I believe there is no worse feeling in the world than being stuck. It's tear your hair out with frustration time. You can hear the clock ticking in the back of your head, the deadline rushing towards you. There is an awareness that you've already wasted too much time on this particular piece and that it is rapidly turning into a waste of time.
ARGH
When it comes to getting unstuck there are some ideas that help and some common behaviours that don't.
What Not To Do
This is actually quite simple. Don't keep doing what you've already done. It hasn't worked.
And I believe it was Einstein who said "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result." So if you keep trying it will be to your detriment.
There is a fine line between been lazy and been stuck and self awareness is the key to knowing which side of it you are on. By all means if you know you are just being lazy - procrastinating is not the solution. Keep at it.
Douglas Adams said "I love the whooshing sound a deadline makes as I go past it... " Your clients HATE that whooshing sound. You should hate the whooshing sound. It means that you are losing money by not implementing to your original plan.
What To Do
When I am stuck, I mean really stuck, I will go for a quick walk, get some fresh air and clear my head. Occasionally it is good to be out of the office and in 'different' surrounds. Sometimes that is enough to clear the stuckness and get myself up and going.
Then I will come back to it, if it still isn't working I tend to go and work on something else. See if I can distract myself - clear the block and still be productive at the same time.
Then if that doesn't work, I usually resort the next great block clearer. A nap. Phsyco-Cybernetics author Maxwell Maltz refers to clearing the calculator. Feeling blocked is usually the symptom of a jammed up calculator and I will go and clear it with a nap. Clear the head and get on with it.
Do MORE Research. It is the last, best and final solution. Most stuckness is symptomatic of not knowing enough about what you are trying to write copy on. With additional information I usually find that I have cleared the blockage the next day.
ARGH
When it comes to getting unstuck there are some ideas that help and some common behaviours that don't.
What Not To Do
This is actually quite simple. Don't keep doing what you've already done. It hasn't worked.
And I believe it was Einstein who said "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result." So if you keep trying it will be to your detriment.
There is a fine line between been lazy and been stuck and self awareness is the key to knowing which side of it you are on. By all means if you know you are just being lazy - procrastinating is not the solution. Keep at it.
Douglas Adams said "I love the whooshing sound a deadline makes as I go past it... " Your clients HATE that whooshing sound. You should hate the whooshing sound. It means that you are losing money by not implementing to your original plan.
What To Do
When I am stuck, I mean really stuck, I will go for a quick walk, get some fresh air and clear my head. Occasionally it is good to be out of the office and in 'different' surrounds. Sometimes that is enough to clear the stuckness and get myself up and going.
Then I will come back to it, if it still isn't working I tend to go and work on something else. See if I can distract myself - clear the block and still be productive at the same time.
Then if that doesn't work, I usually resort the next great block clearer. A nap. Phsyco-Cybernetics author Maxwell Maltz refers to clearing the calculator. Feeling blocked is usually the symptom of a jammed up calculator and I will go and clear it with a nap. Clear the head and get on with it.
Do MORE Research. It is the last, best and final solution. Most stuckness is symptomatic of not knowing enough about what you are trying to write copy on. With additional information I usually find that I have cleared the blockage the next day.
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