The Secret to Writer’s Block: Nature
A Walk to Inspire:
Taking a Walk to Clear Your Head and Distract You From Writer’s Block
Sometimes I get stuck and can’t think of anything to write at all. It’s like having writer’s block from even coming up with a single word. Often I will set a goal for myself to get so many words or pages done in a certain amount of time and no matter what I try, I can’t even get started. I find this to be the most frustrating and the least productive of the writer’s blocks.
In an effort to try to kickstart my inspiration, I will try some of the tricks that I have discussed in other blog posts. I will spend some time trying this or that, but nothing will work. Usually what ends up happening is that I spend too much time trying other things and I get annoyed and frustrated. That’s when I know I just need a break and a good old fashioned distraction from writing.
One of my favorite, cheapest, and still available (you know, because of COVID-19) activities is taking a walk. Now, I am in Florida and it is the middle of summer, so walks are generally done early in the morning and are much shorter than normal, but it’s still a nice way to get some fresh air and set myself back on the right path.
Walking is a one of those tasks that can serve multiple functions. First and foremost, it’s a form of exercise. Writing is usually a pretty sedentary task, so doing something physical is a great counterpoint when trying to refresh your mind. Exercise has been shown to improve cognition. This is partially due to increased resultant blood flow throughout the body, including to the brain. So taking a walk is a great way to literally get your blood flowing as well as your creativity.
Another reason that walking is a great activity to try is that it’s kind of a blank slate. You can design your walk to focus on an aspect that you may need. Have nature trails near you? Take advantage! If not, there’s nothing wrong with a sidewalk or even your own backyard. I have been known to literally do laps in my house if it’s a rainy day or over a hundred degrees outside (like it happens to be today). Here are some examples of ways that you can modify your walk to best suit your needs:
Listen to music, a podcast, or an audiobook while you walk. You can try calming music or maybe something high energy. Spotify actually has collections of music that you can utilize- try “chill” or “focus” if you want calming and “party” or “workout” if you want something that will get you amped. They also have listings of podcasts that you can try.
Bring along a friend or a family member and talk about ANYTHING besides writing. Sometimes you just need a change in topic. Talk about the weather, the news, or whatever interests you. The more interested you are in the topic the better. My husband and I have been known to play 20 questions and make lists of our top five favorites while walking. Here’s a fun website with a bunch of top five lists that you can try: https://www.ranker.com/list/the-ultimate-favorites-list/stevo200 It’s fun and gets my mind away from the task at hand for a much needed moment of peace.
Get a walking app or step tracker. I personally have a Fitbit Versa and I love it. I like that it reminds me to get up and walk every once in a while, but I especially like that most of my family members and some of my friends also use Fitbit. This last part is most appealing because I am competitive and Fitbit lets me lean into that side of me. So when I need to clear my brain I look at where I am at in a “workweek hustle” competition and I focus on that instead. A little smack talking never hurt anybody either.
Geo-location based games are another great way to get your mind off of your writings. Probably the most well known version of this is Pokémon Go. If you are unfamiliar, the game essentially promotes walking in order to move your avatar to find and catch Pokémon. This is an oversimplification and if you want to know more, here’s their website: https://www.pokemongo.com/en-us/ The point is to find an activity that will distract you from just continually focusing on your writing.
Taking a walk is a great way to clear your mind and to stimulate your creativity in order to break through your writer’s block. The next time that you feel like you can’t find inspiration to start writing, don’t get frustrated, try a little walk instead.
I hope that these ideas help you to break through!
Found a great source of inspiration that worked for you? Let me know!
Still getting writer’s block? Tell me how I can help!
