We’ve all been there, whether it’s that long paper we have no idea how to start or that novel we’ve always wanted to open. Writer’s block seems to appear whenever we actually have free time to write or when we’re on a tight deadline. So if we all know about it, how do we fix it? It’s not really that simple, but you can experiment and try some of these methods until, hopefully, one works for you.
Take a walk
It’s definitely cliché, but getting up and taking a walk clears the head, especially if you’ve been sitting down for so long that you’ve started singing in rhythm to the blinking cursor on your blank screen. If possible, getting fresh air contributes to a calmer mindset that might stop you from stressing too much about your project.
Do something else
Don’t panic, it’s only for a little while! Not so long as to procrastinate, but just do something else for a few minutes, so you can come back to your writing with fresh eyes. Maybe complete a another assignment, talk with a friend for a minute or two, etc.
Get some food
Nutrients are essential to power your brain and, if you have access to some healthy food (fruits, vegetables, cheese, nuts, etc.), you should consider snacking. Unless you use food to procrastinate (as I do) and/or you’re not hungry, a little food might jumpstart your system. Also don’t forget to always drink water! We all know the lovely effects of a good cup o’ Joe, but water is far more important to your body.
Put your fingers on the keyboard
This one might be a bit bizarre, but hear me out. I’ve found that resting my hands on my keyboard makes me much more likely to start typing something (anything) than if my hands are preoccupied (texting, eating, arms crossed, etc.). When your hands are on the keyboard, your body is focusing itself on the task in front of you. So even if you don’t have any idea what you’re going to write about, simply placing your fingers on your computer’s keyboard can work wonders for your concentration.
Write anything
To jump off the last point, an old cure to the plague that is writer’s block can just be to write anything. Some people can write well only after spewing nonsense for a few minutes, so if you have that important thesis to write, consider writing whatever comes to your mind for twenty minutes to “clear the pipes,” so to speak. You can also take this advice a different way, which is to just write what you’re trying to write as best you can without overthinking it. What’s produced in the beginning might not be that great, but that’s what revisions are for!
Remove yourself from distractions
This might be the most difficult one, but you know it’s bad when you’ve been on the same blank screen for two hours while your friends are doing the Chubby Bunny contest with Oreos in your dorm room (there’s only so much your soundproof headphones can block out, people!). I know I absolutely can’t focus when there’s too many people around or if my phone is right next to me. Turn off your cell, (politely) tell your friends to quiet down or move to a different spot, close those Buzzfeed tabs on your laptop, and turn down your tunes. The less your brain has to compete with, the easier your writing process will be.