Dear Dr. Mimi: Creativity Block

Dear Dr. Mimi:
Being creative and developing solutions is a large part of what I do in my career, but I’m finding that when I have deadlines fast-approaching, no matter how long I sit at my desk and try, I can’t think of creative solutions and ideas! What can I do?
—Stumped

Dear Stumped:
A large part of “creativity block” comes from sitting at your desk and trying too hard to think! Try to take the deadlines out of your mind, as they seldom help encourage creativity, and go for a walk or take a break; engage in conversation with a co-worker or even a stranger. You’ll find that managing stress and developing good ideas often come from the places
you’d least expect, so take a break, take a breath, and let your creativity run wild!
—Dr. Mimi


  • Dear Dr. Mimi – Frustrated

    Dear Dr. Mimi, I trained a new employee about a month ago, but they still don’t seem to be getting it. They mess up almost every task I give them. What can I do to fix this? Should I just fire them? —Frustrated Dear Frustrated, It can be tricky working with new employees. If you…


  • Dear Dr. Mimi – Overwhelmed

    Dear Dr. Mimi, My spouse and I now both work full-time jobs and have a three-year-old. I had been home full-time while my spouse worked. Our son is in day care and seems to love it, but I am unsure how to balance having a family, being an employee, and doing well in both jobs.…


  • Monitoring Productivity

    It may be daunting to look at your schedule for the coming months. Here are a few tips to help you stay on task and monitor your productivity: Clarify the vision. What do you hope to achieve? How will you accomplish this? Get specific! Define the milestones you aim to reach. Sit down and devote…