Strategies for Overcoming Mental Blocks and Boosting Motivation
If you're a person who has ever experienced being blocked when trying to do something and can't seem to find the motivation or energy necessary to get started, you are not alone.
This blog post will help give some strategies for overcoming mental blocks and boosting motivation. From how to go about your list of day-to-day tasks when faced with a block all the way up to creative blocks that prevent artists from creating new work, this post has them all covered.
3) What Strategies Can Help Overcome Mental Blocks?
There are many ways one may tackle mental blocks. First, it is vital to realize that everyone has faced a mental block at some point in their lives and that it's okay. It comes with the territory.
1) Start by breaking down the task/project into manageable bits.
One way to start overcoming mental blocks is to break your task/project into smaller bits and tackle those one at a time. If you are writing a book for example, divide your project into chapters and focus on finishing each chapter one day at a time. If you create music, focus on completing one track at a time or even just one instrument part and so on.
2) Get plenty of sleep.
Most people need to get a good night's sleep to be able to function at their best in the morning. Try and go to bed at least 8 hours before you usually get up.
3) Be realistic with your commitment.
If you have been working on a single task for months, it may be difficult to suddenly pick up and start working on something else. You may not feel like working on that project anymore or have that motivation since it has been so long. If this is the case, do not force yourself into beginning another project right away because you will only end up procrastinating again. Instead, take time off so that when you get back to work you are refreshed and ready to begin again.
4) Get a partner.
If you are in a group where you live, it may help to get someone to give the project a try with you. This way they can offer encouragement or work on something with you when you feel like giving up on your own. You can also get a team together and give them all individual tasks to work on that they have their own motivation for completing as well. This works well for groups who are trying to reach personal or financial goals as well as those who are just curious what it would be like if more people worked on the same thing at once.
5) Make sure your environment is ideal for getting things done.
A lot of people who have mental blocks are often in an environment that does not allow them to focus very well. If you are working at your desk, it may be helpful to start off by putting one foot on the floor and then the other with a pencil in your hand and only moving back up and forth as you work. Also, try moving at least once every hour so that it feels like you are constantly working on something new.
6) Work in small bursts with short breaks in between.
Another trick is to work for no more than 3 minutes without stopping every 20 seconds, especially when you first begin working on a project. This can be hard to do as you may start feeling worked up, but eventually your mind will adapt and you will be able to get back into the groove after just a few seconds break. It is also handy since you won't have to spend hours trying to get yourself moving at first.
7) Keep a notepad nearby.
You never know what new ideas may come to your mind while working on something else so it is always good to have a notepad or journal nearby. The more info you write down, the better chance that when it comes time to fill in that blank spot in your project, you'll remember what came into mind while on the go.
8) Remember that setting aside time is the key.
No matter what you are working on, if you try to force yourself to work on something else without taking breaks or even sleeping, you will find yourself procrastinating and not finishing it at all. It is better to allow yourself a break or simply go ahead and put your work away until later than not working on any project at all because you simply cannot get started when circumstances don't allow for it.
9) Don't be afraid to ask for assistance.
When faced with a mental block, it can be helpful to ask a friend or family member to help with a task that gets in your way. For example, if you are having trouble coming up with the right words to describe what your book is about or how a certain aspect of your story should play out, you can ask someone else to help with that. Giving them a small picture of what you are thinking about can allow them to put your ideas into words much easier than you could do on your own. Not only is this helpful but it also takes away a lot of pressure from trying to do everything yourself.
10) Take a walk and clear your mind.
Taking a walk outside and clearing your mind can be very helpful in allowing you to move on from whatever mental block may have been stopping you from doing something. Instead of thinking about what is stopping you from working on a project, focus on the world around you and how it is moving so fast.
11) Try a new approach.
It's common to try and do things the way that they have always been done. But sometimes it is easier to take another approach to solving a problem or creating something new. If you are struggling with a mental block, try taking a different approach that doesn't always occur to you until you've tried it for a while all the time. Often, this is the perspective that people are looking for to help them complete something they always have been unable to do.
12) Don't waste time feeling bad about yourself.
If you are struggling with a mental block, you need to understand that it will not come easily and that you cannot control it. You cannot just wake up one morning and decide to stop having any mental blocks in life anymore. It doesn't work that way and you need to accept it as part of your life just as much as those who don't have any at all. You cannot start blaming yourself for what is not possible.
13) Take a break.
Above all, the best thing that you can do to be able to work on something that is especially challenging for you is to just take a break. When you are lacking in motivation and feel stuck, it may help to really take a break and sleep or even go outside for some fresh air and hopefully a new perspective on your project. Try not engaging in things that are making you feel worse about working until the block has been resolved. You will not get anywhere otherwise.
14) Check back with yourself often during your process.
Conclusion
If you are having trouble moving forward with a project that is deeply personal or is one that you were working on for a while, there are many things at play here and you will need to experiment with different solutions and approaches in order to make it work. This article is meant to be a starting point for those who are having a difficult time completing something they know they can do but just don't feel like they want to anymore. I hope this list has given you some ideas for things that may help make the process easier and that have helped me in my own journey.