Here's something that comes up often - both for bloggers and content writers in general - How do I get over writer's block?
Well, what is writer's block in the first place? Writer's block is a period of low creativity that creeps in after a prolonged amount of writing. You're unable to generate new ideas and incapable of maintaining your flow of thought. This happens mainly when your mind has been taxed with a lot of writing in the past, and your brain is just too tired to keep things going.
So how can you beat writer's block? (especially when you have a blog post to complete or a content writing assignment to finish)
I've faced writer's block many a time. Since we do a lot of content writing and marketing, there are definitely moments when my brain feels taxed and my mind simply says "bugger off!". So then what do I do to get over it? Here are some interesting tips to help you recover from writer's block (and nail those content writing assignments in the process!).
1. Go for a walk
This has to be my favourite of them all. It's why I ranked it number one. Going outside for a walk (especially in natural surroundings) is a great way to beat writer's block. Sometimes what the eyes need (instead of a screen) is a canopy of trees and greenery. Try and be mindful when you walk, taking slow, steady, and small steps. Mindfulness is known to help rejuvenate your mind and beat stress. When you use your body as a tool to shift your mind away from the incessant thoughts that pound it, and to your legs as you stretch and walk, you're giving your brain a chance to relax, and slow down as well. Try and focus on your breath as you walk ahead, and your right brain will soon take over from your left brain. Now as we all know, the right brain is in charge of the creative muscle - all too important for a writer struggling with writer's block.
2. Don't watch TV / Keep your phone away / No social media
I know watching TV is a great way to pass time for a lot of people out there, but I'll be brutally honest - it's an idiot box. Watching TV (or Netflix) will dumb your brain down, without giving it a chance to detox - which is what you really need. Not only that, you're going to be watching another screen, and not giving your eyes a break, which is again important for your body - your eyes are a continual source of signal input for your brain and mind, so cutting them some slack can immediately have a great effect on your mind. Endless and mindless scrolling on the phone is also best avoided. Searching for that elusive dopamine hit through social networking is not a great way to rejuvenate a tired mind.
3. Play with a pet
Playing with a pet is a great way to do something *loving* without stressing yourself out or forcing your brain to think and process things. When you do something loving, like cuddling or playing with a pet, you're releasing the right kind of hormones in your body. These hormones work to reduce stress and relax your being, a great way to center yourself and calm down. If you don't have a pet, find a loved one like someone in the family or a friend, and give them a nice bear hug. That should do the trick!
4. Play a (physical) game
This is a great way to take the focus off your writing and give your brain a chance to unwind. It again, like walking, puts the focus back on your body and helps your mind to quieten down. The thing about some physical games is that they may become too taxing on your body. If you spend an hour or two playing with a friend - you'll need another hour of relaxation post the game to really start feeling good about your head again. Sometimes, after a game of table tennis, I end up falling asleep all too early. This is fine if you're not under a deadline, but if you do have to complete some writing on a timeline, I would suggest walking or playing with a pet.
5. Meditation
You all probably saw that one coming - but here's the thing - it's probably going to be a lot better for you to give yourself a solid meditation session before you start your writing for the day rather than as a corrective measure when you get writer's block. Doing it ahead of your day will help you start your writing with a really rejuvenated and fresh mind, with proper breathing, and creative flow. I'm usually a night meditator, meditating before I hit the sack, but I'm trying to be more like Steve Jobs and start my day with meditation. Alas, I have to start waking up early to really enjoy my meditation in a silent environment (important!), which I am kind of struggling with.
So there you go folks - some interesting hacks to get over writer's block - for content writers and bloggers alike.
BTW, I also happened to have found some great links on writing from the interwebs. I've added them all over here in case you're interested in learning more about content writing. We do provide content services after all, so we are the experts ;)
Enjoy!
