Mental Blocks

Who among us has never had a mental block? It happens to the best of us, especially in the creative arts. It could be a deadline or an assignment that perhaps isn't much fun.

We sit and stare blankly or lament or procrastinate — anything but do what we need to do. In her article, "Overcom-ing Mental Blocks," Margot Schulzke has some suggestions for us:

· The Time Block: You're overcommitted and just can't squeeze anything more into your day. She asks the question, "How do you eat an elephant?" (Answer: One bite at a time.) Break the task down into smaller chunks to make it more doable. Doing something is always better than doing nothing.

· The Major Block: Perhaps you've been through a serious trauma such as loss or illness. It might help your healing process to get back into your work. Try to imagine your own hands placed behind your back pushing you toward your goal. Make this as real as possible, even imagining the pressure of those hands and saying encouraging words aloud to yourself (i.e., "Just do it!").

· Breaking Through: Do something out of the ordinary or out of your routine to lift your spirits and give you a whole new slant on things. Brainstorm by writing down every idea you can think of without analyzing each one, but don't listen to anyone who's negative (you can separate the best ideas out later). Work in a different setting or just rearrange, reorganize or refresh your present workspace (try using feng shui principles). Travel, try a new style, put on some energizing music. Map out your project, then go for it!