8 Strategies to Help Overcome Writer's Block

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Do you ever have that moment when you are staring at a blank page or the flashing cursor on your computer screen and your mind just goes…nope! Writer's block is very common and can be particularly prevalent (and irksome) in the creative world, as we are often trying to conjure something out of nothing. In this post I will break down the 8 methods I use to swerve or overcome the dreaded writer’s block, keeping your mind ticking away and in (or as close to as possible) the holy land known as the flow state. 

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1. Take a Break 

If your brain has stopped working, then sometimes the best thing to do is to stop working! Take a break. Have a kit-kit! This doesn’t mean you’ve failed and this doesn’t mean you are quitting. We often think (particularly if we have a deadline coming up) that we must continue to bang our heads against the wall in the hope that some ideas will eventually fall out. But if nothing is coming then, although it seems counter intuitive, stopping or slowing down is often the best way to speed up. 

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2. Change Location 

If the wall behind your computer keeps on staring at you, you will go mad. Get away from that wall’s judgmental gaze and go and find another more amiable wall, or even better, a nice view! Whether you find a view of the sea where the crashing waves can fill you with inspiration, a little patch of green under a friendly tree, so you can fill your lungs with fresh air, or just a seat in your local Starbucks (other overpriced coffee chains are available), a simple change of scenery can do wonders for your mental state. 

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3. Exercise 

Whether we like it or not (and I do not), it is common consensus that physical activity is not just good for your body but for your mind too. Exercise and oxygen intake increases blood flow, which can increase your brain function and help you think in a clearer and more creative way. Shut your computer, or down your quill, and go for a nice walk, perhaps a jog, or god forbid even a pilates session. This should be done regularly and can help stave off writer’s block in the first place, but can also be used as a quick break from work if you do find yourself in the middle of it. You might think it will make you tired in the short term but in the long term it is invaluable. 

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4. Eat 

You won’t like me when I’m hangry! A light meal or a snack can give you the energy you need to push through writer’s block. Of course certain foods are better than others. Big meals means your body needs to divert a large portion of its energy into digesting the food, which is why we often feel tired after eating. But small doses of ‘brain foods’, like nuts, fruits or even a little bit of chocolate, can give you an extra spurt of energy that can either stop your brain taking its own siesta (and deserting you in your hour of need), or can bring it back online if its already decided to shut down and switch on your internal screensaver mode. 

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5. Drink 

Stay hydrated. I know it's really boring and sort of obvious but humans need water! It's good for us! Dehydration is one of the main contributors to fatigue and massively affects our brain function. You should drink 1.5-2.5 litres a day (approximately 6-11 cups)… I know you’re thinking that’s a lot of water, and you’re right! But if you are thinking that, it means you do not drink that amount a day. The moment I committed to changing my water habits and started drinking over 2 litres a day, it increased my brain functionality and concentration levels a seemingly miraculous amount. If water bores you, then add coffee or tea to it. People seem to forget that even though its changed colour, it is still water! Be careful with caffeine intake as too much can scramble your brain waves and begin to have an adverse effect on your concentration levels and effect your sleep. 

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6. Sleep 

Which brings us to sleep! A good night's sleep hugely effects your cognitive abilities. It has become harder and harder for us to get a good night's sleep with the speed of modern life and with screens being everywhere, but it does not mean it has become any less important. So, try and get a regular schedule and cut out the late nights where possible (we’ve still got to have a bit of fun every now and then!). If naps work for you (they don’t for me) then don’t be afraid to take one. Simply hitting the off and on button in your brain could help you get out of your writer’s block. 

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7. Write Something Different 

Okay, enough of the healthy stuff! You want to know what you can do immediately to help shift the dynamic of your thinking and get you out of the slump. If you are struggling and feeling weighed down by whatever you are writing, then just write something else. Write a poem, a short story, or a letter to your lover! You could even write a blog about how to get over writer’s block ;) This can help break the monotony of whatever you’re doing. It might give you that little spark of creativity that reboots your brain, and your enthusiasm, and then you can bring that new found sense of get up and go back to the work you were previously struggling with. 

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8. Stop Caring 

Lastly, if you are struggling then just stop caring! Just get some words down. They can be silly, whimsical, or even completely off topic, but the physical act of writing, and the mental act of creating, can act as a little boost to wake your brain up. You don’t need to strive for perfection. The first draft is called that because there will be a second. Stop caring about the immediate quality because you can always go back and edit. Even if what you write is complete tripe or irrelevant it might just give you a fresh idea that you can then go back and implement. 

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Conclusion 

Adopting the strategies laid out in this post will help you reignite that creative spark that was extinguished by the dreaded fog of writer’s block. Whether it is about tweaking your general lifestyle to avoid it in the first place, or moving locations once it has begun, beating the block is about changing your habits. It’s not about forcing yourself to push through it, it's about breaking the patterns that led to the block in the first place, it's about embracing the writer’s block and using it as a moment to reset and go again. 

When was the last time you had writer’s block and how did you get over it?

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