The title seems counterintuitive, but it actually works.
R. Schneider’s article over on PictureCorrect gives some great advice on how to get past “photographer’s block.” The advice boils down to looking for specific things, but the examples provided could quickly be turned into a photography unit.
In fact, I might do that.
It makes me think of a specific photography exercise I was told about (but not required to do) when I took a photo class in college: “Lock yourself in a bathroom until you’ve taken 100 unique photos.”
I’m assuming the intentions for that were 100% clean, as I’m sure the bathroom would also be before the first shot was taken. In that class we were fortunately given the less claustrophobic task of agreeing to a single location on campus to go to for our photo assignment.
The point of it is to force the photographer to think more and more about interesting composition. The first 50 photos are standard, run-of-the-mill shots, probably a mirror selfie or two. That’s where the obvious options are checked off.
After that, things get more interesting. Perhaps the camera’s pointing up from inside the cabinet under the sink. Perhaps medicine cabinet items are arranged into a haphazard tower of expired medications.
The last 10-25 shots are golden.
I don’t recommend locking yourself in your bathroom, specifically, but limiting yourself to a single location for 100 shots will definitely force you to think, even if you don’t take them all in one go.