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Monday 18 August 2014

Writers block



Recently I've been wrestling a bad case of writers block.  Or should I say bloggers block?? 

It's not that I haven't been inspired to write or that I'm struggling to think of ideas for posts - quite the opposite actually.  I've just been really lacking creative energy over the last couple of weeks and I'm desperately seeking some clear head space to allow me to write properly.

I'm just SO busy at the moment.  I can feel my mind jumping all over the place, with all my thoughts colliding so fast it makes my head spin.  I'm worried about all the usual things; money, work, the future, not achieving my goals....  Somehow I must find a way to quiet my mind, calm down and simply focus on one thing at a time. Because when worries are manically skipping around your head it's really hard to get anything at all done properly which ends up making you even more stressed out!


Although I'm loving my new job at Escape the City it does keep me very busy to say the least.  I've also been abroad quite a bit recently for various holidays and destination weddings (I'm not complaining!) so lately my feet have barely touched the ground.  Whenever I am actually at home (which is where I always write) I'm packing/unpacking, cleaning, catching up on admin as well as trying to have a social life. 

When I first started this blog I wasn't working at all so I could pour all the time I wanted into planning and writing posts and making the blog look pretty etc.  But ever since getting back to work in July I've been quite stressed trying to juggle all my commitments and I've noticed an uncomfortable feeling of continuous low level anxiety running through me.  Feeling anxious and stressed isn't a very good place to be mentally when I'm trying to work hard, achieve life goals and think clearly.  Especially when I'm trying to distill all of my current experiences and thinking into into engaging blog posts.  

Since starting this blog I've found that I really need to be in a certain frame of mind to feel like writing at all.  For me the ideal writing environment is at home on my own, feeling really chilled and contemplative, listening to my favourite music, possibly burning a lovely scented candle!  That is when I unlock my creative genius :)  

Unfortunately the reality lately has been dashing home after a long day at work, manically jotting down notes and ideas for various blog posts on my phone whilst crammed into a hot and sweaty tube carriage on the Northern Line.  Not exactly a dream environment for creative thinking!  But when I'm relaxed and focused I find my mind works so much more effectively and somehow I manage to thread together different quotes, experiences and ideas to form my ideal piece of writing.  

Another problem I've noticed popping up is that inspiration keeps striking me at the most inconvenient times!  I'll be in a meeting at work and a great idea will strike me but  I don't manage to get it down on paper before my brain forgets all about it.  Or I'll be walking home listening to music and daydreaming when suddenly I gain clarity on something that's been on my mind but then I don't manage to capture the fleeting thought before it drifts away never to be found again.  

The whole point of starting this blog in the first place was to give myself a place to reflect on everything I am learning and experiencing as I try to change my life for the better.  I didn't want the experience of trying to transform my career and make positive changes to pass me by in a blur of activity, barely taking time to notice how I'm feeling or what I'm thinking.  I also wanted to connect with others going through the same stuff who might be interested to follow my progress.  

I feel it's so important to keep in mind what this blog is all about and my motivations for starting it and keeping it going, plus my vision for what it could be one day.  I really don't want to put pressure on myself to churn out poorly thought out, rushed posts or stick to a rigid blogging schedule.  After all, this is mean to be fun!  But I do want to commit to it and keep going, even when it's hard or I'm not in the mood.

So here's my plan for the way forward:

·         Chill out about everything!!  Worrying never helped anyone achieve anything.  Ever.
·         Find a simple way to capture my thoughts at the time inspiration strikes.
·         Create time and space each week to write for my blog.  Keep time free in my diary like I would for any other important appointment.
·        Try to plan posts in advance wherever possible.
·         Keep exposing myself to new challenges, taking risks, and generally immersing myself in the new world I am busy creating.  This will keep the ideas flowing.
·         And finally, give myself a break and remember how far I’ve come in just a few short months.

Until next time…

6 comments

  1. It's hard to continuously reflect on and communicate how you're feeling as you undergo a period of transformation or overcome new challenges. I don't think you should beat yourself up about that, but I'm really glad that you're trying to stay mindful whilst you go through this exciting yet sometimes stressful period. You're doing so well! Inspirational as always... X

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  2. Go for it Celia. Keep riding this wave.

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    1. Thanks Rob - great to see you on my blog and to know I have your support. I can't believe you took the time to leave me a comment the night before your wedding!

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  3. Go for it Celia. Keep riding this wave.

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  4. I totally get what you mean when you say inspiration strikes at unpredictable times Celia so i usually find carrying a notepad with me to be really handy and a pen! Your posts are inspiring so keep at it and most of all do not forget the reason WHY you started this blog in the first place- to allow yourself to grow and learn and that is exactly what you are doing. Learnong comes with growing pains and that is perfectly normal and natural so don't be too hard on yourself about it Well done on all your progress to date!

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    1. Hey Suki - was great to see you last night at the Esc event and I'm sorry we didn't get a chance to chat properly. Thanks again for the comments - they really help keep me motivated to continue with my blogging journey.

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