The Best Ways to Combat Writer’s Block Without Losing Productivity

Content writing is different from other sorts of writing. It serves a functional purpose, trying to be as entertaining as possible while also conveying information and peppering in keywords.

With billions of web pages out there, content creators have created a wide body of work. This takes talent. 

However, just like other sorts of writing, one burns out sooner or later, a content creator is going to run into writer’s block. How do you overcome writer’s block when you’re a content writer?  

This article will walk you through tips and tricks to continue your SEO journey. 

Read

Reading is like the “working out” of the writing world. By taking more information into your brain, you’re increasing the amount you’re able to put out. 

However, you have to make sure your reading isn’t limited to other online article-based content. 

Reading content like this is part of the job. You have to make sure you’re studying the masters and perfecting the form. However, too much of this just feels like more work and can only make you feel more burnt out. 

So expand your reading habits: pick up a classic novel, read some substack philosophers, find a PDF of a strange old philosophical treatise or Greek tragedy. By expanding your idea of what writing can be, you’ll expand your writing capabilities. 

Who knows, you might even end up being inspired. 

We recommend reading constantly. However, to specifically tackle writer’s block, take regular breaks from writing in order to read a bit. If the reading is different enough from what you’re writing, this won’t burn you out, but help you to sharpen the saw. 

Speaking of which…

Work Breaks In 

If you’re a hard-working content writer, you might buy into a grind-set idea that taking breaks will slow you down. Nothing could be further from the truth. Breaks will help you recharge your batteries and will keep your content quality from slipping away.  

There are many ways to do this. One of the most popular is the Pomodoro technique, which believes that people are most productive in small, 25-minute blocks of time. 

Others have developed the 52-17 method (which is pretty self-explanatory). Others believe in 90-minute blocks. 

All of these, just like various contradictory self-help methods, are backed by famous successful people and psychologists. Each will teach you that they’ve cracked the code. 

At the end of the day, however, it’s all about discovering what works best for you. Force yourself to take pauses even when you don’t think you need them, and your productivity will thank you. 

Even something as simple as a real lunch break can greatly improve your productivity. If you’re a content warrior who works from home based on your own time schedule, make sure you take a real lunch break. 

Talk to People  

All of your breaks don’t need to be solitary, however. 

If you can, take your break time to take a walk with a friend and catch up. Grab lunch with a colleague or someone you’d like to know. Even catching up with your roommate, spouse, or grown kids will help you in this regard. 

As a writer, it’s easy to get locked up in the zone and to forget that there are other people out there. You can forget that interacting with other people even if it’s not directly related. 

Just like reading, talking to people is a wonderful way to recharge your batteries. Don’t try to talk about the article you’re working on or ask for suggestions (however if this comes up, feel free to lean into it). Trust that interacting with another person will help you free your brain up. 

A writer has to have a life; all of your thoughts can’t come from your own brain and your own research. Sometimes, overhearing bits of conversation and wisdom work their way into your work without you even realizing it. 

Change Your Location 

Sometimes, something as simple as changing your physical location can be key to changing your attitude. Making that key breakthrough can mean getting a fresh perspective on things. It can come from something as simple as changing your physical location. 

Consider setting up another area in your house where you can do some work. If you have a desk in your bedroom, consider ways to work in your living room. If you work in an office, consider setting up a desk in your bedroom. 

If you live in an urban or even suburban area, there’s probably a coffee shop nearby that has free wifi that you can take advantage of. Find your favorite seat, and learn which times it’s usually free. 

Delegate 

Many would argue that the key rule to the world of business is “work smarter, not harder.” When people say that hard work is key, that really means putting in the time to make sure that a job is done right. But what if you don’t need to break your back to ensure that a job is executed effectively? 

This is where delegation comes in. Most of the highly successful people in the world are highly successful because they know which jobs to kick out to those below them. 

In our contemporary world, however, you don’t even need a team in order to delegate. With AI writing becoming more common than ever, the average content writer like you can also become a content-producing machine. 

Overcome Content Writing Writer’s Block

Content writers differ from other sorts of writers in many ways. However, writer’s block is still just as painful to them. Follow the above tips, and you’ll be back to writing quality content in no time. 

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