Overcoming Mental Blocks: Techniques to Break Free and Move Forward

Let's face it! We all face it. And we all have different ways to cope from it. Here I discuss mine.

Let’s face it, we all face mental blocks. And it makes our lives fucking miserable. I don’t know about how others feel but I can tell you that I get depressed, I feel clueless and I don’t know what to do with my life.

Self-doubt kicks in and I start questioning my plans, thoughts and my existence as well.

It can be as simple as writer's block, artist's block, or a general feeling of confusion and overwhelm. 

But let’s just get it out straight away - Mental blocks are normal, and everyone experiences them at some point. 

And the good news is that there are ways to deal with mental blocks. 

Acknowledge the block

The first step to dealing with a mental block is to acknowledge its presence. What is causing you to feel stuck? Is it fear, anxiety, or a lack of clarity? Identifying the source of the block will help you address it more effectively.

Take that break

Taking a break can help you clear your mind and gain a new perspective. And when that block is big and real, you need a break. Just let your mind roam in the wild. Live in the moment.

You could go for a walk, meditate, or do something else that relaxes you. I love going out for treks, trip or I just read books that are not related to my work.

Taking a break doesn't mean giving up, but rather giving yourself time to recharge before you start refocusing on things again.

List your past learnings

It's important to acknowledge your past learnings to avoid repeating some of the same mistakes. Take some time to reflect on your past experiences, what went wrong, and what you learned from them.

This will help you gain a better understanding of yourself and your strengths and weaknesses.

I wasn’t a great reader or leader. I acknowledge things that I can do to improve my reading habit and instances where I went wrong as a leader. Listing down thoughts and mistakes helps you in becoming a better version of yourself.

List your future goals

Create a list of things you'd like to do in the future. Be absolutely wild while writing this down Write down all your goals, no matter how big or small.

Once you have a big list, scratch off items to understand your priorities. This exercise will help you gain clarity on what you want to achieve and how to get there.

Now break it down

See, even those shortlisted items might look way too big of a thing to be achieved. Right? So the way you handle it is by breaking it down into a smaller set of tasks. Here’s an example.

Task: I want to start a newsletter.

Break it down.

1. Research newsletter platforms

2. Who will be my audience

3. What will my first 10 newsletter issues look like

4. Deciding on the frequency of the newsletter

5. Making a list of other newsletters from whom I can learn.

Seek help

Don't be afraid to seek help when you're feeling stuck. This could be from a friend, family member, or professional. A fresh perspective can sometimes help you see things differently and find a solution that works for you.

Try a new approach

If what you're doing isn't working, try a new approach. Experiment with different techniques, tools, and strategies until you find what works for you. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try something new.

From my experience, mental blocks have been a normal part of my life, and I believe everyone experiences them. The key is to address it and take measured steps to take it down. By using these (or some other) techniques, I am sure we all can overcome mental blocks with ease.

---

A must-platform for freelancers and professionals.

We don’t want mental blocks while running our freelance business. For that get yourself registered on Rivista. Rivista helps you collect reviews that drive leads and sales for you.

It’s a Social Proof + Proof of work platform where you can aggregate and showcase the work uploaded on all platforms and collect testimonials from your clients seamlessly.