What To Do When You’re Stuck in a Blogging Funk

Feeling stuck in a blogging funk lately and in need of inspiration? Try one of these five strategies!

I’ve recently heard from a lot of people that feel like they’re stuck in a blogging funk due to COVID-19. They feel like they don’t have inspiration or anything to offer as a blogger, and they’re not sure what to do.

If this is you, I’d like to encourage you with these five practical strategies that often help me when I’m lacking blogging inspiration…

5 Strategies When You’re Stuck in a Blogging Funk

1. Ask why.

You might not be able to fix it, but if you never ask why, you’ll never know if you can!

Have you been getting enough sleep? Are you getting enough to eat? Is there something going on hormonally? Do you need to get some bloodwork done? Is there something making you feel heavy-hearted? Is there something in your life dragging you down and discouraging you?

Many of these things can affect your mental state and put you in a funk.

For me, a lot of times I’ll get in a blogging funk if I’m tired. And just the simple act of taking a nap or making sure that I get enough sleep one night is enough to give me inspiration the next day to get back on the bandwagon.

So make sure you’re taking care of yourself, replenishing your soul, and getting enough rest & quiet time each day.

2. Allot time for blogging.

It’s SO easy to decide not to blog just because you’re not inspired.

But I encourage you not to expect that you’re just going to jump up every day and have blogging inspiration. Sometimes the inspiration comes from the habit of blogging and simply knowing that you’ve allotted time for it.

And when you allot the time for writing, it’s going to be much easier to actually follow through with it.

Make yourself make it a priority by planning out blocks of time for blogging. And when you prioritize it, it’s much more likely that it’s actually going to happen!

I do suggest starting out with smaller blocks of time, especially when you’re not feeling very motivated. I find that 15-20 minute blocks of time are ideal, and the max should be about 45 minutes.

Even if you don’t get a ton done, the more that you allot that time, the more it’ll become a habit and you’ll start getting back to it!

3. Start small.

This piggybacks off of the previous point. It’s easy to pressure yourself into spending 5-8 hours blogging each day.

But if you’re not inspired, you’ll just sit there and get nothing done. And you might actually end up burning yourself out and ultimately setting yourself up for frustration and failure.

What I would recommend, like I already talked about, is to utilize small time blocks for blogging.

And then stop for breaks in between to do something that replenishes your soul gets you away from the computer for a few minutes.

Here are just a few ideas:

• Cook or clean something.
• Read a book.
• Spend time on Instagram.
• Listen to a podcast.
• Go outside and take a walk.

When you take a break from the computer and do something that fills you up, you might just return to the computer more inspired and ready to write!

If you just keep pushing and forcing the writing without taking a break, you’ll probably stay stuck in a funk.

And guess what? Those small chunks of time can really add up and make a big difference over time!

For example, I’ve finished over 47,000 words of my new book manuscript that’s due to the publisher by July 1st. I only need 50,000 words, so I’m almost to the finish line!

I’ve literally been writing it in the cracks of time since January. I’ve never spent more than an hour and a half total at a time on the book. And most of the time it’s 15-45 minutes at a time.

Small blocks of time can really add up to a big accomplishment!

4. Show up.

Showing up consistently is SO important as a blogger.

And sometimes this is the hardest work you’re going to do:

• To open up Instagram and write a post.
• To open up your word document and write the eBook.
• To log in to WordPress and write that blog post.

Sometimes it’s difficult when you see that blank screen.

But when you consistently show up, the creativity will follow the discipline.

There are many times when I don’t feel like blogging. I’d rather read a book, go outside, or watch a show.

But this is my full-time job, so I have to show up just like I would for any other job. Yes, I have flexibility and I’m grateful to not have to show up at certain times. But even when I’m not excited to show up, I have bills to pay, people on payroll, and a family to feed.

I can’t just not show up! But I’ve noticed that the more that I show up, the easier it is to show up.

Creativity breeds creativity. For example, I have SO much more inspiration when I’m writing a book, and I end up with all kinds of new ideas!

Sometimes I’ll find that just opening up the blank page and making myself do it can inspire some of the best work and writing!

I really think you’ll find that if you just commit to show up each day and allot the time, the inspiration will end up coming to you!

5. Feed your creativity.

What makes you feel more creative and keeps you inspired? Find a way to do more of that each day!

This will be different for everyone, but find what feeds you creatively. Maybe it’s taking a walk, listening to music, cleaning, reading, or being outside.

I love to take time to read and listen to great podcasts. Feeding my soul and mind with good thoughts and inspiration helps me to have that steady diet of new ideas and fresh creativity — which keeps me very inspired for blogging and writing!

Because of this, I like to start each day with walking on the treadmill and reading a few chapters of a book. That is my time to breathe, have quiet, and feed my creativity.

And I typically don’t do any blogging until I have this time to myself, because it’s my time to fill up my soul, exercise my body, get good endorphins going, and fill up my mind with good things.

You know what else I do when I’m stuck in a funk? I go clean or take a shower. I know it’s weird, but that’s something that helps fuel my creativity! I’ll just take 5-10 minutes to let my mind wander while I wash dishes or take a shower, and I end up coming back to the computer very inspired!

You can’t continue to give and give of yourself and expect that you’ll have continuous inspiration to share. You have to replenish your supply!

What other ideas do you have for when you’re stuck in a blogging funk? I’d love to hear!