Overcoming Writer's Block for SEO Writers

We’ve all been there. Maybe it was for an assignment at school or a project at work, or maybe it was during your own spare time, but we’ve all dealt with it: writer’s block. We sit down at our computers, pull up a document, and just stare blankly at the screen. It’s not like we’re trying to avoid work, even worse we want to work, but no matter how hard we try, we just can’t make words appear on the page.

That’s about the time self-doubt can creep in, but don’t fret! Even the best of the best writers out there struggle with writer’s block occasionally. You’re not alone and you’re certainly not a poor writer if you’re struggling to come up with content.  I’m fortunate enough to work with some extremely gifted writers on Lifted Logic’s content team, and every single one of us has similar struggles

Fortunately, there are helpful ways to clear your mind and get back on track. Today, we’re going to go over a few methods that’ll help you clear your head and regain focus. In fact, our team at Lifted Logic uses some of these tips quite frequently! Whether you write for work or for fun, these tips are good places to start if you need to get the creative juices flowing. 

1. Move Your Body

This is one of the most common methods for overcoming writer’s block not only in our office, but everywhere creative thinking is involved. The reason? It works! Research shows exercise can improve your mood and reduce stress and anxiety, two major factors of writer’s block. Not only that, doing so regularly can help improve your thinking and memory in the long term.

It doesn’t even need to be strenuous exercise, either. Even a nice, relaxing walk around the block can do wonders for your mind. Stepping away from the computer, even for just 20 or 30 minutes, can give you a fresh perspective and leave you feeling invigorated! If going outside and walking isn’t an option, there are plenty of home exercises, such as yoga, that can help clear your head.

2. Free Write (About Anything)

Writing to get rid of writer’s block may sound counterintuitive, but it can actually be quite therapeutic. The goal of this exercise isn’t to write perfectly. Heck, you might write something that no one will ever see. The point of the exercise is to write anything that comes to mind for a set amount of time, usually about 10-15 minutes.

You can use this freewriting as an opportunity to clear your head without critiquing your work. Maybe that means you write a short story, or maybe it means you write your stream of consciousness. Maybe you just use it for 15 minutes of ranting or venting! Ultimately, it doesn’t matter, as the exercise clears your mind and generates potential ideas.

3. Change Your Environment

Have you been sitting in the same space for an extended period? There are actually benefits to changing up your scenery! It doesn’t need to be a permanent change, but temporarily shifting your surroundings can help to clear your head, increase motivation, and offer a fresh perspective.

If you work from a home office all day, maybe try working outside for a while if the weather allows. Or, maybe work from an area with more natural sunlight. Other suggestions might include taking an hour out of your day to write from your favorite coffee shop, or writing from a different area of your office/home. 

4. Get Some Sleep

If you’re really struggling to come up with good content, it could be because you’re not getting enough sleep. We know it’s hard to get a full night’s rest as you balance work, family, and a social life. But the fact is, a lack of sleep negatively affects both our cognitive performance and our attention to detail. If you’re a writer, that may cause sloppiness or overall lower quality writing.

Your deadlines will obviously be a factor, but a midday power nap or a full night’s rest can do wonders for resetting your mind. After some much-needed rest, you may find it easier to solve a problem or overcome that mental block you’re struggling with. 

5. Ask for Help

Let’s be honest, there are a lot of articles scattered throughout the internet that talk about overcoming writer’s block on your own. There are a wide variety of methods to do so, and different tips will work better than others for different people. However, you don’t have to overcome it alone if you don’t want to! 

If you find yourself stuck, ask your friends or coworkers if they have any ideas. Not only are they usually willing to help, but they might offer a brand new perspective that you haven’t thought of. And asking can be as simple as shooting a text or putting a message in the group chat. Our content team here at Lifted Logic is constantly asking for feedback and bouncing ideas off each other, and it almost always works out for the better. 

Bonus Tip: How Not to Overcome Writer’s Block

Common traps that many writers fall into are perfectionism, or feeling like they can’t write if they aren’t inspired. Or worse yet, they feel discouraged because they can’t think of what to write, so they wallow in self-pity. 

These issues may cause them to step away from writing for an extended period. One thing is for certain, though, you won’t overcome your writer’s block by avoiding your writing altogether. As tempting as it may be to procrastinate, watch Netflix, or just drop the project entirely, it won’t solve your problem.

Following these tips, plus others posted across the web, will help you in the long run. And if one tip doesn’t work, try another! Everyone’s mind works differently, so what might work for one person could be a total disaster for another. The important thing is to keep trying. Because one tip might not help you finish your writing, but avoiding it altogether certainly won’t.

See How Lifted Logic Can Help Improve Your Content Writing

One of Lifted Logic’s specialties is helping companies write engaging content for their websites.

Looking for a helping hand (or hands)? Schedule a free SEO consultation with our president, Adam Fichman. My partners in the content department and I are ready to help you connect with a wider audience And if you’re already a client, remember that you can always schedule a blog training anytime with the content team to review your work and get answers to your questions.

And remember, you can always reach out to Lifted Logic if you need any additional help with your content writing! Our content team specializes in not only creating original, engaging content, but we can also help you come up with interesting topics and help optimize your page once the content is finished.