Dealing With Writer’s Block Amid Tough Times
2020 has been a tough year for everyone. As we deal with illness, racial tensions and a declining economy, we’re constantly surrounded by dismay and agony. Per usual, I am mentally and emotionally caught up in it all. Unfortunately, this makes concentrating on my work much more difficult. At my job, I have to reach a certain publishing quota every week. Before, generating ideas, writing, editing and publishing them quickly was very easy. But now, I often find myself stuck, hitting several mental roadblocks throughout the process.
Even in a time with so much to write about, I've been wondering why I feel like this? Some call it burnout, my friends and coworkers call it sleep deprivation, but I call it writer's block.
What exactly is 'writer's block'?
It's a non-symptomatic, non-medically diagnosable condition. According to the New Yorker, writer's block has "probably" been around since the invention of the craft itself. Writer's block plagues everyone from the most-respected scholars, authors and journalists to the high school seniors procrastinating their final paper. Sometimes, it happens when it's most inconvenient, especially when your projects are on a razor-thin deadline.
Not everyone experiences it the same
The condition can vary from person to person. That's why it's so hard to perform a self-diagnosis. However, you could have writer's block if you experience:
Irritability.
A lack of focus.
Immense frustration.
Feelings of stress and anxiety.
A higher than average body temperature (okay, maybe that’s just me).
Mild or extreme exhaustion.
Procrastination by eating.
A lack of creativity.
Fortunately, these symptoms — and any unique ones you may experience — are often normal. While there is no single cure for writer's block, I've found that getting up and moving around helps me. If I'm ever feeling stuck or stressed out, a quick walk around the block does wonders. For others, I've heard listening to music and meditating can also be helpful. I've often come up with my best ideas for articles when I'm doing something unrelated to writing. If you're in a zen state of mind at the right time, your best ideas can hit you like a train.
A little self-compassion can go a long way
If you ever feel like your creative engine is stuck in a rut, don't beat yourself up. We’re all adapting to a new normal and doing the best we can with what we have. Punishing yourself will only make it tougher to churn out something brilliant.
And if you need another pick-me-up, click on that last hyperlink for a little extra “inspiration.”
