Writer's block. Procrastination. Resistance and avoidance.
Whatever you want to call it...
It happens to the best of us, but you can change that.
Every single person on this Earth goes through a time where they must come up with an idea, but can not do it for the life of them. In this world of phones, computers, constant connection and visual stimulation, creative ideas are hard to come by and even harder to think up on your own.
Students in classes, me included, have an easier time doing projects when given specific parameters, whether the project be a painting or an essay. It is easier for us (as beings who will go to any length to do things using the absolute least amount of effort possible) to never have to actually think.
So when you're given no guidelines, you have no idea where to even start. Your brain doesn't know what to do when it hasn't been given orders.
If you're falling into this blank space now, if you ever have before, or if you think you ever will in the future (trust me, you will) I have one simple piece of advice:
GO TO SLEEP
Yes, I wrote that correctly and yes, I am actually being 100% serious.
Go to sleep.
Put your mind at ease.
Take a few shots of Nyquil if you're desperate.
Just stop cranking your mind-gears and put a little oil on those bad boys.
Your brain needs a break!
Hit the pillow.
Now (I'm about to get a little nerdy on you) here's why this is seriously good advice:
You know those times when you're in bed just about to cross over into the dream world and your eyes SLAM OPEN and that lightbulb POPS ON because ding ding ding you just had the absolute most brilliant idea EVER?
(I hope I'm not the only one who does this.)
"I have to remember this in the morning," I will say to myself, and head back to the land of unconsciousness...
The morning arrives and what do I do?
NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT I TOLD MYSELF I WOULD REMEMBER.
You see, when you get sleepy, the part of the brain responsible for attention, planning, and memory, takes a break from the job (Creative Something, 2013.)
When this little brain-hub kicks back and finally stops interpreting every little bit of information going on around you, thus letting your own thoughts run freely, you start to unknowingly pay attention to thoughts you otherwise would've dismissed as irrelevant.
You're probably asking, "Why go to sleep to come up with ideas if I won't remember them anyways?"
Well, whenever any idea pops into your head as the sandman is coming through your window, refuse the instinct to judge it or ignore it and simply write it down.
Keep a pen or pencil along with a notebook, a scratch piece of paper, sticky notes, anything, by your bed at all times and I guarantee your life will become more creative.
If I didn't do this, I never would've come up with the idea to write this article. So this is proof in itself that my theory works.
The benefits of this practice are not only to come up with ideas, but since your mind tends to simplify things at this point of relaxation, it is much easier to find answers to problems, have epiphanies about why your dog likes your sister more than you, and often come up with the most efficient ways to manage your busy schedule for the following day.
If you want to take it a step further, I encourage you to delete social media as well and see how much your brain loves to not be f*!#ing BOMBARDED with useless information for hours on end.
With that said, goodnight and don't let the bed bugs bite!
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