The last few days I’ve had a bad case of writer’s block.
Every time I sat down to write, the words just wouldn’t come.
I got completely stuck.
In overthinking. Overanalyzing.
And spinning my wheels.
And then impatient with myself for getting stuck in all of the above!
Um…sooooo NOT helpful.
Creativity + impatience = going no where.
Fast.
Whenever this happens, I’ve learned to take a different approach.
To stop trying to force myself to write.
And instead, to trust in the ebbs & flows of life.
To go do something else.
Something more mindful.
Something that gets me out of my hamster-wheel thinking.
And back into my body & the present moment.
Like doing tasks around the house: folding laundry, loading the dishwasher, cleaning up my room.
Or journaling, listening to an inspiring podcast, watching a good tv show like All Creatures Great & Small.
Going for a long walk by the sea.
Or practicing some gentle yoga with Adriene & Benji.
Even doing something as simple as sipping a warm cup of coffee, while watching the birds outside my window, helps me disconnect from my overthinking, perfectionistic, do-do-do brain.
And gets me back to living right here. Right now.
The more I let go of trying to overcome my writer’s block, the more it lets go of me.
Eventually.
When the time is right.
Which is exactly what happened to me today…
When the idea of writing about “NOT writing” hit me. (While I was cleaning my bathroom, no less).
Hello inspiration!
I ran with it. And lo & behold, here I am blogging again.
So whenever you get writer’s block, or a creative block of any kind, try not to force it.
And do these 3 things instead:
1. Take a break – go do something that gets you back into your body & the present moment. And out of your overthinking, overanalyzing mind. Meditate, journal, take a nap. Or go for a long walk with your dog & breathe in Mother Nature. It’s a bit of an oxymoron, but sometimes you’ve got to stop writing, in order to start it!
2. Practice self-compassion – treat yourself the way you would a good friend who just needs some empathy & understanding. And not have someone yelling at them (like your tough inner critic) to “get on with it!”
3. Ask for help – reach out to a supportive friend or family member. Or hire a coach like me to bounce ideas off of, help shift your perspective, or give you the permission you may need to finally take the break you’ve be craving.
And when inspiration does hit again (‘cuz it will), take a deep breath.
Say thank you to the writing-gods.
And enjoy being back in the flow.
Kerry xo
P.S. Got any tips for dealing with your own writer’s block? Share them in the comments below.