Are you in a rut? Here’s how to find your way out.

Getting back on the bandwagon is easier than you think.

As I sat down to write this post, the space between writing and not writing continued to grow, allowing self-doubt to make an appearance and nestle in. I started questioning myself about why I started writing in the first place, whether or not I had something to say, and if in fact I was any good at this writing thing at all.

Sound familiar?

If I’ve learned anything about writing (in other words: doing the work), it is that being stuck is a necessary part of the process. It can also be a perfect place to start. As I tried to get back to writing, I remembered my own advice to write from a place of “stuckness”.

It is possible that exploring how to do the thing can simultaneously get the thing done. So, where to start?

Start by showing up.

I’m going into this post with no expectations; only the commitment to put words on the page. I’m dropping the self-judgement while making the assumption that no one is going to read this.

This mindset shift takes the pressure off and allows any inhibitions to fade while I focus on writing, and not the end result.

Channel some self-discipline.

At the end of the day, you’re going to have find it in yourself to sit down and do the work (insert your version of work here). Turn off all distractions including the TV, your phone, your partner, your family, etc. From there, set a timer for a time increment you know you can commit to and don’t leave your seat until it goes off. Even if it’s only 15 minutes you’ll be 15 minutes further ahead then you were before.

If you get distracted during this time, notice your behaviour and what you let interrupt you. Acknowledge it and re-commit to doing the work.

Own the pain.

I have written posts that hurt to come out. Not because they were emotional and vulnerable, but because I struggled with how to communicate my idea on the page despite my passion on the topic. I questioned every sentence and every supporting point along the way, constantly rearranging sentences and paragraphs. My keyboard likely experienced more copy + paste commands than typed words.

The point is: keep going. Even when it isn’t easy, check in with why you started in the first place and let that lead you to continue, over and over again.

Accept that it’ll never be perfect.

And that’s OK. It took me awhile to learn that sometimes good enough is in fact, good enough. I learned early on that if I sat on an idea too long, I eventually lost my connection to it and all the work I had put into an initial draft ended up being abandoned. Don’t give up when you’re almost at the finish line - hit publish/send/save anyway.

Knowing that your work is out there creates momentum for the next one.

And spoiler alert: there is more (and likely better) to come. Not every individual thing you create is going to be your favourite. Not every post you publish is going to be your best work. That doesn’t make you any less of a writer, creator, or artist — it’s all part of the process. After all, you need the not-so-good ones to exist for the out-of-this-world ones to shine.

No one said this would be easy. Being creative never is.

We need to do the damn thing, remembering that the process is, after all, what keeps us coming back for more.

Kirsten Schmidtke is a professional coach, creator, and lover of lake life. She works with leaders, creators, and entrepreneurs to help them up-level their careers, businesses, and lives. Are you ready to explore what’s possible for you? Contact Kirsten to start the conversation!