Summer is not technically over until late September, but for many people the week of Labour Day represents a full return to work and a definite sense that the sunny season has come to an end. For those whose jobs involve writing, achieving the level of focus you need after a long layoff is not without challenges, among them the much dreaded writer’s block.
We’ve all been there: staring at a blank screen waiting for inspiration to finally arrive. It doesn’t matter if you’re writing ad copy, a blog post, or content for a new web page – you’ve just got nothing.
Sometimes it’s less an emptiness than a stalling – you scratch out a few paragraphs that seem to be leading you somewhere good then, boom, everything comes to a grinding halt. The ideas cease and any words that come to mind are a jumble that you cannot wrangle into anything coherent, no matter how hard you try.
So how do you clear your writer’s block?
In my experience, the first and most essential step is to walk away from your computer.
Essential, but not easy.
It is so tempting to keep pushing, believing you are just one clever phrase away from getting unstuck. And while there’s always a chance that continued effort will get you through your block, it’s not likely. In the majority of cases, the only cure is rest.
Our brains are just not cut out for this much strain. As noted in an article in Scientific American, the brain “has a hard time staying focused on just one thing for too long” and periods of high mental exertion may push the brain to turn off, as though it has “a timer that says, ‘Okay you’re done now.’”
So listen to your brain and follow its lead. It might take you a while to get to that point – writers can be very stubborn about these things – but when you do, here are a few ways you can reset:
- Go for a walk or do a short workout of some kind. Writer’s block is stressful; getting all the angst and nervous energy out of your body can be immensely helpful. Keep your phone handy so you can dictate any ideas that arise into your notes app.
- Have a snack. Your brain uses more energy than you might realize. A few calories might be all you need to snap out of any fatigue you are feeling. Be sure to choose something healthy with lots of protein and minimal sugar. (I’m partial to plain Greek yogurt with fruit, chia seeds, a dash of granola, and a tiny drizzle of maple syrup.)
- Take a shower. How many times have you heard of someone having a eureka moment in the shower? It’s a thing. Whether it’s the soothing sound or relaxing temperature of the hot water, a shower tends to clear the mind and open it to new ideas. This little trick has worked for me countless times.
- Snooze. They don’t call it a power nap for nothing. Set a timer and lay down in your favourite napping place for a few rejuvenating ZZZs.
- Try an old-school approach. Grab a notebook and pen and start actually writing. Sometimes the sound of pen on paper and the sight of words flowing graciously along the page can get you into a rhythm and help you work through any blocks. Even just scribbling down some keywords and phrases can lead you in a better direction. I like to take my notebook to a couch or comfy chair for a complete change of scenery and mindset.
Deadlines can make it difficult but when you’ve hit the wall on the piece you’re writing, a mental and physical break is absolutely necessary. You’ll be surprised how much room you’ll create for new ideas when you give yourself some distance from the old ones.
Photo of notebook and pen by Hasnain Sajid Hakeem on Unsplash.