I recently had some time off from work and rather than traveling, I decided to escape the chaos of New York and head back home to Indiana to relax, catch up with friends, take fall photos and write a TON of posts. When it came to the latter, I had been doing pretty well. I completed several unfinished posts and was inspired to write several new ones. But towards the end of my stay, I developed a mean case of writer’s block. I found myself feeling antsy and unfocused. Fortunately, I was able to overcome this by implementing the following 5 tips:

1. TAKE A BREAK

It seems simple, but sometimes the best cure for writer’s block is simply stepping away from your computer and taking a break! Grab a cup of coffee, watch your favorite show, do your nails…it doesn’t really matter! Just give yourself 30 minutes or so to take your mind off things so you can come back to it refreshed.

2. JOURNAL

When I travel, I find myself constantly thinking about how to turn my experiences into condensed, palatable posts suitable for H.O.W. I take notes about everything from café names to train routes. This method has proved helpful when I finally sit down to compose a post.  However, when I find myself at a loss for content, I’ve discovered that writing for the sake of writing can not only be cathartic, but can sometimes lead to great posts. Writing is my preferred method of expression, so for me journaling helps me process other things that may be going on in my life and clears up some room in my mind to focus on content worth sharing.

3. REVIEW OLD PHOTOS

Another trick I’ve used to inspire new content is scrolling through old travel photos. I find that doing so jogs memories and details from past trips that I had buried. Even if I have already written about a particular destination, seeing an old picture often sparks an idea for telling a story from a fresh angle.

4. GET OUTSIDE

As travel bloggers, the majority of our content is derived from exploring the world around us. So when we find ourselves staring at a blank computer screen, it makes sense to shut it down and get outside! Go on a walk, venture to a part of your city you’ve never visited or try a new restaurant. You never know what might spark an idea!

5. SEARCH THE WEB

When all else fails, there is no shame in seeking inspiration from the fellow bloggers. Visit your favorite sites or check out new ones (Bloglovin’ is great resource for discovering new blogs). I am not encouraging copying, but it never hurts to see what others are up to and find ways to let their ideas organically inspire your own unique content!

Following these 5 simple tips has helped me push past my writer’s block on several occasions.  Hopefully you find them useful too!  Happy writing and wending!

What are your tips for overcoming writer’s block? Share your comments below!

Photo source: Weheartit.com