Have you ever felt as if you simply couldn’t get the words to come out when you sit and try to write? If so, you’ll be glad to know that you aren’t alone. Every writer, from freelancers to established writers, has days where they stare at a blank page or screen waiting for the motivation to strike them. In some cases, you may need to do something to uplift your spirits and motivate you to write. You may just need a change of scenery. The next time you find yourself in a situation where you simply don’t feel motivated enough to write, or if you get stuck mid-sentence such as, “How long do mattresses last?”, you might want to consider some of the tips below.
1) Exercise
Anxiety and depression have been linked to having low levels of certain chemicals in the brain such as dopamine and serotonin. Dopamine and serotonin are known as being “mood hormones” which regulate the way you feel. Exercise can help to boost your body’s level of these chemicals. In some instances, the level of motivation you feel may be the result of your mental health. It’s hard to write a college essay if you constantly experience feelings of anxiety and depression. Regular exercise has been known to improve sleep quality, boost self-esteem, and lower feelings of anxiety. All of this helps to make you feel happier and subsequently more motivated.
2) Set Small Goals
We all feel a certain degree of motivation to keep going once we meet a smaller goal. For instance, once you begin to lose weight, staying in the same routine becomes easier. As you lose more and more weight it furthermore reinforces the belief that you should keep it up. Once you earn your first $100, it’s easier to stay motivated and work consistently until you earn $1000. The point being is that, setting small goals, and constantly accomplishing them, is a perfect way for you to establish routine and consistency to help you reach your ultimate goal. The secret is to avoid large goals and to create smaller, more easily attainable ones.
3) Ask For Help
Never shy away from the possibility of seeking help. Ask your friends. Ask your coach. Read a blog from your favorite writer. Join a writing forum. The point being is that if you want to achieve greatness as a bonafide writer, you should surround yourself with likeminded people who share the same passions. They can operate as a source of motivation and provide support.
4) Remember Your “Why”
Some people who want to improve their health, fail at losing weight simply because they don’t want to put effort into dieting and exercise. Instead, they try to use the “easy” way out by taking magical supplements which in some cases can actually put their health at risk. They forget why they wanted to lose weight in the first place, which was to improve their overall health and not make it worse.
The same thing applies to other things in life such as writing. There is no magical process to becoming an established writer. There’s no magical process to producing great content. When you feel unmotivated to write, you have to embrace the entire process. In order for you to do this, you have to evaluate your “why”. Why do you want to write in the first place? By constantly looking back at your “why,” it can help to keep you motivated to see it all the way through.
5) Write Now Edit Later
Many writers try to edit their mistakes as they go along, only to realize that they spent two hours writing one page. Constantly correcting each and every word you write before moving on to another sentence can zap your motivation, and block your creativity as well as slow down your productivity. Therefore, it’s recommended that you complete your writing first, then edit it after the fact.
6) Change Your Surroundings
In some cases, your surroundings may be the thing that’s affecting your level of motivation. For instance, if you live in an area that’s close to the bus line, the noise from constant traffic may cause you to feel demotivated about writing. In some cases, you may usually write in a room that’s filled with visual and technological distractions. Therefore, you need to find a section in your home that you can use as your own distraction-free “writer’s zone.” This can be anything from your bathroom and attic to your kitchen and shed. Ideally, you should use a location that has the least amount of furnishings in your home such as the garage or basement.
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