The Comparison Trap Is Killing Your Creativity (Here’s the Way Out)

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The comparison trap is real. And honestly, it feels almost impossible to escape because you’re flooded with nonstop reels of what everyone else is doing with their life. When you’re a business owner, this gets dangerous fast. It’s easy to lose sight of what you’re actually building. Slowly, what you’re building starts turning into what everyone else has already built, and before you know it, it’s not authentic to you anymore.

Social media is a toxic place to be, in my opinion. It’s the first place most people go when they’re in a creative rut, and quite frankly, it should be the very last. Instagram, Facebook, TikTok — they all give people an outlet to escape when they want to avoid doing the very thing they should be doing… whatever that is.

I fell into the comparison trap in my first business.

As a small business owner, you get overwhelmed and overworked fast. The first place most of us go when we need a break is social media. And as soon as you do that, the comparison trap kicks in. You’re looking at what everybody else is doing instead of focusing on what you should be doing. You start assuming you should be doing the exact things they’re doing. But news flash: they’re in a different season and a different stage than you, so assuming you should be doing what they’re doing is the worst thing you could do.

When I started this business, I was so passionate about what I was creating that I just went all in. I spent months designing this business around who I wanted to serve, what I wanted to do, and what I wanted it to look like. In doing so, I created something one-of-a-kind. Other people may offer similar services, but they certainly don’t look like my brand, and they certainly aren’t doing everything I’m doing.

Now, this isn’t to say I’m not scrolling social media, because lord knows it’s nearly impossible to get away from these days. When I started this company, I was adamant about staying off it. After my divorce, I completely got off social media, and it was so refreshing. I kept empty accounts around just for Facebook Marketplace or to follow inspirational accounts on Instagram for a midday pick-me-up. That was it. Shortly after opening my business, though, I knew I needed to hop back on, so I created an account.

Now that I’m on social media again for the business, I’m connecting with tons of other businesses and accounts, and I’m not going to lie…it’s overwhelming. Sometimes I still fall back into the comparison trap, watching others succeed or look like they’ve hit their goals faster than me. But then I check myself and remember: this isn’t a competition against them. It’s a competition against myself. I want to be better today than I was yesterday. I want to have taken one more step forward today than I did yesterday. It takes time and practice to climb out of the comparison trap, but it’s possible.

I don’t want you falling into that trap either. So here are some ways to stay creative without comparing yourself to everyone else.

1. Save the scrolling for later

If you’re in a rut and just can’t get the creative juices flowing, for the love of all things holy, please don’t go to social media. It’s the last place that’s going to get you thinking the way you need to be thinking. What it will do is get you thinking like everybody else, and that’s not going to do your business any good.

What’s one thing that helps you get out of your head and think clearly?

I bet I know what doesn’t do that for you… social media.

Here’s what I do instead to clear my mind:

• Go for a walk outdoors — always my top choice.
• Take a break and read a book. A great way to cut down screen time.
• Exercise! This one’s a no-brainer, and there’s actual science behind it. Movement drops your stress hormones, floods your brain with feel-good chemicals, and literally sharpens your focus. So no, you’re not imagining it. You really do think better after a walk. And if you can get outside instead of stuck in a basement dungeon like me, even better. Research says outdoor movement boosts your brain even more, so get outside if you can.

A simple 15–30 minute walk gives you just enough time to clear your mind and start thinking creatively again. It works every day for me. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone for a walk and come back with a great idea for my business. Honestly, it’s where most of my best ideas come from.

Try it. You won’t be disappointed.

2. Create, then scroll

Once you’ve done that one thing to clear your mind, create. Don’t go to social media. Start brain-dumping any ideas you came up with and start making moves. Whatever that looks like for you.

Maybe you came up with an awesome newsletter topic for your community… start drafting!

Maybe you landed on an amazing idea for a new product.

Start outlining what that looks like. You’ll make so much more progress (and faster, too) if you get right back to work after that one clearing-your-mind activity.

Then, once the work is done, you can scroll.

I’ll be honest, though: if I start scrolling midday, I lose all momentum. It drains me. I can’t think clearly, and I lose motivation to keep doing anything productive. So I save my scrolling for nighttime, when I’m unwinding after a full, productive day of work.

3. Prepare for seasons of creative spark

If you’ve been at entrepreneurship for a while, you already know this truth:

Creativity comes in seasons.

You don’t always feel creative, and that’s normal. You’ll have creative highs and creative lows. The goal is to ride the wave and prepare for that flow.

Here’s what helps me prepare for those seasons of ebb and flow, and how I mentally work through them:

First and foremost, know that you’re not alone, and that it’s completely normal

So many factors play into why you feel creative in certain seasons and not in others. A “season” could just mean a single day. You’re not realistically going to feel creative for an entire quarter straight. That’s just not how it works.

Go with the flow

If you’re a mama, summer might not be your most creative season, because the kids are home from school and your routine is completely thrown off. But guess wha… that’s okay! Mama, these summers with your kids won’t last forever. Ride the wave and enjoy the moments. Before you know it, you’ll wish you still had them.

If you’re not feeling creative, don’t force it

Forcing it just causes stress and overwhelm, which makes everything worse. The best thing you can do is step away from what you’re working on, whether that means switching projects or physically walking away for a bit. For me, that’s stepping away from my desk. I’m not going to waste time or energy forcing something that isn’t there. It’ll come back naturally once you’re in the right space mentally and physically.

Finally, steer clear of the comparison trap altogether

Find ways to spark your creativity without scrolling through similar businesses or people online. Unconsciously, you’ll start copying what they do. Avoid it, and you’ll organically create something unique to you.

And here’s the thing I want you to tattoo on your brain (metaphorically, unless you’re really committed):

the world already has plenty of everyone else and whatever it is they’re doing.

It’s not running low on that. What it doesn’t have enough of is you and what you’re creating. So stop trying to be a knockoff version of somebody else’s highlight reel. Go be annoyingly, unapologetically you. The world needs more of that.

Here’s to all the incredible Moms juggling a million things—keep shining bright, cheering each other on, and building the life you love!

Xoxo,
Ashley

Friendly Note: I’m simply sharing my journey, experiences, and lessons learned as a Mom in business. This isn’t legal, financial, or professional advice. Always check with a qualified pro for guidance tailored to you.