how to get out of a content rut.

We've all been there: you set out to write something that you find interesting, but then it goes nowhere. You start over again and end up with a completely different idea. Your third attempt is probably closer to what you originally wanted but still not quite there. Eventually, you give up on whatever it was that inspired this whole mess in the first place and move on to another project. It's frustrating to feel like your creativity is being stifled by your own inability to get stuff done—and it's even worse when you have deadlines looming on all sides! But don't worry: there are ways of getting out of these content ruts and back into the flow of writing things that matter (or at least might get some attention). 

/ Discuss a common problem 

It's easy to get stuck in a rut, especially if you're working on a project that is out of your comfort zone. To get out of the rut, try discussing a common problem with friends and colleagues. For example: 

• Talk about a problem that you have experienced in your business or personal life (e.g., "I don't know what to do about this customer."). 

• Talk about a problem that you have read about (e.g., "I saw an article in The New York Times about how people are spending too much time on social media."). 

• Talk about a problem that you have seen on TV (e.g., "I saw an episode of Law & Order where they had an attorney who lost his license because he didn't have enough cases."). 

• Talk about an issue/trend in society at large—you can even discuss current events! This will help give context to whatever ideas come up while brainstorming content topics or themes for articles or blog posts (e.g., "The world is getting warmer!") 

/ Plan your next few posts 

Content planning is an important part of the process. When you’re working on a blog, it’s easy to feel like you need to constantly come up with new content. But what if I told you that wasn’t true? What if I said that having a plan for your blog posts could actually help you save time and avoid writer's block? 

If you want to stay focused and organised while writing content, here are some tips: 

• Set goals for each post 

• Plan out long-term goals by month or year (e.g. monthly newsletter, yearly blog redesign) 

• Plan out short-term goals by week (e.g. weekly Instagram takeover) If you have an idea of where your business is headed in the next few months and years, then this will help guide what type of content needs to be produced as well as who needs access to it—and when they'll need it! 

/ Publish how-tos, takeaways and lists 

How-to content is a great place to start when you're stuck in a rut. You can create how-to content about pretty much anything, but it's especially effective for topics that are concrete, specific and targeted (i.e., the "how" portion of your article should be short, not long). 

How-tos also benefit from being easily shareable—and they don't require much more than an outline and some basic research. Plus, by creating an outline, you've already stopped yourself from falling into that content rut: if you're writing down all the steps required to accomplish something specific or to answer a particular question/problem/etc, then chances are good that your brain has already started thinking about it differently—and now you have a framework with which to approach any future projects related (in some way) to this topic! 

/ Take a break 

Taking a break from your current project is an essential part of the creative process. A break will help you get perspective, relax, recharge and come up with new ideas that can take your work in a different direction. 

It's important to remember that taking time off does not mean giving up on your project or abandoning it altogether. You don't want to be the person who takes two steps forward then five steps back because they haven't allowed themselves enough time away from their work. 

/ Check-in with yourself 

When you're stuck, it's important to think about what kind of things energise you and where your strengths are. What do you want to accomplish? What are your goals (see next point!) Ask yourself: 

• What can I do that would be fun and not take a lot of time? 

• How can I use my strengths in this project or task? 

• Who might be able to help me through this rut by giving me advice or sharing resources with me (friends, family members)? 

/ Examine your goals 

To get out of a content rut, you first need to examine your goals. Do you want to build an audience? Increase engagement? Become the next Mark Zuckerberg? 

Your goals should be realistic and specific. If you don't know where you're going, how will you know when you've arrived? For example, if all I had was the vague goal of "I want to make more money," I'd be lost in the woods with no map or compass. Instead, my goal should be something like "I want to earn £100K per year by starting an online store." 

/ Ask questions 

Asking questions is a great way to get people involved in your content because it gives them the chance to share their experiences and expertise. You can also use questions as a way to find out what people want to know about a topic. This will help you create an engaging piece of content that they'll enjoy reading, which makes it more likely that they'll share it with others. 

Another benefit of asking questions is learning more about your topic while collecting information from others at the same time. Asking "how" or "why" questions can help you uncover insights into topics that might have otherwise remained hidden—and these insights could lead directly to ideas for new pieces of content! 

Asking questions also gives feedback on your ideas: If other people don't respond well when reading something we've written (or hearing something we've said), then we should probably rewrite until things feel right again before posting publicly online." 

/ Creativity requires taking risks and putting yourself out there. 

Creativity requires taking risks and putting yourself out there. My guess is that you already know this. But the fact that it’s so true doesn't mean it's easy to understand or act on. 

Many people think of creativity as a final product, but it's actually a process. It involves trying new things and making mistakes so that we can learn from those mistakes, get better at what we do, open ourselves up to new ideas and grow as humans (and artists). 

Still feel like you're in a rut? 

Creativity is a muscle. You have to exercise it in order for it to get stronger. For example, if you’re a painter or writer who is stuck on ideas, try doing some writing exercises every day. If you can’t think of any content ideas at all and are worried about coming up with anything ever again—don’t panic! Take a break and let yourself relax in whatever way feels right for you: going for walks outside, taking baths or hot showers, reading books unrelated to your blog topic (or even fiction), calling friends/family members who don’t know anything about what happens online (and won’t judge!). In short: give yourself permission not only to take time off from work but also just plain enjoy life outside of work-related activities. 

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