How to Find Inspiration When You're Not Feeling Inspired

How to Find Inspiration When You’re Not Feeling Inspired

As a full time writer, I’m constantly needing to come up with new and fresh ideas for my own blog, my clients’ blogs, and for freelance assignments. I’m not going to say it’s always easy. In fact, writer’s block is a real thing. Oh yes it is. One might think that in a chaotic world such as ours that coming up with new content is easy. I mean, with all the magazines, websites, TV shows, and movies out there, along with being outside, conversing with others, it might seem like everywhere you turn, ideas would strike. Well, not all the time.

There are times where I simply do not feel inspired. No matter how many websites I peruse or how many magazines I look through or how many conversations I have on that particular day, the inspiration could very well still be lacking. So, what do you do when this happens? Well, I’m going to share with you ways in which I deal with finding inspiration when I’m simply not feeling inspired. And this does not hold true to just writers. This happens in every field, in every industry, with a job or without; a lack of inspiration is common, so don’t think you’re alone.

How to Find Inspiration When You’re Not Feeling Inspired

Take a break

Sometimes it can be as simple as walking away from your computer or your work, and just taking a break. It doesn’t matter what that break looks like, but even just a few minutes apart from what you’re doing can help to clear your mind. Go eat a healthy snack (I’m currently into Larabar Bites), go for a walk, call a friend, sit outside. When you come back to your work or whatever project you might be working on, you might just feel a sense of calm and ready and inspired to tackle whatever it is you were doing.

Change your scenery

I work from home a lot, and there are times, I go stir crazy. Yes, working from home certainly has its perks, but imagine looking at your screen all day with no interaction with the outside world. While this isn’t the case all the time, when it is, I have got to change up my scenery. It’s as easy as going to a nearby coffee shop, going for a lunch break and doing some work there, finding a spot outside to get some things done. And if you work in an office, you can still change up your scenery. Take a few minutes to go sit in a park nearby, check out a boutique that’s within walking distance from your office, try a new lunch spot. Honestly, sometimes it’s really all it takes.

Strike up a conversation with someone new

You know when you’re in line at the coffee shop, and there’s someone right behind you that also seems to be growing impatient? Well, next time that happens, strike up a conversation. It doesn’t have to be about your biggest fears and deepest darkest secrets; just smile and say hello, and see where it goes. That conversation could be just the inspiration you were looking for. And if this is a bit out of your comfort zone, good! Step out and give it a try.

Meditate and breathe

Trust me, this one works. I’m certainly not the very best when it comes to meditating. I wish I did it more often, but when I do, it truly makes a huge difference in my day. You do not need to sit cross legged; you can even do it at your desk. Zone out everything else going on, put your headphones in with some calming music if you’d like, and think about nothing but breathing, about how your body feels. And if meditating is not an option for you at that moment, take a few deep breaths. And I mean very deep. Breathing can take you from the most anxious to calm, cool, and collected within minutes. Once you do this, you should feel a renewed sense of calm and readiness.

Read a new book

Pick up a new book at the bookstore or library (or on your iPad, Kindle, etc). Try to make it a departure from what you’re used to reading. Even if at first you think you don’t like it, don’t give up on it so easily. Read it for a while and see what comes of it. Oftentimes, just reading (something that is not related to work or the project you’re working on) will give you some new found inspiration.

Write it down

Try writing down what you’re feeling. Whether in a journal, a notebook, on a notepad, put pen to paper, and take a few minutes to write. EVEN if you don’t consider yourself a writer whatsoever, still try. You don’t even have to write in complete sentences or with correct grammar and spelling; just write. You might be surprised to find how much that helps.

Know that it’s ok

And, at the end of the day, know that it’s ok. It’s ok if you just don’t feel inspired or have a bit of a lull in your work or with whatever you’re doing. It happens to all of us. Try your best and don’t be hard on yourself. The lack of inspiration will pass, and all you can do is work through it the best you can. You’ll find the inspiration again soon enough.