Experiencing writer’s block can feel like hitting an impenetrable wall. If it’s happening to you, don’t worry. It’s something that all writers go through at some point, and it is easy to get past. Here are some ideas to get you writing again.

Take a Break

When you’re feeling stuck, it’s a great time to get the blood flowing to feel reinvigorated. Get up and stretch or go for a stroll. Treat yourself to a little caffeine boost, such as coffee or a small snack. The important thing is always to keep disciplined with how you go about it. It’s important to take small breaks when they are critical to maintaining productivity or quality of your work, but don’t overindulge with their frequency and length either. Timers, such as alarms and Pomodoro apps, can help to establish a work and break rhythm. Keep a physical timer on you (such as a cheap kitchen timer that is set to five minutes) for the times when you need to take an unscheduled breather.

Change Your Surroundings

Shared workspaces can boost creativity, and sometimes that’s all you need to get through a mental block. Writing anywhere you want is simple to set up. Many food and beverage chains, such as McDonald’s, Chipotle and Starbucks, encourage customers to stay by providing outlets for laptops and other devices. Make sure to bring battery packs as a backup plan just in case you can’t find access to an outlet for whatever reason. You may also need a pair of earphones or earplugs if the noise level becomes too distracting.

Lose the Fear

In many cases, writer’s block is fueled by anxiety that is created by your own inner critic. One word for this condition is called graphophobia. The first action to take is to recognize your anxiety. Then, dismiss it by reminding yourself that nobody will read what you are about to write. Do you think you are writing like an eight-year-old? Fine, it doesn’t matter. The first step is getting your words down so that you can gather your thoughts about what you want to write. Remember that the first draft is never, ever the final draft. You can worry about word phrasing, grammar, and stylistic choices later when you have a firmer concept of what you want to express and how you are going to go about it.

These are just a few of many tricks that you can use to get past your inner wall of blocks. Over time, learning how to get past it will become easier, and you will have a better idea of what strategies work best for you. Now, get back to work and write something!

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