Ever sit down at the computer to blog and the words just don’t come out? Your fingers are poised over the keyboard but the voices in your head are busy telling you that you’ve had a long day, there are a million other things you need to get done and it’s past your bedtime.
On those days, it doesn’t matter how many great sources I look at for inspiration, or fantastic blog post prompts I’ve got, or how many different article templates I browse through. All the great advice about “write in advance” and “keep a list of ideas” isn’t helpful when you’re stuck. Sometimes our brains just need a break and they go on strike until we take some time off to recharge.
So what can you do when you want/need to blog but it’s the last thing you feel like doing and ideas just don’t seem to be coming? Never fear! Here are some simple ideas to help you survive and get a blog post published quickly.
Try Something Different
Do an audio post – just record your thoughts with AudioBoo or Cinch.fm and add it to a post.
Do a video post – turn on the webcam and talk, or do a screencast recording with Jing.
Share Something Cool From Someone Else’s Brain
Your brain wants a break. Be nice and give it a break. You could share…
- a YouTube video (here’s how)
- a TED talk (here’s an example)
- an article from EzineArticles (here’s an example, and here’s the system I use for finding stuff to share)
- a resource or tool you like (I do this a lot, including just this morning: G+ Guide)
- some cool links/bloggers you’ve run across in the past week
- share a post with links to your best past posts on a topic (like your best advice for bloggers, your 5 most popular recipes, the most commented stories you’ve shared, etc.)
Take Time Out & Share It
Give yourself a break. Take a walk. Go to the library. Grab a mocha. Read a book. Do something to recharge your batteries, then share about that.
I’d love to see a photo of the sunset where you are. Or that peaceful spot you like to sit and think. I’d even love to see a photo of your local coffee shop (surprised, aren’t you?)… Yeah, it’s probably not what you usually blog about, but it’s okay to show the personal side of yourself and give your readers something to connect with.
Though if you choose to relax in the bubble bath as I do, I’d prefer you not share that photo. In fact, keeping the camera away from that particular room is probably a good idea.
You get the idea though–share something different that helped you relax. Your readers probably need to relax, too, and just might follow your lead and be thankful.
Photo Credit: Yuri_Arcurs/StockFresh
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Nice tips Michelle. Thank you. It’s where I’m at right now.
I went with the “blog what you know” approach today. I’ve been there a couple of times this month myself. Sometimes the ideas just don’t want to cooperate!
Thank you lovely, I didnt know about the voice software, I really want to do more video blogging but that involves having a decent video with external sound (we have an iflip) AND of course there is always the pressure to “look” somewhat decent but with voice recording none of that matters, and one expects that if you’re in a crunch it’s probably NOT to the time to put your tired mug onto video-LOL
Anyway I am sat in my new local cafe so I thought I would blog about that today and will be adding a photo per your suggestion. Love your ideas and they keep me inspired, you have taken me from an occasional blogger to one who is consistent and regular and the more I blog the more ideas I have, woo hoo, cannot thank you enough for all that you share and the inspiration you provide.
I like CinchCast – it’s really easy to use. I do a video once in a while with my MacBook’s built in webcam but find the same audio challenge, and audio’s definitely easier.
I’m so glad my posts have been helpful for you, Shivie! Thank you for sharing that. :)
I actually look a lot like the woman in the photo today . . . minus the pearls, makeup and business suit. The coffee cups are hilarious. And I might just be doing the bubble bath thing soon. I’ll spare you the pics :). Great ideas, though, Michelle. It feels like permission in a way for it to be OK to just say, “I’m having a day. Here’s a cool pic of what I do when this happens.” I like that.
I had to laugh when I saw that photo. Coffee cups everywhere. :)
Exactly, sometimes we just need permission to take a little break and be human. :)
When I am feeling less than excited and don’t feel like more than a pile of mush – I watch motivational training. Heck yeah! Gets me going! Nothing like listening to a speech of someone who inspires so many! It’s a blast! After watching one or two of those I am ready to grab the video camera and record! :)
Motivational videos can make a huge difference in the way we feel and our “take action” attitudes. I love t watch TED talks to inspire me.
Awesome and always educational! Thanks Michelle!
You’re welcome, Rhonda. :)
Great ideas Michelle. I am glad that you brought up the ezine articles. Very nice option and helps to give the authors credit for their work.
Hmm, I guess you know what I will be doing.
