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One of the problems that most bloggers face from time to time is writers block. You’ve probably experienced it before yourself. With so much information and so many blogs out there that deal with topics like how to make money online, affiliate marketing tips, how to increase your RSS subscribers and the like, it’s no wonder why a brain cramp can paralyze your writing.

So how do you free up your mind to find topics to write about? Here are 5 simple tips to try yourself and see if they help your writing style and prevent writers block.

Don’t watch T.V.

This might seem like a simple one, or a hard one, but having distractions such as a television in the background can really take your focus away from writing. I have found myself in the middle of an article only to realize that I am drawn away from my thoughts and anxiously awaiting for the next commercial, news story, or scene on Desperate Housewives.

By turning off the television, I have found it a lot easier to focus on my writing and I can get things done more quickly without distraction or interruption now. If you need some type of background noise because things are too quiet, try turning on a fan, or some music. But, be careful what type of music you listen to.

Relax with quiet music

I used to listen to the heavy metal and loud pop music that is popular. I guess as I have grown older I can tell when I get to hyped up. By hyped up, I mean I can feel like I have had 3 or 4 cups of coffee. I would get really anxious and loose concentration quite often if I was listening to music with rapid beats, loud lyrics or something that would make me flash back to my teen years (ah, those were the days!).

I have come to find that classical music really helps. You might be thinking that your music is the best and your write fine listening to it. That’s great and if it works for you, more power to you. But, if you are finding that even music causes a distraction, find a classical music station on the radio and give it a try. See if it makes a difference with your writing.

You are what you eat

The old saying goes “You are what you eat” and that is so true! In this day of meals and snacks loaded with preservatives and high fat content, you can not only pack on the pounds, but really get run down.

A recent article on problogger.com discusses the 7 Unhealthy Eating Habits of Unproductive Bloggers and it is worth the read.

Unless you are active away from the computer, you can easily pack on the pounds by eating junk food and fast food. The best recommendation is to eat small and more frequent meals that are healthy. If you want snacks during the day, try some fruit or vegetable slices.

Oh, also put down that cola…way to much sugar!

Shake your rump

If you are like me, the mind can only withstand what the rear can endure. If you sit for long periods of time, take a break!

The best thing to do is to get up and take a 5 or 10 minute walk around the house or office, get a drink of water, or do some stretches. Stretching can increase blood flow and loosen up tight muscles. Another aspect to pay attention to is good body posture. Sitting up straight, proper hand positions, not gripping the mouse to tightly, and screen angle are just a few items that can really make a difference.

If you are interested in learning more of these tips and other statistics, check out Workout4Bloggers as it is a neat site with lots of great tips and information.

Stop reading and researching

This one will sit well, I’m sure. I can hear it now, you’re probably thinking to yourself “But I need to get my daily dose of suchandsuch.com or I’ll die!”. Well, you probably won’t die, but I know that having computer withdrawals can be painful. Trust me, just ask my wife how I get!

One of the biggest distractions that I am facing right now is that I am reading to many blogs and spending to much time away from my sites. I have lost focus on what I am trying to do, and accomplish with not only ejcross.com, but a couple of other sites that I am working on right now.

I think this is far more common that most bloggers will ever admit to, but if you look at how much time you spend reading or surfing other blogs and sites, and then compare that to how much time you spend on your blog, you might be surprised.

You see, I have caught myself spending a lot of time reading other sites and blogs, and don’t get me wrong, I am learning a lot of useful information for some projects that I am working on. But, if I was to take it in small doses, apply what I have learned in simple pieces, I think my success rate would skyrocket. Why?

To much information can overload your mind. Plain and simple. You can be the smartest person in the world with an IQ higher than Snoop Dogg, but if you try to apply a lot of things at once, you will probably forget something and not be as successful at it.

I wonder how many of the A-list bloggers built their empires in a month? Are there success stories out there of blogs rising from nowhere to fame in a short time? There sure are. Take a look at ZenHabits or LeopardTricks as both have seen explosive growth since starting.

In conclusion

To much of a good thing can be bad for you. I’m sure that was a country music song somewhere in the past. How you focus and what you do to regain your focus is what counts. These are just some of the tips that I have found that have helped me when I get writers block and find myself needing to refocus on writing and clearing my mind to get good ideas.

What do you do to refocus when you get writers block? What distracts you the most?

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