We all get stuck on ideas sometimes, and since many of our jobs depend on a certain level of creative output, a creativity block is something to be dreaded. Sometimes when the conscious mind is really stuck, its okay, and sometimes necessary, to take time off from whatever project you're working on and just go do something else - because the more unproductive response is to keep throwing your mind at it, even if it's getting you nowhere. 

Try to remember that as long as you're not on a tight deadline, it's okay to get stuck sometimes. Take a break! Go for a walk, call a friend, or grab a snack. Whatever you do, take your mind off the task at hand for the moment and return later with a fresh perspective (see the article on the side for more). If you have one unproductive day among many fruitful ones, then give yourself permission to relax a little. Don't measure the entirety of your success based on one bad day. 

Another benefit of taking a break from an overwhelming project is that you never know when a great idea will hit you when you're doing something totally unrelated. Oftentimes, if you just step away from the project for a bit, the creativity block will clear up and the ideas will flow anew. If you think in terms of having two minds (the conscious and the unconscious), you might as well put both of them to work for you.
Many of us begin projects or set goals, only to get detoured or bogged down by other things in our lives. Distractions can be as simple as a cluttered living room, or as complicated as a bad breakup. Here are a few ways to simplify your life so that nothing stands between you and your goals:


1. Make time for you.

Set aside some time each day that is just for you. Start with 15 minutes a day if that's all you have. Turn off your phone, lock the door -- do whatever it takes, as long as you're creating a space where you can focus on yourself. Meditate, pray, journal, or just sit in silence. That time is yours to do with what you want.

2. Clear your mind.

Empty your brain of your internal "to-do" list and emotional baggage. A life coach can help you verbalize all the things you need to do and the feelings that go along with that. Lighten your mental load by writing down the things that are taking up space in your mind. 

3. Stay away from energy vampires.

Eliminate the relationships that are sucking the energy out of you. Even if they are family members, take steps to limit your time with them and set boundaries around what activities you do with them. Think about who is helping you and who is dragging you down. Who makes you feel supported and energized? Who is eating up your time and energy and giving nothing in return? Hang on to people who add value to your life, and avoid people who are toxic.

4. Let go of emotional baggage.

Get closure on the past and on relationships that have weighed down your spirit. Forgive and forget. Call that person up or write them a letter--whatever it takes to help you let it go. Why continue to rob yourself of tomorrow by being stuck in yesterday?

5. Learn to say no.

It was probably one of the first words you learned as a baby, so why is it so difficult to say now? This is your life, your time, and your energy; and you have the absolute right to say no to people-- and without an explanation at that. On the other side of that coin, if you don't have time to bake 50 cupcakes for your child's school bake sale, then don't volunteer!

6. Clean and de-clutter.
A big part of simplifying your life is de-cluttering your environment. Start with one small area like the kitchen counter or junk drawer and move on to other spaces. A clean and clutter-free home/office/car will give you one less thing on your "to do" list, and thus, one less thing to stress out about. For many of us, when our surrounding are in disarray, our minds are in disarray as well.

 

Maybe you've had to cut back on visits to your therapist or life coach, but self-improvement doesn't have to stop just because you're low on cash. There are plenty of cheap and free ways to continue making positive changes in your life. 

Exercise. It burns calories, not money. Developing an at-home workout routine is free--as is going to the park, or simply jogging around your neighborhood. You'd be surprised at how much 30 minutes of walking can improve your overall health, focus, and attitude. There are also some really cheap gym memberships out there, if you can spare $10 - $15 a month. 

Explore. Go to local parks, museums, historical sites, and landmarks that you can visit for free. Try to walk to these places if they're close enough. This is a great way to spend time alone, with a friend, or get to know someone.  

Have a conversation. Engaging in meaningful discussion is a great way to pass the time, save money, and work on yourself and your relationships. Talk to a trusted friend. Not all conversations have to be serious and profound; make time for the healing power of laughter. 

Read. It's free to borrow library books, as long as you return them on time. Most libraries have a great selection of books, audio books, and even music and movies. You can even browse the Internet for free at the library.

Develop skills and talents. Cultivate something you've always wanted to do, or started doing long ago but gave up. Pull that tennis racket out of the back of your closet, write that collection of short stories you've been thinking about for years, plant that garden you've been talking about, or go sit down at that piano and practice!

Introspect. Do some journaling, poetry writing, meditation, or make a list of goals for yourself. Take this time to figure out how who you are now lines up with who you want to be.

Volunteer. This can be a very fulfilling way to pass time while interacting with a variety of people in your community. You're actively spending time improving the quality of someone's life, while absorbing joy and gratification from the experience. 
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Tips for Tackling Procrastination

We've all been guilty of putting the things off that we know we need to take care of now. If you have a tendency to procrastinate, here are a few tips to help you eliminate that pattern:

  1. Block off time for what you need to do in advance.
  2. Seclude yourself.
  3. Turn off the TV, your cell phone, your instant messenger, and other distracting devices.
  4. Take care of your needs before you begin a project--go to the bathroom, have something to eat, pick up your dry cleaning, etc. 
  5. Have a snack and a drink handy so you don't have to take your attention away from your project to get food.
  6. Get the most difficult portion(s) of your project out of the way first. When it's done, you'll finally envision a light at the end of that tunnel!


Quotable Inspiration

"Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life."

-Steve Jobs


"Crystallize your goals. Make a plan for achieving them and set yourself a deadline. Then, with supreme confidence, determination and disregard for obstacles and other people's criticisms, carry out your plan."

-Paul Meyer



Do You Need a Fresh Perspective?

If your reality is starting to appear a little stagnant, or you feel like you're "spinning your wheels" and not getting any closer to your goals, it might be time to take a step back for a different view of things.

A healthy perspective reminds us of what we're working toward and how we need to get there--with competence and confidence.

Would a different viewpoint help you move forward with your goals? See if any of the following apply:

  • You haven't even started working toward your goal.
  • You've initiated the work, but the process was stalled somewhere along the way.
  • You've developed skills working toward your goal, but you've yet to produce anything.
  • You've produced something, but nothing to your satisfaction.
  • You're buzzing like a bee yet a distant view shows that you're really just running in circles.

If any of the above apply when it comes to the progress you're trying to make, in any of your endeavors, you might wish to seek advice from a mentor or life coach. In the meantime, try the following:

  • Put your ego on the back burner.
  • Take a step back and look at the larger picture.
  • Break your big goals up into smaller goals.
  • Trust your instincts.
  • Take everything in stride.
  • Put the lessons you've learned, and the knowledge you've gained to work.
  • Visualize your end goal as a reality, and move towards it confidently. The more you envision it as real, the quicker it will become so.
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