Ezine Articles is great. I love to republish articles from there because it’s such a win-win-win — great content for me, more exposure and publicity for the authors, and helpful information for my readers. :)
Another award winning blog post :)…good thing you not exhausted or uninspired…what would we do without all your ideas! Thanks Michelle
I’ve been there enough times to have figured out a few ways out of it. ;)
Those are some great ideas. Everyone needs a break and it’s great to share the work of others. Thanks for another helpful post! ~Suerae
Sharing others work is such a nice way to give ourselves a break. :)
Great ideas Michelle. I love to meditate when I feel like I need to recharge my batteries, typically something pops up after that.
I need to do that more often… the sitting still, quietly is a challenge!
Hi Michelle, I am glad I had read your post. I liked the detailed steps you gave on posting a video from youtube. There are videos that I find entertaining, amusing or inspiring that I feel the need to share them. There are bloggers who force themselves to write even though they are exhausted, and it is sometimes amusing when they share what they are currently feeling. Writing and posting pictures that makes us relax is a great idea when I am feeling exhausted.
Thanks, Michele, that’s helpful! Also, love your sense of humor!
Thanks, Crystal. :)
Maybe this will come across as a bit simplistic or rudimentary, for that matter. However …
When you’re exhausted — you need to rest or not one single creative thought will find it’s way out of your brain and into a blog post. I know. I’ve tried to write in that condition and it’s futile. Once you become tired, then overly tired, and then you move into full-blown exhaustion, find a pillow and put your head down on it!
When you’re totally uninspired — contact a few of your best online buddies (or friends in the real world) and tell them how you’re feeling. You’ll be surprised how much inspiration someone else can muster up for you! And don’t feel like you’re taking the lazy way out by asking your friends for some inspiration. I’m sure you’ll get a chance to return the favor. :)
Really great tips and resources here!
Thanks, Michelle.
Sometimes we miss the simple solutions. You’re right though — rest is the only way to let our poor, stressed brains recover!
And I don’t know what I’d do without my online blogging buddies and the communities I participate in, as well as my blog readers/commenters. They’re such an inspiration!
Michelle, thanks for this post. Its really usefull for my new blog!
You’re welcome, Colene. Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks for the reminder about Cinch, Michelle. I used to use it but forgot all about it. Just make sure if you use it to set your settings to private by default or anyone going to the cinch site can see it. If you are willing to manage the posts (deleting the calls where you call in, make a mistake and say “oh crap” and then hang up! lol…) I liked Cinch because it makes an rss feed for you. Just thinking out of the box, that you could possibly add an rss feed sidebar on your wordpress site to show these? Just thinking out loud.
Thanks so much for the Ultimate Blogging Challenge. I am joining VERY late, but the resources are there so I will just use it for now to keep me on track. Great work!
Yes, there are two easy ways to add the RSS feed – you can use the WordPress RSS widget, or you can use the CinchCast widget which is a very slick looking purple box. Nice. :)
Glad the Ultimate Blog Challenge is helpful for you, Amy! The next big one starts in a little over a month – October 1st. We’d love to have you join.
When I’m stuck writing a post, but want to keep blogging in some way, I figure the production side of my head has taken over and I work on the behind-the-scenes mechanics. (The to-do list never ends.) Now I’ve got more choices of what to do, thanks to your post! Susan
Isn’t it interesting how our brain can fight amongst itself? LOL My creative side fights with my analytical side all the time. :)
For me, I just lay down and let my mind drift to wonderland. If I am still awake and an idea struck my head I stand open my laptop and write it down..
Sometimes we just need to step away from the computer and take a break for a while.
Michelle, Thanks for the great tips. Anyone who owns a blog is going to run into this problem and what I tend to do is share some cool information I have found elsewhere. I need to try taking a time out and sharing some off the subject thoughts.
I love when bloggers share cool info from elsewhere — we’ve all got such different connections/circles that I end up discovering great new blogs or resources I probably wouldn’t have found otherwise. :)
YOU are GOOD!!! I am SO HAPPY to have found you and your tips!
Your tips are really down to Earth.
Sincerely,
Juracy from Ensenada Baja California. Mexico
Thanks, Juracy, and you’re welcome.
Michelle,
Just came across this as I was looking for ideas.
I wish I had a tub to take a bubble bath in – alas, only a shower. And, “no” don’t worry, I wouldn’t post any photos if I did have a tub (although I did just see cute bubble bath photo – of someone else – on Facebook . It was mostly bubbles!)
However, I do have sunset photos so that may be the inspiration I need today. Or maybe that walk is in order along the ocean’s edge.
As always, I appreciate your creativity.
Thanks.
Debra
Yes, bubbles are okay. LOL
A walk along the ocean sounds beautiful!
These tips could really help some of my clients!
Thank you for this article.