Writer’s block is the bane of novelists, journalists and poets alike, as well as entrepreneurs, marketers, and anyone who writes for a living. But don’t worry, because to get you out of this rut, we’ve put together six tips to overcome writer’s block and get back to writing:

1) Move

Moving your body is a great way to get your brain moving. When you’re feeling stuck writing that marketing strategy or your latest blog post, put down your pen (or close your laptop) and go outside for a walk, do some yoga, dance to some music… whatever you do, make sure you physically move. The exercise will make endorphins flow through your veins, and ideas pop in your head!

2) Get Creative

Creativity begets more creativity, so if you’ve reached a roadblock in your writing, try getting creative with something else, such as drawing or even cooking. Mixing ingredients in the kitchen stimulates all your senses, and the endless combinations of tastes and smells are really rewarding, plus you end up with a nice meal on top of your article! It doesn’t need to be complicated – AllRecipes has tons of easy recipes for even the most inexperienced chefs.

3) Freewrite

Freewriting isn’t just for novelists. It’s one of the best tools to get ideas out of the corners of your brain and down on paper, no matter what kind of writing you do. Take a few minutes to think about the topic you’re writing about, and jot down whatever comes to mind – don’t worry about punctuation, grammar, or neatness here. The key is to let your pen (or keyboard) flow freely and find the ideas hidden between your thoughts. WikiHow has a great tutorial on how to freewrite, regardless of wether you’re writing fiction or strategy documents.

4) Read About Your Topic

Try getting to know other people’s thoughts and ideas on the topic you’re stuck on. Reading about a topic you’re familiar with can get discussions going in your mind, and debating topics is one of the best ways to put ideas together. Search for articles by thought leaders in your field, and practice responding to what they have to say.

5) Listen to Music

Some people like to write with music in the background, while others find it very distracting. Either way, take a step back from writing for a few minutes, play some music – classical can especially spark your thought processes – and let the sounds carry you away from your physical space. When you’ve listened to a couple of songs, get back to your writing, newly refreshed. Spotify has some great classical playlists that you can stream for free.

6) Sleep on It

When all else fails, and if you’re able to get back to your writing the next day, get some good quality sleep. Not only does sleep improve memory retention, your dreams can be full of ideas. Furthermore, mornings are often when we have the best insights — so keep a notebook by your bed and write down your dreams and thoughts when you awaken.

Keep on Keeping On…

Don’t let a bump in the road discourage you from writing a great post or coming up with your next idea. Get your ideas flowing with these tips, and follow Contentools’ blog for more content creation tips. Happy creating!