10 Ways to Get Inspired When You Are Feeling Stuck
Everyone experiences times when they feel stuck in coming up with ideas for writing or for doing anything. They feel unmotivated, stressed, or distracted by other things that are going on.
Here are some surefire ways to get your creative juices going and feel motivated again.
After you read each tip, write down your thoughts about how to apply that tip to get inspired when you are feeling stuck.
1) Practice a technique called “mindfulness.” When you are mindful, you pay attention to what is happening in the present moment without judgment. You calmly acknowledge and accept your feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. A good way to practice mindfulness is to find a time to do this for about 20 to 30 minutes, ideally in the morning to start the day. Go to a quiet place, get comfortable, and sit up straight but stay relaxed. Then, pay attention to what your arms and legs are doing, while you relax your whole body. You’ll feel much better and ready to go after the process.
2) Use guided meditation, so you focus on a particular question or topic where you feel blocked or want some insight. Get relaxed as you would for a regular meditation session in a quiet place. Turn out the lights or use a cloth to cover your eyes. Then, ask your question or state the subject for which you want some insight. After that, let your intuition or unconscious mind take over. Don’t try to think or direct your thoughts. To help you remember, take handwritten notes or record your ideas on a recording device as they come to you.
3) Engage in a routine exercise, where you can let your mind go and don’t have to think about what you are doing. Find a place to exercise without others around. For example, run around your backyard, move or dance to relaxing music in a dark room at home, or lie on your back and move your legs back and forth. Then, ask yourself a question or state a topic you want to think about as in a guided meditation, and let the ideas come to you.
4) Have a conversation with your pet — or imagine a pet is sitting in front of you. Then, tell your pet what is bothering you and ask what you should do to stop your negative feelings. After that, ask your pet for ideas for what to do to fix whatever is wrong and listen to what your pet says.
5) Put a picture you view as relaxing or inspiring on the wall or on a stand in front of you. Then, gaze at the picture and let yourself flow into the picture. Let your rational mind go and see where the picture takes you. When you feel very relaxed and are wherever the picture has taken you, ask any question you want and see what ideas come to you.
6) Set aside 30 minutes to an hour or two to concentrate on writing or coming up with ideas for your project. Even if you feel restless, commit yourself to spending that time and be open to whatever comes to you. For example, sit at your computer or open your journal, and write whatever comes to you.
7) Keep a journal by your bed. Before you go to sleep, when you are in that very relaxed state before you fall asleep, tell yourself that you will dream about the question or topic you want ideas about. If anything comes to you when you wake up, write it down. Also, when you first wake up, ask yourself the question or state the topic you want ideas about, and write down any ideas that now come to you. Later you can pick out the best ideas in order to act on them.
8) Find an idea buddy with whom you can share ideas and brainstorm together. Take turns coming up with ideas for each other. When it is your turn to get ideas, tell your buddy where you feel stuck or what you want ideas about to help you move forward. Then, let you buddy give you suggestions. Just listen and don’t try to critique any ideas. Write them down to help you remember. Then, put the ideas you like best into action. Similarly, give your buddy ideas when it is his or her to ask for your help.
9) Break whatever you are doing into smaller pieces or tasks which you can do in an hour or two. Then, create a timeline for when to do those tasks and work on those tasks during the time you set for doing them. You can always push the task ahead to a future time, but focus on doing that task in the here and now. The more you do this, the more you can come up with ideas and put them into practice.
10) If you find you are resisting doing something, take some time to ask yourself why you are doing this, when you meditate or exercise and listen to what comes to you. Then, ask yourself what you can do to overcome whatever is holding you back, or should you do something else and if so, what? Then, listen to the answer and put that response into action.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
GINI GRAHAM SCOTT, Ph.D., J.D., is a nationally known writer, consultant, speaker, and seminar leader, specializing in business and work relationships, professional and personal development, social trends, and popular culture. She has published 50 books with major publishers. She has worked with dozens of clients on memoirs, self-help, popular business books, and film scripts. Writing samples are at www.changemakerspublishingandwriting.com.
She is the founder of Changemakers Publishing, featuring books on work, business, psychology, social trends, and self-help. The company has published over 150 print, e-books, and audiobooks. She has licensed several dozen books for foreign sales, including the UK, Russia, Korea, Spain, and Japan.
She has received national media exposure for her books, including appearances on Good Morning America, Oprah, and CNN. She has been the producer and host of a talk show series, Changemakers, featuring interviews on social trends.
Scott is active in a number of community and business groups, including the Lafayette, Pleasant Hill, and Walnut Creek Chambers of Commerce. She is a graduate of the prestigious Leadership Contra Costa program. She does workshops and seminars on the topics of her books.
She is also the writer and executive producer of 10 films in distribution, release, or production. Her most recent films that have been released include Driver, The New Age of Aging, and Infidelity.
She received her Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, and her J.D. from the University of San Francisco Law School. She has received five MAs at Cal State University, East Bay, most recently in Communication.