𝕁𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕊𝕨𝕖𝕖𝕥 𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤

How to get back your flow.

You can find yourself in a rut sometimes where you just can’t
produce all of the work that you want to. Luckily there are ways
out of this, and back into the flow of writing. Have you tried
automatic writing, or detoxing your mind? Are you sure that the
way you take breaks is the proper way to do it? Well, I have
options for you. You can’t ever have gone completely dry, you
just need to find your inner river.

I have useful tips for getting inspired again, improving productivity for non-creatives, feeling stuck, and meeting that word count. Would you believe that I have never experienced writer’s block? It is not a necessary part of the process, and it doesn’t have to happen to you. If you are serious about abolishing stagnation for good, keep a copy of this article on hand as a mobile bookmark, but I’d suggest you print it out.

Read this post completely for some diverse insight on multiple types of problems and their solutions, or skip right to your most applicable section. I am sure that you will find something that applies to anyone, like you.

In this article you will find:

• Taking rewarding breaks
• Automatic writing
• Get inspired
• Word count
• A bit of luck

Unmindfulness: a good and proper break.
Writers’ block is caused most often by stacked deadlines and
stress, not by a lack of something. If you have already taken
several breaks only to find yourself in the exact same position,
stuck, then you’re doing it wrong. Breaks are not
procrastination, your body needs adequate rest as well as your
mind. Getting distracted, by things like television, and media
online is procrastinating, this will not suffice as a rewarding
break. The proper way to do it is to remove things from your
thought stream, not add more. I’m sure you’ve had the idea to go
on a walk, I did too, but I am rewarded by mine. This is because
I let my mind reset and my body calibrate itself.

Putting the project completely out of mind is first, leave the
space and get yourself hydrated. Remember that you are human and
if all else fails, life will go on, just relax. Now that you
have gotten some fresh air and a change of scenery it is time to
ground yourself, be present, and actually take advantage of the
peace. If the thought of getting back to work dreads you, you
are not yet ready. The minutes are passing and you’re concerned
about your deadline, I know, but grant yourself some grace, this
is a productive break and you are still at work.

The change we need here is one that makes you excited to
write, decide now that you will not go treading water until you
finally do see land. There is no point in forcing yourself to
perform without any change of pace. Think about what you have
completed, and where you left off so that you may begin
calibrating. This happens only after the mental break, so if you didn’t
do it, then do it right.

Automatic writing.
Are the ideas flowing? Oh, they’re not? Well, then start a conversation with yourself, and say it out loud! Now we’re talking, and you can officially consider yourself a productive writer. They’re the same thing anyway. Go ahead and get out a voice recorder in case you have a stroke of genius to transcribe later, you could be talking for up to an hour. You may even open up a new document and speak directly into the microphone leaving the speech-to-text feature most of the work, but you would have to go back and edit mistakes.

Of course, you don’t have to, but if the idea of thinking out loud sounds silly to you, here’s some compelling evidence: When you think out loud, you activate multiple parts of your brain. While speaking, the same neurological patterns associated with memory and planning become activated, as they are during any conversation (1). You can talk to your brain as if it’s its own entity, just as you would with anyone else. When I try this alone, I often discover so many useful dormant ideas that I
hadn’t yet surfaced. I get there by asking questions and feeling immediately enlightened by the way they sort of answer themselves, inspiring new questions, and more prompts. While you’re at it, get up, and get moving to stimulate the motor cortex of your brain as well. Light steady pacing is sure to increase your blood flow (2). Didn’t I promise you flow?

If you are at all mute, or disabled, please don’t fret, I have viable options for you. Don’t skip past this if you’re able-bodied either, because it’s the key. Are you ready for it? Are you prepared to be completely out of excuses? This is me asking you to release your inhibitions. Automatic writing! Yeah, I said it, I said “Just do it.” Okay, if that doesn’t check all your boxes then you haven’t tried. Spend at least ten minutes just merging your thoughts with the page, unfiltered, as is. Abandon punctuation, abandon grammar, and simply put your every thought onto paper. You are not stuck, but uninspired and there are ways to mitigate that as well.

Mining for inspiration
I’ve taught you how I manage to fill up a page but you need help finding ideas. Well, the good news is that you already have them you just need to be reintroduced. What I mean is that if you write for the love of it like I do, then you can only be disconnected if you forget how to enjoy your work. One thing I know about writers is that they love to read, this might be a time-consuming avenue, but it doesn’t have to be. You can discover poetry or an enticing artist if you pop some keywords on your preferred topic into any search engine. Google is not your only choice, Pinterest, and TikTok are more visual but can be incredibly useful if you remain focused and practical. Remember to be mindful of your purpose, and not to become immediately distracted.

