Ah, it’s the start of a brand new day, and it’s time to create masterfully written content that dazzles, delights, and speaks to your audience. You sit down with your cup of hazelnut coffee, ready to spill your thoughts onto the page and create award-winning writing works. You put your fingers to the keyboard and completely blank out. Cue the Homer Simpson head slap. Although seconds ago you had a head full of thoughts and direction, your brain has completely shut off with writer’s block.
Sound familiar? Don’t worry, it happens to everyone, and we know all about it. As a copywriting agency, we’ve had our fair share of mental blockades and hurdles we’ve had to get over to get the job done. This year, we thought we’d share a few of our favorite tricks and tips on how to avoid writer’s block.
1. Take a Walk
Tip number one is to get in the great outdoors and take a quick walk. Stepping away from your computer and getting the blood pumping can have a dramatic impact on your mental health and capacity. Physical exercise not only has physical wellness benefits but also outstanding mental benefits. Blue Cross Blue Shield claims walking can be a great mood booster and help promote creativity and productivity -just what a mentally blocked creator needs.
Physical exercise can significantly impact your overall well-being and promote healthy living. Researchers suggest a 20-minute walk enhances your energy, leading to greater focus and productivity. So, next time you’re stuck tapping your fingers on your forehead with no synapse firing, take a step back and take a quick 20-minute walk.
2. Allow Distractions… Really
Okay, we are not saying to scroll TikTok for hours on end to cure your writer’s block, but allowing a few distractions during a planned mental break can be highly effective at improving your mood and ability to carry on. Build in regular breaks while writing to allow yourself to be distracted. A break can be doing something you enjoy, like scrolling TikTok or Instagram, listening to your favorite band, or simply sitting and resting.
Taking a short break can help satisfy the distracted portion of your brain and clear your mind of unnecessary fluff. One common method is the Pomodoro Technique, where you work in 25-minute power sessions and then take a 5-minute break. This helps you stay on track, stick to your schedule, and allows your brain a chance to wander once every half hour.
Instead of allowing your brain to flitter away like a butterfly consistently, use your distractions wisely and schedule them out. During a break, don’t think about work. Do something you enjoy for five minutes, then get back to it.
3. Shake Up Your Environment
If you find yourself staring at the same boring desk, plants, and (people) every day, it may be time for an environment shake-up. Even the most exciting location can grow stale if it remains the same, so it can be helpful to have a change of pace. A workplace environmental change can be just the ticket to get your gears whirling again.
If you work from home, try rearranging your home office and adding a new plant, piece of art, or furniture to your workspace. Another option is to take your work on the road or local library to work for the day. There’s no need to stick with the same old thing.
If you work in a corporate office, make small changes to improve your area. This can be as simple as changing out the photos on your desk, adding a small desk plant, or rearranging your cubicle. Even small changes can add up and help improve your mood and pull you out of the mental rut.
4. Use a Prompt
In the AI era, there’s no need to sit and stare at a blank document for hours on end, trying to get an idea to spark. When appropriately used, AI-generated prompts and material can be just the leg up you need to start cooking with fire. Naturally, we’re not advocating for using AI to generate all your material, but when you need an idea or brainstorming session, it can be helpful to explore some options.
Starting from a prompt isn’t cheating but rather provides a direction or enough of a spark to inspire your creativity.
5. Get it All Out
One of the main contributors to writer’s block is your internal editor. You’ll stop soaring when you’re constantly second-guessing your creativity and writing. Of course, the internal editor is a valuable tool to help hone your material into a polished piece of content, but when you’re first writing, it can be a bigger hindrance than a help.
In order to stop your internal doubters, write without hesitation. Dump every thought you have onto paper, and don’t edit while writing. There will be plenty of time to critique your work later on; there’s no need to obsess over your first draft. When you allow yourself to write without editing, your brain has the outlet to express every thought and firing neuron. Don’t squelch that creativity by letting your internal editor stomp it out before it gets to paper.
A helpful way to write with abandon is to set a timer for yourself. Work in quick spurts, and don’t allow yourself to be distracted during that time. Write what you think for three, four, or ten minutes at a time, and buff out the rough patches later.
Follow Along for More Writing Insight
As professional copywriters, our staff loves exploring new ways to keep the creative juices flowing. We are here to help make the world a better place through quality content that delights and engages your audience. Follow along with our blog to stay up to date on the ins and outs of copywriting adventures, creative processes, and content marketing strategies.
