Tips to Stay Motivated When the Best Part of Your Day is the Grocery Shop

by Abigail Flint

So, you’re stuck at home.

Self-isolation can be a killer for creativity, especially when you’re trapped between four walls. These tips and tricks will help get you back in the creative swing and finishing that writing project you’ve been putting off!

1.     Write Every Day

Easier said than done right? Even when you can’t imagine writing a single word, put your hands to the keyboard or pen to the paper and just write – worst case scenario you have something lacklustre staring back at you … that’s what editing is for. Writing without thinking stimulates a part of our brains that can make the pathway to our creative side easy to find again.

Don’t edit as you write – it disrupts the creative flow!

2.     Take a Break

Don’t be scared to rip yourself away from the screen and take a breather – whether it be a few hours or a few days, that is for you to decide. If you have been staring at the screen for hours and simply can’t conjure up a single sentence, chances are you’re not going to just magically know what to write … your mind is tired and needs rest.

3.     Try Creative Writing Prompts

Don’t feel ashamed if you need to resort to prompts – professionals admit to using them when they are completely blocked up and haven’t been able to write for days. Even if the prompt has nothing to do with what you want in your writing, try writing about it anyway! Writing prompts can help recharge the creativity in your brain and therefore drag you out of a writer’s block.

4.     Relocate

If you’re feeling unmotivated, try moving yourself to another location. If you’ve been in your office all day, try sitting outside and letting the nature inspire you. Perhaps you have a favourite coffee shop – go and grab a drink and sit in public and people watch. A great creativity exercise is to watch a complete stranger and write down how you think they live their life – and voila! You’re halfway to building a character.

So, whether you’re sitting on a manuscript that needs finishing, have an idea you’d like to pursue, or simply want to get those creative juices flowing – try these tips and tricks to spark your motivation and watch time fly by in isolation.