bigfreak I have the same problem as you sometimes...I know this might sound dumb but I look at other websites people have made to get ideas....not to copy them but to get my creative juices flowing...maybe if I could do something better than they did or maybe tone down a certain style, etc.
I look through templates myself:
http://www.templatemonster.com
To get ideas. I don't copy the websites but seeing other designers work helps me get my own creative flow going.
it's sort of like watching a movie you really enjoy. Sometimes your first urge is to do somethign you saw in the movie for example my favorite movie is The fast and the Furious. Everytime I watch that movie it makes me want to street race, etc. I don't do it of course but the concept is the same!
It affects some more easily than others too this approach may not work for you. Another way to get ideas is to clear your head...seriously when was the last time you took a walk in a local park or just gone on a scenic drive (witht he price of gas i might not suggest it, but who knows). Sure it depends on your location but just going out and admiring the beauty of nature sometimes and not worrying about your stresses for just a minute will help bring imagination. It's like a teacher taking a full whiteboard full of notes and erasing it. You get a clean slate to start on.
Also with that last point it brings up another good though, take a look at nature it has limitless amounts of inspiration whether it be natural occurences or manmade. For example, take a single flower, maybe take a digital still of it and just look at the beauty it holds and how a little seed or bulb can grow into somethign so intricately beautiful.
Your design can be the same thing, it starts as a seed and then you build it into an intricate business model website with great design and flow.
It all really depends on your learning style as not only a designer but as the person inside of you. Take whatever you hold and cherish to you and use it as your inspiration.... Rememebr you can always go back and modify it if the client doesn't like it! One thing I noticed is clients look for progress, if they are any type of business they know that with progress coems some sort of trial and error. You might come out with a great layout but the graphics need to be altered...your design wasn't a failure, it might not of been successful but the client will be happy because it is progress.
I hope this helps a little bit I'm sorry it's so long. I used to ask this a lot in forums when I first started designing and I ask it to myself mostly now with the thoughts above. I never really got an answer that was overly helpful. I got a few sentences that told me a link to a website, etc etc and it didnt really help much so I found other ways to try and break my blocks... Sometimes I even took a full day away from projects just to relieve some stress. Sure deadlines are important, especially to businesses but if you show that you are making progress with a great design most clients will be glad to give you an extension. All it takes is common courtesy and how you treat your client from the get go.
Enjoy!
