavals in pretty much all aspects of my life… including LEGO. I realized that a lot of things needed to change for me to be able to truly pursue happiness, so I threw myself into the process of turning my life around.

I didn’t expect that the emotional upheaval would cause a creative block that prevented me from doing pretty much everything that required my imagination. I lost words that weren’t related to my job. I couldn’t write anything for BrickNerd, no matter how hard I stared at my blank screen. I could barely put two bricks together to make something of my own. I couldn’t even pose my sigfig to take a cute photo for Instagram. I was hopelessly stuck and remained so pretty much until 2025 came around.

I packed up my workshop and put my bricks in storage. I stopped being active on Instagram. I didn’t attend any LEGO-related events. It didn’t help that my LUG gave up its recognition in 2024, and we stopped building together as a group. There were no reasons to brainstorm about exhibits over coffee (or pizza).

Going Beyond LEGO

I put my bricks away with a heavy heart but found joy elsewhere. I still built sets but didn’t force myself to make anything of my own. I just enjoyed the feeling of putting the bricks together and making something nice, even if I didn’t think of it myself. I spent more time with my family and close friends. I did therapy. I found a great job that I enjoyed. I moved to a new home and had fun decorating my space. I slept—a lot. I walked and danced almost every day for exercise. I ate healthier and started cooking again. I listened to podcasts that made me think (I love love love Myths and Legends). I thought I had moved on and even started cataloging my LEGO for possible de-stashing.

Then one day early in January this year, I was interviewed by H, who was in 6th grade and tasked with interviewing somebody related to his school project, which was of course, about LEGO. Seeing how enthusiastic H was about his project, I couldn’t help but reflect on my own love for building, and what a big part it has played in my life. It wasn’t just a hobby. It was a part of me, of who I was. And I missed it. I told myself that, somehow, I was getting back to my bricks.

Breaking Through

I don’t know if it was divine intervention or not, but within hours after that interview and gaining my new resolve to get back into building, I received an inquiry from my local LEGO Certified Store to possibly display my work at an event. As I would be displaying MOCs that I had already built, I said yes. Maybe the universe does give you what you need…

Then in the middle of cleaning my home, I found myself thinking of new models to build. I sat down and looked up photos of Philippine flowers on my phone, and I could actually imagine them as brick models. I had not built any of my favorite Philippine flowers in more than a year, and then suddenly I found my brain working on new models. Even better, I was thinking of ways to use the new parts from LEGO’s Botanical Collection.

I finally got to exhibit my Philippine flowers in Manila!

It was one of my frustrations that despite all the new plant parts coming out, I could not think of ANY way to utilize them to make my own flowers. And now I finally could! OMG, I WAS BACK!!! When our Editor-in-Chief (and friend) Dave checked in as he regularly does and asked if I had wanted to write a new piece for BrickNerd, I felt confident enough to say yes (and so here we are!). I had finally broken through the block!

Unknowingly Doing the Right Things to Break My Creative Block

I hadn’t realised it, but the things that I was doing were tried and tested ways to break through a creative block. Slowly, I was piecing myself back together. Here are some ways to do so, backed by research (because, again, we like to be nerdy at BrickNerd):

Rest and Sleep

This post details the many ways that good sleep improves creativity, and conversely, the lack of sleep is detrimental to creative thinking. According to a study, even just one night of sleep deprivation can affect our ways of thinking! Given that I hadn’t slept well, no wonder I couldn’t think well either. It was only when I slept earlier and better (I made myself stop overthinking!) that the ideas started flowing again.

Adequate downtime allows your brain to consolidate information, process experiences, and make unexpected connections, ultimately fueling fresh ideas and breaking through creative blocks.

Exercise

I am forced to exercise for my health, and started doing so in October 2024. I now walk almost every day and dance three to four times a week. While the physical benefits of exercise were expected, I did not realize how much of a role it played in overcoming my mental block. This Stanford study shows that a person’s creative output increased by an average of 60 percent when walking.

The act of walking - regardless of the environment - is enough to get creative juices flowing. So whether you’re at a park or walking on a treadmill at home, movement will surely help generate ideas.

Keep building

I may not have made new MOCs, but I didn’t stop building. I steadily worked through my “To Build” pile, as I’m sure most of us have, and learned the newest techniques in botanicals. I built Minecraft and Star Wars sets with my son. I guess the constant building helped a lot because not only did it help me relax, but it was also a way for me to get new ideas.

This Elsevier study found that writers who write consistently and habitually showed the highest level of creativity. On the other hand, writers who waited for inspiration to strike showed little to no improvement in overcoming writer’s block. Maybe if I had kept on putting things together, I would have gotten over my creative block earlier. I should have read Dan Ko’s excellent article on how to build more. But it seems that building often had been enough to equip my brain with new ideas.

Consistent creation, even small steps, fuels momentum, flexes your creative muscles, and often sparks unexpected breakthroughs.

Prioritize Your Well-being

Research shows that happiness and well-being have a significant relationship with creativity and job performance. Given that depression, frustration, and desperation can cause a creative block, it just makes sense that the absence of such would have the opposite effect — and this is backed by data, too!

Nurturing well-being and finding joy in everyday moments helps unlock creativity. prioritizing happiness and mental clarity creates space for inspiration to flourish.

A Break, Not A Block

So, while the LEGO bricks haven’t clicked together just yet into a renaissance of building, the gears are turning once more. I may not have a finished MOC to show for this journey (yet!), but the seeds of inspiration have been planted. As we say in Filipino, "Malayo pa, pero Malayo na" – the road ahead is still long, but I’ve already come so far.

I’m happy that the bricks have started coming together again for me!

This experience has reminded me that creative blocks, while frustrating, are not insurmountable. They can even be a catalyst for growth, forcing us to explore new avenues and rediscover our passion. The bricks may be quiet for now, but the ideas are buzzing, and I’m excited to see what I build next.

Sometimes, blocks go beyond LEGO building and bleed into life. Do you have personal stories on overcoming creative blocks? Share some of your tips on how you got back on track.

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