We’ve all been there – that slightly darker place in our lives where we can’t seem to find any hint of motivation, enthusiasm, creativity, or inspiration.

Maybe you’ve been in a funk for a few days and can’t find the way back to your normal self. You HAVE a goal in mind (to write your resume, finish that article, turn in your highly procrastinated work assignment), but you just don’t know how to get on the right track with a positive mindset.

These are the techniques I put into play when I find myself in this abysmal corner of writer’s block torture. Hopefully one will work for you to help you get back to your hardworking, mentally healthy, inspired, positive, creative self!

Find a change of scenery
My go-to places for getting things done lately have been my room in my apartment, or a coffee shop down the street. Generally, switching it up between those two places has been sufficient enough for me to be at least semi-productive. However, that hasn’t been the case lately…

I was feeling in need of a change, and as soon as I found one, I was immediately transitioned into a more positive mindset. If you always work from the same place, try changing it up a bit! It could be as simple as switching chairs to a new spot across the room, to something more effort intense, like packing up your things and relocating to a free Wi-Fi friendly public place. Find something that works for you, and remember to spice it up every now and again to keep the creative juices flowing!

Listen to this

I won’t tell you how many times I’ve watched this clip, because I will be judged for it. But this has not stopped inspiring me since I discovered it a few years ago, and I still occasionally turn to it for a little guidance.

Turn off EVERYTHING
Turn off every electronic you own, and sit in silence for 10 minutes to let your mind wander (yes, it sounds a little bit hippie-ish, but trust me, it works). Distractions are the worst, unless you just need a mental break, then they can be the best. But in this case, do yourself a favor and get rid of them! 10 minutes to unplug will rejuvenate you, and it will feel like a fresh start.

Refocus your goal
Take a step back, and focus on the original task…maybe you’re stumped because you’re losing track of the finish line. If you’ve been working to come up with a creative idea, and you have been bouncing back and forth between one thought to another without taking a minute to organize your head, it’s easy to lose site of the mission. I’m constantly coming up with article ideas, tweaking them little-by-little, and then tweaking them some more.  Before I realize it, my original goal has been completely lost, leaving me with a terrible failure for my intended direction  … The best thing to do when you get off track is to go back to square one, simplify your task, and take off from there with a refocused state of mind.

Eat these foods 
Livestrong posted a list of mental power foods, and it’s definitely true that your diet can affect your brain functionality! My personal favorites are blueberries, almond anything, and, jackpot… dark chocolate made the list, as well!

What methods do you use to get out of your mental funk and back on the track toward success?

-Jessie

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