The last few weeks have been the hardest to put pen to paper. Well, fingers to keyboard would be more appropriate. Despite my jokes, it’s been a helluva few weeks -for everyone. Like most people, I’m still reeling from last year. I had vowed to get my life together. Life had other plans though and I’ve been forced to confront a few realities about being a freelancer and author in general.
In terms of writing, my imposter-syndrome holds me back more than anything. As of late, I’ve realized I’m not the only one. Nearly every writer that I’ve ever known has reached the dreaded ‘block’ at some point. When you are growing as a writer, you may think that Writer’s Block is a newbie-pitfall. As you continue writing, however, you will realize it’s a state that will follow you through most of your career.
I know.
That sounds dramatic
There are ways to get around it though.
There is nothing worse than a clock ticking closer to a deadline while you stare at an empty Word document. Emotional and mental tension can hold you back creatively. Fortunately, there are some ways to relieve that tension. As you grow, navigating blocks may come easier to you and the blocks may hopefully only last for a short while. In the meantime, here are some of my best practices for getting over Writer’s Block.
Take a break/ Meditate
When you hit a wall, giving your mind a rest can be the best thing for you. If you’ve got a lot on your mind, maybe the best thing isn’t to force yourself to work harder or faster. Walk away from your work for a second and take a few deep breaths. If you have the time, try a quick meditation session. Try to clear your mind. I know it’s hard but, try not to think about anything in particular. If you’ve never done one before, there are a lot of free ones available on YouTube or through apps. Maybe a TED Talk is what you are in the market for. To hear an inspiration talk instead, check here.
Work On Something Else
Maybe you are a work-horse and taking a break is just out of the question. If that’s the case, maybe switching up the focus for a second is a better option. It’s sometimes just nice to have something creative to throw your frustrations at. It doesn’t have to be good or bad; it just is. Find a creative outlet, maybe even something just for yourself, and retreat into it when you frustrated.
It could be a book or painting. You could try that recipe or that DIY project from Pinterest that you’ve been eyeballing from the last few months. Some times distractions are the little inspiration one needs. Let your mind wander for a second and see what you come up with. Don't wander too long though! Always keep track of time.
Work Out/Eat Something
Creative sparks are awesome! To get those going you may actually need a physical spark. I made a video all about this. You can watch it here. Sitting in front of a computer or hunched over a book for hours isn’t considerate of the body. Getting the blood in your body flowing to all the right places can help with focus. A Stanford Report study found that simply walking improves creativity. It claims that ‘regular exercise is associated with improved divergent and convergent thinking, two major components of creative thinking. During this study, a person's creative output increased by 60% when they were walking, as opposed to sitting.'
Working out can be great for tension and for waking up the body. Eating a decent meal is just as good for the body. With no nourishment or stable intake, how do you expect to put any good in the world? Some types of foods that can help are fatty fish, blueberries, Tumeric, broccoli, pumpkin seeds, dark chocolate, nuts, fruits, and eggs. I actually have a snack drawer in my desk for this reason.
Listen to Music
Music is therapy for some. I know I love getting lost in some of my favorite songs. On really adventurous days, I try a new personalized-playlist. I know, risky! I give Spotify’s personalization a thumbs-up from time to time though. Whatever your genre-poison, try some background music to jump-start the shower-winger in you. In an interview hosted by the University of Minnesota, the American Music Therapy Association claimed,
“Music therapy touches all aspects of the mind, body, brain, and behavior. Music can provide a distraction for the mind, it can slow the rhythms of the body, and it can alter our mood, which in turn can influence behavior.”
Here are some of my favorite playlists for when I need a little jolt of creativity and focus. If you like music without vocals, try some of these streams. A quick workout is never out of the question either. Those are on the good days but, I have a lot of scrolling marathons as my only workout months. Try basic stretching while watching your favorite movie. You can skip workouts for now and meditate instead.
Whatever you do, make sure you stay positive. Writer’s Block happens to everyone. No matter the career-level that you are in, it can creep up. Don’t be hard on yourself. Look for encouragement from others. This account is one of my favorites during a bad day. Don’t let one pitfall, keeping you from writing altogether. You can always edit a bad page or a bad line. You can always revisit what you wrote but, you have to write it first. Most famous writers got their 'break' after hard work and a refusal to quit. Remember, you don’t start out writing good stuff but, you gotta write some bad stuff to be great.