3 Ways to Beat the Mental Block that is Holding You Back

Whether they occur in your professional, personal, or creative life, mental blocks can be detrimental. They can also occur in many forms, one of the most well-known being ‘writer’s block’. Mental blocks aren’t just a problem for authors, though. They can occur in every aspect of your life and keep you from reaching and achieving the goals you have set for yourself. To help you keep on achieving your dreams and goals, here are x tips for beating the mental block that is holding you back.

Start small and work your way up

Most of the time, the mental block is all in your head. When you’re working on something, whether it’s a project for work or a fitness goal. It’s easy to become overwhelmed when you are looking only at the main goal.

For example, if your goal is to cycle 200 miles in 45 days, then looking at that number can be off-putting. Finished products and final step goals can seem unachievable and far away, and that’s why it’s important to start small and work your way up. Instead of focusing solely on those 200 miles, start off by focusing on 5 miles.

Mental blocks occur when you don’t feel like you’re making progress, so, when you start small and minimize tasks, you’re able to celebrate more victories, boosting your morale and helping you complete your goals.

Change your environment

Believe it or not, the environment you’re in can truly affect how much progress you’re making. That’s one reason why college students, for example, are encouraged to study at coffee shops and libraries rather than in their rooms. If you’re finding that you’re struggling with a mental block while working, try changing things up.

If you normally work in your home office, try visiting a local coffee shop and enjoy a drink while you get yourself motivated again. Or, if you normally work out at the gym and you’re struggling to bring yourself to go, take advantage of any nice weather you might be experiencing and head outside.

It also doesn’t have to be that drastic of a change. When it comes to changing your environment to boost productivity, you can also try something as simple as cleaning your workspace. While a messy desk can encourage creativity, if it’s productivity you’re trying to achieve, a tidy, organized space is the way to go.

Take a break and experience the world

Sometimes, a mental block is your body’s way of telling you that it is overwhelmed. Instead of forcing yourself through it even though nothing seems to be working, consider stepping back from your project and taking a break. Go for a walk. Call an old friend and catch up. By getting out and experiencing the world, more often than not, you’ll find your mental block is gone, especially if the mental block you’re trying to beat has something to do with art or creativity such as fiction writing or painting.