So what motivates you to write? Is it a way to cope with hard feelings? Or how you may express your love for life? Remember this and let deeper meaning find you through the admiration of other’s art. Personally, what gives me the most brilliant surges of thought is learning more about another talent’s creative process. Even if we don’t have the same medium of craftsmanship, there is so much brilliance to behold in the minds of others. Put yourself in their shoes, behind their desk, and imagine
where that expert-level artistry comes from.

Meeting your word count.
Not all writers need help getting creative, I understand this. Sometimes you have a quota that you need to meet or are seeking new angles to approach your thesis from. Perhaps you are in law, or a student completing research. I have tips for scenarios like these. My grandmother said that to pass the bar exam, she had to answer the hardest questions with the thought process with the quiz maker in mind. I am asking you to remember your audience. No matter the case, writing is a tool of persuasion, and you can convince your teacher to give you an +A, or simply give the people what they want.

Re-read any material you have, highlighters are for marking stuff up that you can use later, they make selections easier to find. Look for the gems that aren’t quite so obvious, if you find anything to be somewhat interpretive, do a better job at rendering an explanation. Ask your own questions, and most thoroughly, take it upon yourself to answer them. You may be at a point where you have said anything required in the best possible way that you can, but this is only an opportunity to find some fresh perspectives. Try swapping documents with a peer, or at least let the masterpiece cool off for some time (12-72 hours) so you can re-read it with fresh eyes.

Perhaps you truly are at a stage of perfection, you’re the absolute best, and there’s no room for critique anywhere, at all. Well, some people just have it harder, and they could use your help. If you use sites like Quora, Yahoo Answers, LinkedIn Answers, and others, then you could find out how people feel about what you’ve written or discover the problems some non-experts need solving. There are things you may not want to explain because you find them obvious, but that could just be your next five hundred words.

The mind is superstitious.
Thank you for reading all of that, and for making it to the end of the article I have some cuter, more fun, maybe even perhaps unserious methods of the superstitious sort, these are not guaranteed but they work very well for some. It’s okay if you don’t want to take this advice, but even medical practitioners acknowledge the superpower of the mind and the discernible influence of placebo (3). At the very worst, you end up with a failed experiment or a lucky new paperweight, but it’s worth it to try something unconventional, like a little astrology or energetically charged rocks.

My favorite crystals for productivity include citrine for focus, black tourmaline for grounding, and aventurine for luck in finances (4). I’d just keep them near when I want a good vibe livening up the workspace.

When planning out my week, I like to incorporate a very basic system in astrology called planetary days. If you happen to be sensitive to changes in timing, or the environment you may have noticed some parts of the week come along with a certain feeling. Did you know that the names for each weekday correspond with specific planets? I use them to memorize what mood is typically taking over when I want to make to most out of the
energy I revisit every day of the week.

Sunday: The Sun’s Day.
This celestial body lights the sky and is the center of our sense of time as well as color. Use this day of the week to tap into creativity and expression. I find that the positivity of the holy day helps me schedule things based on what would make me the most happy.

Monday: The Moon’s day.
Typical work schedules demand that this is a time for assertion, and going back to the grind. Humanity’s actual relationship with the moon however is reminiscent of intuition, and beloved rest. Wherever you can, try to pivot a portion of your attention towards big goals that typically make you anxious. Not only will The Moon’s relaxed energy help mitigate that but it’s wise to pace your most intimidating projects slowly, at the beginning of the week.

Tuesday: men are from Mars.
Everyone possesses inherent divine masculinity, let your intensity come into play. Anything that you might call “hard work” or your weightiest tasks, are there to be conquered. It’s time to get active, to get stuff done. This also implies that Mars can sever or define invisible boundaries. Tuesday may be good for cutting unwanted things off, to separate from the old.

Wednesday: Mercury’s day
Our solar system’s first planet travels the quickest around The Sun, this is what I would associate with mental clarity. Formally it is known as the ruler of intellect and logic. Is there any communication, like emails or meetings, you want to sound sharp for? Writing and organizing are going to seem natural most Wednesdays. Doing interviews or sending out job applications would be additionally timed well.

The second half of the week is there tagging along after the first four days have done all of the heavy lifting. The objective of planetary planning is to find your “mode” of productivity and harness it. I find that dedicating an entire day or even several to one thing, in particular, is drastically better for finding my flow. Breaking time slots up throughout the week gives the brain more resets, and drags the task out. If you dread returning to unfinished projects, perhaps this
marathon style of productivity may work for you.

Everything I have laid out here comes from years of accumulated experience. I hope this helps you get motivated as well as equipped to write. Good look on your goals.