We’ve all been there: staring at the computer screen, blank word document, assignment deadline looking over our heads,, and you’re determined to get something done. You’re pumped, the mug beside you is full of coffee, you’re ready to go, and you just… can’t.
Writer’s block is that friend that you never really invited to the party, but decides to show up the day you really didn’t want to see them. And it’s the one thing every writer, and student, hates the most when they’ve been attempting to get something done and nothing, absolutely nothing, comes out.
So, for all those moments we hate and despise, here’s a couple of tips on what to do when there’s everything to be done.
1. Stop
Take a breath. Get up. Stop with the coffee. Creativity never works when forced, and even if it’s your average over-the-mill what-did-you-learn essay, writing is an art and it requires creativity. Learn to give yourself a break and walk away. Take a shower, make food, do that thing you keep postponing. Then, head back to your seat. You’ll feel much better.
2. Talk
Your opinions, stances, and ideas are only found when they’re verbalized, and to many of us, this comes easiest by talking and not writing. So, call up your best friend and inform them that you need to rant until you find what you’re going to write about. Afterwards, proceed to writing.
3. Write about something else
You can fight me all you want, but as I mentioned, you can’t force creativity. Write about your struggle with writer’s block, instead. Write about a movie you saw. Do a different writing assignment. Listen to what you actually want to do, not what you need to get done. As soon as you satisfy your intellectual craving, you can go back to being productive!
4. Sleep
I’m serious. Go, take a thirty minute nap, and come back to your desk. Thirty-minute naps have been proven to boost energy levels, and you’ll wake up with a clearer head. Your computer screen can be your enemy if you stay on it for too long, and I’m sure staring at that blank word doc has gotten you to exhaustion. Rest, and you’ll feel much better.
5. Have a dance party
Full disclosure: this is my favorite. I’d often do this in my room, with my headphones on and my roommates would never know I was having a dance party all by myself. Put on your favorite song, blast it if you must, and get yourself in the mood. It’s important to understand that we are not made to be all work and no play.
All in all, it’s important to remember that we’re all in this fight. We’re all half-dead with that huge mug of coffee in the wee hours of the morning trying to finish an essay at some point in our college carrier (or at multiple points). Take a deep breath, think about what works, what doesn’t, and get to it. You can do this, I believe in you.