More often than not, my head is full of crazy ideas and opinions that I have to let out of my system one way or another — this is why I'm a writer. A professor could throw any topic in the world at me and on a very good day, I'd have five pages typed and cited in less than 90 minutes. I take pride in the fact that my mind works so quickly and allows me to be as ambitious as I am, and I am eternally grateful to have an imagination that still functions as well as it did when I was a little girl.

However, there are definitely days when I just can't seem to get it right. Every topic I choose seems overdone or boring, and each time I start to write I become more and more uninspired. My hands seem to move slower across my keyboard, my eyes daze off and before I know it, I've been staring at the computer for an hour with absolutely nothing to show for it. It's days like these that I practice several techniques that help me feel more motivated, more inspired and more confident about my work. No matter what your career or hobby consists of, these simple tips are sure to help you find inspiration in any situation.

Disconnect from the world for a while.

If your mind is hazy, it could have something to do with the stress you are dealing with in other areas of your life — school, an internship, work, friends, family, finances, etc. Take some time to focus on yourself by indulging in something that relaxes you. Lay in bed with headphones in and zone out, take a hot bath with bubbles and essential oils, or have some quiet time and get all of your thoughts out in a journal. Go for a long drive and look at the scenery or stay in and watch your favorite movies. Disconnect from everything and allow your mind to rest, and then give it another go.

Look for inspiration in your surroundings.

One thing I always try to do is appreciate the things that surround me. Going for a walk and becoming aware of the looks, sounds and smells of nature is always a great way to become re-inspired and spark up your imagination — utilizing your senses will prove to be helpful. Going through old photo albums and flipping through whatever magazines or newspapers are laying around the house are also great ways to get your mind going. There is something unique hidden in everything around you, so try to gain some incentive from it.

Get out of your comfort zone.

Sometimes in order to feel inspired, we need to break away from the things we know and love and experience something new. If you spend all of your time in your hometown, go somewhere you haven't been in years. If you always listen to the same three bands, find some better music. And if you always write about the same damn thing, pick a more interesting subject. In some cases, all we need is a change of pace or some new scenery to feel like ourselves again.

Spend time with the people you love.

Occasionally, the issue isn't that we need to disconnect from the world, but that we need to reconnect with it. If you find that you're losing the determination you once had, it could be because you're missing out on opportunities to be around the people who love and support you. If you're away at college, give your mom and dad a call a couple times a week — check in on them the way they do for you. When you're home, spend the day with your siblings no matter how much they annoy you and make sure to schedule some time with your best friend, too. Regenerating important relationships will leave you feeling refreshed and ready to focus, no matter how difficult the task.