When you run a blog or website, writer’s block is inevitable. You’ll have to deal with it at some point. From time to time, everyone’s idea well runs dry.
Over the years, I’ve been dragged into all kinds of mental slumps. Periods where the ideas just would not come, and putting pen to paper felt like an impossible task. Luckily, I’ve always overcome these issues.
And once I bounced back, I’d have a whole new set of powerful (and profitable) ideas.
In this article I’ll show you three of my favorite ways to escape a creative rut.
1. Exercise
(A Better “Cognitive Enhancer” Than Any Pill On The Market)
Exercise is the best mental stimulant in the world. Chess champion Bobby Fisher knew this. Before every match Fischer would go workout, knowing that exercise would stimulate his brain and give him the advantage he needed to win.
Thousands of other leaders, inventors, and artists have all done the same.
Why?
Because it works.
Whenever you’re stuck in a creative rut, take a break and go workout.
This is super simple, yet you’d be amazed at home many people never try this.
Lifting weights or going for a walk does more for your brain than any nootropic supplement.
It’s near impossible to work up a sweat from good, physical exercise, and not come up with creative ideas in the process.
Because of this, it’s smart to keep some exercise equipment near your writing desk. Personally, I have a kettlebell, Power Tower, and foam roller all in the corner of my office. But you can use whatever tools you’d like.
The most important thing is to just have something that gets you moving. This gets your creative juices flowing and clears out any writer’s block you might have suffered.
2. Play The “Deadline Game”
Here’s a fun way to come up with lots of ideas very quickly. In fact, bloggers and website owners can use this technique to discover an entire year’s worth of article ideas, all within the span of five minutes.
All you need is a piece of paper, pencil, and timer.
Set your timer for five minutes and then write down every article idea that pops into your head during this time.
You’ll always end up with a handful of good ideas from this exercise. And, if you do this frequently, you’ll often end up with 20 – 30 solid choices. That’s enough several months worth of blog posts.
3. Take The Day Off And Go Somewhere New
(Nothing Beats An Evening Walk)
If you can’t get anything done, there’s no point in sitting around and getting stressed about it.
When I’m in a rut, I just call it a day and take the afternoon off.
Go for a walk, take a day trip outside the city, or visit someplace you’ve never been. A change of scenery is good for you. And it exposes you to things you wouldn’t have seen otherwise.
Additionally, taking the day off gives your brain time to recharge. This allows your subconscious to find a solution. As a result, you’ll often overcome your writer’s block without actively trying to. The deep areas of your mind will get everything sorted out while you’re off sightseeing.
As psychologist Milton Erickson famously said, “The unconscious mind works without your knowledge and that is the way it prefers.”
The next time you’re seriously stuck in a creative rut, don’t bother trying to “power through” with sheer force of will. That rarely does anything (except waste time as you stare at a blank screen). Instead, “give up” for a day or two and then come back once your subconscious has everything figured out.