Well, it finally happened. You’ve run out of ideas, you are feeling drained, and you are about to run out of content to post.
Now what?
Of course, the first advice is not to panic (easier said than done, we know), but that’s a good start. What’s next?
Creativity is Not Linear
For starters, you have to understand one thing, creativity is a process that looks more like this:
Than like this:
There will be days and times in which you will be bursting with ideas, content to create, and even energy to eat the whole world. On other days, the ideas may simply not flow, and that’s okay. As we discussed before, you could (and honestly should) take advantage of those productive days and create a content bank for the days when you don’t feel like creating content.
But What If You Didn’t and You Are Out of Ideas?
Although being prepared is great, we understand that sometimes it is not possible to be on top of everything, and you may have days when you have no content scheduled and no ideas to post.
For starters, avoid posting just for the sake of posting. Yes, we know: what about consistency and your content rhythm, as well as the aesthetics of your timeline? All valid, but not enough reason to simply post whatever. While silence is not always ideal, it might be a better option than a rushed and out-of-context post.
So, if we’re not posting “whatever,” and we’re not panicking, what are we doing? We’re going on a creative scavenger hunt. Content is everywhere, and hunting for ideas can be fun: your next post might be just hiding in plain sight.
Revisit and Repurpose Your “Evergreen” Content
Look back at your analytics. Which of your past posts performed well and remains relevant? Once you have found that post, reimagine it!
- The Update: “Two years ago, I wrote about X. Here’s what I’ve learned since, and what’s changed.”
- The Deep Dive: Take one small point from a previous post and expand it into a whole new piece of content.
- The New Format: Turn a popular blog post into a carousel of key tips, an infographic, or a short, scripted video.
Ask Your Audience (The Easiest Win You’re Missing)
Low-hanging fruit right here! So low-hanging that it is literally hitting you in the face already! Your audience is a live focus group, and they are literally telling you what they want to know. You just have to ask.
- Run a poll or ask a question: “What’s the biggest challenge you’re facing with [your topic] right now?” The comments are pure gold.
- Create a “Request Content” box: Use a tool like LinkedIn’s featured question or an Instagram question sticker to collect topic ideas directly.
- Check your DMs and comments: What questions do people keep asking you individually? If one person is asking, dozens more are thinking the same thing.
Curate, Don’t Just Create
You don’t have to be the source of all wisdom all the time (why did we just think of Gary, the Snail, on that one episode where SpongeBob invades everyone’s dreams?). Be the bridge to it.
- Share an article or post from someone you admire in your field and add your own substantial commentary. What do you agree with? What would you add? This provides value and sparks conversation.
- Do a “3 Links I Loved This Week” round-up. It’s a valuable service for your audience, connecting you with other creators.
Get Inspired by Other Industries
While your obvious focus should be on your own industry, staring at the same walls all the time can create tunnel vision.
- How would a chef approach your project management problem?
- What can a fitness trainer teach you about building consistent habits?
- How does a stand-up comedian’s writing process relate to crafting a compelling presentation?
- Cross-pollination of ideas is a powerful engine of creativity.
Go Back to Basics with a “Beginner’s Mind”
Sometimes, we get so advanced in our topics that we forget the foundational questions.
- Create a “Myth vs. Fact” post: talk about your industry’s most common misconceptions.
- Explain a core concept you specialize in: remember that some of your audience might be looking at your content for the first time—and even if they are not, “explainer” content often has massive reach and value. Talk to them as if you were talking to a complete novice.
- Share the tool, book, or resource: think about something that had the biggest impact on you when you were just starting. Someone out there might be looking for that same inspo.
Get Visual and Personal (The “Behind the Scenes” Glue)
You know what is ONE thing that humans love? Other humans. People connect with people, not just ideas. Let them see the human behind the content.
- Share a lesson learned from a recent failure. Vulnerability builds immense trust.
- Show your workspace or your process. How do you get your work done?
- Do a “A Day in the Life” photo or video dump. It doesn’t have to be glamorous; it has to be authentic.
Keep it Simple
Not every post has to be groundbreaking. A short reminder, a quick tip, a relatable thought… Sometimes that’s exactly what your audience needs.
Running out of ideas doesn’t mean you’re “bad at content.” It means you’re human. Creativity isn’t a faucet you can leave running 24/7. The trick is to build systems, lean on your archives, and give yourself permission to create lighter content on off days.
So the next time you hit that dreaded wall, don’t stare at the blank screen. Open this list, pick one strategy, and take a small, simple action. Before you know it, you won’t be out of ideas but out of time to post them all.
