To counter myself: I've also had periods where I'm doing two things that really help.

I've been reading a lot (a lot.) of fiction recently. That kind of escapism is fantastic. I love being able to form the images in my head of the books I am reading.

I've been learning another language, and have become proficient enough to read fiction in that other language. I'm nowhere near at a fantastic level, but being able to read in another language, and have those images form is amazing. So far the biggest books I've read in Dutch are Dunger Crawler Carl (which I am now reading the sequels in English.) and Project Hail Mary, which felt cool due to the themes of translating other languages.

I recommend both as a way to try to escape the loop.