Overcoming Writer’s Block
One of the questions authors get asked a lot, is how they deal with writer’s block. There are many different ways writer’s deal with this temporary loss of creativity. Everything from forcing yourself to continue to write, even though it may be awful, to completely walking away from your work for a while. And, while I’m not immune to the occasional mental road block, I do have habits that help me overcome them quite effortlessly. These habits not only help me clear my mind, they help me stay positive and creative, too.
Just as our emotions can effect our physical bodies, like when we’re scared our hearts beat faster or when we’re nervous our muscles tense up, the reverse is true as well. There’s a direct connection between our physical body and our state of mind. If we don’t take care of our body, our mind suffers. And one sure way to clear your mind, and open yourself up to creativity, is to engage your body.
That being said, here are three things I do to overcome writer’s block:
Run
I can imagine the collective eye rolls from all the non-runners out there. Oh no, she’s one of those crazy people that runs for fun! Well, yes, I am somewhat crazy, but that’s not the topic of this post. Keep in mind, I didn’t start running until I turned thirty. Before then, I couldn’t make it to the end of my street without my heart pounding so hard I thought it was going to explode. But, I started slowly, increased my mileage even more slowly and now, I’m a certified runner. I’ve been running for fourteen years. And sometimes, believe it or not, it really is fun.
Putting the physical benefits aside, running is an excellent way to clear your mind and lift your spirits. Numerous studies have shown that running stimulates neurotransmitters, like serotonin, dopamine, epinephrine, and beta-endorphin, all of which elevate mood and reduce depression and anxiety. The endorphin release is what’s commonly referred to as the runner’s high.
When I’m stuck on a scene or trying to understand one of my character’s motivations, I can usually untangle the web while I’m running. And it’s not a conscious effort. I just focus on the road, listen to my music and things just start to work themselves out in the back of my mind.
So, the habit of running makes you feel good while helping to clear your head. And you don’t have to run a lot to get the benefits, even a little bit helps you feel better.
Yoga
Yoga is the yin to the running yang. It’s a great complement to running because it helps you lengthen the overused muscles in your legs. It also helps you strengthen your upper and side body, which is often neglected if you only run. Doing yoga actually helps you become a stronger runner. Here again, though, the mental benefits of yoga are just as important, if not more so.
The essence of yoga is regulating your breathing, and focusing on your breath helps to remove the static noise in your head. It helps you stay in the present moment. The practice of concentration and retention of breath is the perfect way to clear your mind!
You don’t have to go to a yoga studio either. I do most of my yoga at home. You can check out online yoga services like YogaGlo, YogaVibes and GaiamTV (just to name a few).
Meditate
Which leads me to meditation. Although yoga in the US takes on a more physical exercise, in Eastern traditions, yoga has more of a meditative core. Therefore, there’s a natural transition from going from yoga to meditation.
I started meditating last year and I can say, without a doubt, it has helped me achieve a higher state of mental clarity than anything else I do. Writer’s block doesn’t seem to be an issue for me since I started meditating daily.
Meditating may not be the easiest habit to form, especially in todays rushed, instant gratification society. For many people, it’s easier run a mile than to sit down and just be. It takes time and practice to learn how to slow down and let it all go. I recommend starting with five minutes and then building from there.
Meditation helps raise your awareness. It helps increase intuition. It can also help you become more reverent, which is so important when you’re a writer. Research has even found that meditation promotes divergent thinking, a type of thinking that generates new ideas.
Like running, meditation increases serotonin production which improves mood and behavior. It also lowers high blood pressure and has shown to lower levels of blood lactate, reducing anxiety. It even helps you sleep better!
And this is just what we know. Researchers are still discovering new ways meditation helps to improve our health.
So, these are the things I do to help clear my mind and keep the creative juices flowing. What about you? How do you deal with writer’s block?
Here are other ways to deal with writer’s block:
http://flavorwire.com/343207/13-famous-writers-on-overcoming-writers-bloc k
Here’s more links regarding the benefits of running:
http://www.fitbie.com/get-fitter/5-brain-benefits-running
http://greatist.com/fitness/30-convincing-reasons-start-running-now
More information about the benefits of yoga:
http://life.gaiam.com/article/benefits-yoga
More info on the benefits of meditation:
https://www.headspace.com/science
http://io9.com/how-to-meditate-and-get-the-most-benefit-out-of-it-1688990555
