Creativity is a limited resource. When you feel burned out, uninspired, or otherwise unable to dream up new ideas, don’t worry — you can recharge your creative batteries and get back to being your brilliant self in no time. Here’s how:

1. Read an inspiring book.

When you struggle to come up with your own ideas, why not see how other great minds came up with theirs? The best books on creativity provide insight into the lives of businesspeople, musicians, artists, social workers, politicians, and every other kind of influential figure.

Not feeling the nonfiction? Not a problem. Head to Amazon to see if any of your favorite authors have published anything new. Reach out to friends for their recommendations. Head to your local library and grab something off the shelves. Give your brain a chance to consume someone else’s ideas, and before long, you’ll feel your creative spark return.

2. Go to lunch with someone new.

The nice thing about people is that no two of them are the same. Conversations allow us to peek into the minds of our fellow humans and get a taste of the way they see the world. Because creativity is such a subjective quality, you might find that the best way to inspire your own is to talk to someone else.

Ask a few team members to join you for lunch at a new restaurant. Call up an old friend and schedule a catch-up date. Keep it informal — if you try to combine your creative recharge with a sales pitch, you probably won’t do either one well.

3. Try a novel physical activity.

Everyone knows exercise is great for the brain. Take it to the next level by trying a physical activity you’ve never done before. Not only will the physical challenge get your wheels turning, but the strange environment will also help you see familiar things in a new light.

Do you like to run? Go take a local spin class. Into yoga? Try some rock climbing. Powerlifter? Aerobic dance might sound like a wild concept, but it will certainly give you an opportunity to try something new. Who knows? You might rediscover your creative mojo and find a new hobby in the process.

4. Riff on someone else’s work.

Great artists steal. Although people generally look down on plagiarism, no one will fault you for using the work of another in private to explore your own creative side.

If you’re a writer, find a story or passage written by someone you admire and continue the work on your own. How could you expand it? If you prefer art, reimagine a piece you enjoy. Even if your creativity exists mostly in the business world, you can still use this practice. Look at the challenges other companies have faced, then sketch out a plan for how you would help your company overcome something similar.

5. Dig through old projects.

You can’t steal from other people and get away with it, but you can steal from yourself — provided you haven’t published the work before. Look through your archives of unfinished projects, blog posts, and creative content, then think about how you might finish those pieces or transform them into something new.

When you don’t feel creative in the moment, it’s easy to feel like you were never creative in the first place. Look at what you’ve accomplished to remind yourself that you know what you’re doing. Use past successes to put yourself in that creative frame of mind so you can get back in the saddle.

6. Do it all by hand.

Computers and smartphones can do all sorts of useful things. That said, overreliance on glowing rectangles can sap your creative strength. Turn off your monitor, shut down your smartphone, and find a quiet place with a notepad and a piece of paper.

Write down whatever comes to mind. Don’t limit your focus to work, either. Have an idea for a new deck in your backyard? Sketch it out. If you’ve always wanted to be a rock star, write the chorus for your new hit single. You can put it through the shredder later if you want, but try not to let your stage fright prevent you from getting your thoughts on paper.

7. Go to bed and try again tomorrow.

Once you try a few tricks to reignite your creative fires, don’t be discouraged if nothing seems to work. Your brain only has so much fuel. Working long hours, dealing with life’s stresses, and pumping out tons of creative content will inevitably rob you of your creativity for a little while.

When that happens, put down your struggle so you can pick it up again tomorrow. There’s no shame in living to fight another day. If you keep pressuring yourself to create, you’ll just get frustrated by your lack of progress. Do something you enjoy, go to bed on time, and give it another shot later. Your brain needs plenty of rest if you want to stay at your creative peak.

Just because you are a creative person does not mean you can be the most brilliant person in the room every time. Use these tips to reset and revitalize your brain, and be kind to yourself if you continue to struggle. You’ll get there eventually, so don’t beat yourself up on the journey back.