5 ways to beat blogger's block

As someone who works better under pressure, I put the 'pro' in procrastination. I can Pinterest for hours, brainstorm for days and spend years talking about my elaborate dreams without doing much in the way of making them a reality. 

For as long as I can remember, one of those dreams has been to write. Write blogs, write articles and, one day, write novels. 

I started prettyprovoking as a way for me to find my voice, test myself and hold myself accountable—because I know the only way I'll ever get to make my passion my life, is to do it every day. 

I'm going to hold my hands up and admit that I recently made the most common blogging faux pas out there—I fell off the radar. 

I took a trip across the pond for Coachella and, along with a lot of empty gin bottles, I think I left some of my determination there too. 

Whilst I was away, I was too busy having fun to write about it and once I got back, I let the usual excuses creep in—I have jetlag... I need to catch up with loved ones... I'm too busy at work…

Now I've officially run out of excuses and am feeling that burning passion reignited once again. 

I'm all for learning from one’s own mistakes, but I'm certainly not going to make a habit of losing sight of my dream. So, to ensure it won't be happening again, I've defined 5 ways to stay on target, even during a case of serious bloggers block. 

1. Set deadlines
I know I’m not alone when I say that a sense of urgency is my productivity’s best friend. Not only will self-imposed deadlines get you moving, they will result in more consistent posting, which, in turn, means a better blog overall.

2. Make the time
Commuting from east to west London means I spend at least 2 and ½ hours on public transport a day—yes, you read that correctly—and, until today, when I wrote this post whilst squashed on the tube somewhere between Baron’s Court and Manor House, I’ve had very little to show for it. The reality is, we all have time, we just need to commit to using it wisely. 

3. Let productivity flow
Where blogging is concerned, the more content, the better. If you’re having a good day, use it to your advantage—write, write, write and then use the excess material to fill days where you’re not doing as well.

4. Share your dream
Like any goal you set in life, the more people you tell, the more accountable you feel to achieve it. Talk to your friends and family about what you're up to and what you want to achieve—they’re the ones who will always be there to give you extra encouragement and, occasionally, the nagging nudge you so desperately need.

5. Find inspiration
The reality is that we all have bad days. If you’re drawing an absolute brain blank, dedicate some time to getting inspired instead. Trawl other blogs, flip through a magazine with inspiring articles, or simply write a list of ideas that you can’t quite seem to make sense of yet.