Motivation is the key to success and it is important for every individual who wishes to achieve something in life. Whether it is a task or activity, one needs to have the motivation for it in order to excel.
As content creators, you may find yourself stuck in a rut, unmotivated and uninspired. Creating content can be difficult but it is not impossible. This creative block may arise from many factors ranging from burnout to less desirable results.
But, you have to remember and remind yourself of this beautiful quote by Dwayne Johnson, “Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.”
Are you looking for various ways to motivate yourself from your creative rut?
Here are 10 ways to motivate and keep yourself consistent even when you are stuck in a rut.
Top 10 Ways And Tips To Motivate Yourself To Create Content When You Are Stuck In A Rut
Content creation can be especially daunting for creative minds when they are in a rut. It’s hard to motivate yourself, and it’s even harder to come up with ideas that don’t feel stale. You may find yourself feeling uninspired, thinking there’s nothing new or interesting to write about. Stop right there!
Before you jump into how to get out of a rut, it’s important to examine why you’re feeling stuck. Are you feeling overwhelmed? Do you feel like your ideas are all the same and unoriginal? Is it hard for you to focus on creating content when there’s so much else going on in the world?
Identifying why it’s hard to motivate yourself is a key step in getting out of a creative slump. Once you know why it’s hard to be creative, you can start exploring what motivates you and how to get yourself back on track. There are plenty of ways to motivate yourself and energise your creative juices so you can start creating content again. Let’s explore them.
1. Remind the reason why you started creating content.
Taking a few moments to remember what inspired you when you first decided to create content can give your motivation an instant boost. Look back at old drafts, articles and notes to recall why you felt so passionate about this in the beginning. As Nike’s quote says, “Just Do It.”
Remembering and cherishing the roadmap to what you’re today will give you the spark and motivation you need to endure the hardships of your present journey. Ask yourself questions like, “what excited me when I began this journey?” or “What’s the one thing that I want to achieve through my content?” Remembering your why can help you stay motivated and connected with your passion.
2. Liven up your work environment and make it comfortable and peaceful.
Sitting in a dark and gloomy room can really dampen your creativity, so make an effort to bring in some color and lightness into whatever space you are working in. Invest in some plants, open the windows and let natural light come through or even just add some vibrant colors to your walls.
3. Take a Break. Your brain needs space to perculate
A break is essential, especially if you have been in a rut for some time. Take an hour off of work, listen to music or go for a long walk—whatever it takes to give yourself a much-needed breather and come back with a refreshed mind. As Liryae says, “There’s literally nothing in nature that blooms all year long, so don’t expect yourself to do so.” Stay away from creating content and give your body and mind the break to muster up the motivation and peace.
4. Cut your to-do list and work schedule by half.
Overloading yourself with too many tasks can be overwhelming, so take a good look at what you have on your plate and make sure it is something you are able to handle. As Steve Jobs said, “Focus is about saying no”—so make sure you are saying no to the tasks that are not important.
5. Try creating a different type of content
Get out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself by writing something new. If you usually write articles, try writing a short story or poem; if you usually write scripts, try writing an essay. Stepping outside of the box can help you create content that is unique and interesting. This way, you not just explore your interest in a new content form but also give your mind some space from the old types.
6. Look back to your achievements and how you started your journey in the first place.
Reflecting on the things you have achieved so far, no matter how small they may seem, can give you a much needed confidence boost. Looking back at what led you to where you are today can also remind you why you began creating content in the first place and serve as a source of motivation.
7. Get inspired from success and failure stories.
Reading about people who have gone through similar experiences can be inspiring. It is also helpful to get advice from those who have already accomplished what you are aiming for, as this can give you the courage and confidence to keep going.
Besides success stories, also focus on reading failure stories. While success stories have a message, failure stories are relatable and leave behind pathways and ideas to success. Focus on rising up from your lows just like the Phoenix.
8. Try Repurposing your content yourself.
Instead of creating new content from scratch, turn to your old work which can be used differently. Take an article you wrote and turn it into a podcast or video; take an old tweet and develop it into an infographic. Repurposing your own content or idea stirs up your creativity thus giving you a time off from the same content forms. It also relieves you from the constant stress and pressure of creating content for your audience.
9. Challenge yourself with small milestones followed by a reward.
Set mini goals for yourself and assign a reward after each of them. For example, if you set a goal to write an article in two days, treat yourself with your favorite food or buy a new book once you are done.
These mini goals are a great way to motivate yourself to complete a large task in small parts without you even realising it. Also, when completion of each milestone is followed by a positive reinforcement such as reward, your mind craves for more rewards which comes along with completing more small milestones.
10. Talk about your demotivation and let a friend help you.
Sometimes it helps to talk about our feelings with a friend or mentor in order to get clarity and a new perspective. As the saying goes, “A problem shared is half solved.” Allow yourself to be vulnerable and reach out to someone you trust. A fresh set of eyes can often bring a much-needed shift in perspective.
Final Takeaway
It’s easy to get stuck in a rut when it comes to creating content. Staying motivated and inspired is essential for keeping your content creation fresh and engaging. Take time each day to explore different ideas, push yourself out of your comfort zone, look for inspiration in all the right places, collaborate with others, and be willing to make mistakes.
With the right mindset and these 10 tips, you’ll be able to find that extra bit of motivation needed to create content even when you feel stuck in a rut. As Winston Churchill once said: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” So go forth and be courageous, and you will achieve your content creation goals. Best of luck!