How To Stay Motivated | Brooklyn, I’m Trying

It always helps me to keep in mind that writer’s block may feel like an isolated issue, but to approach motivation as a holistic experience. The way to combat writers’ block isn’t too sit blankly in front of a computer screen or to simply rely on other writers’ content to propel our brains into that magical, mystical yet finicky land of inspiration; physical movements can pull our minds out of that creative rut; a few intentional steps can ignite change from the inside; music and lyrics can reframe our own projects, and momentum can simply be a plane ticket and a date penciled inked into an oversized desk calendar.

Here are some of my tried-and-true efforts at maintaining motivation and seducing our creative muses, those sneaky bitches.

There are so many Podcasts created with the intention of helping us understand that we are not islands; that our same struggles and frustrations have been experienced by groundbreaking entrepreneurs, creators, movers and shakers. Hearing how they have failed, fallen, and pushed through is incredibly moving.

The ones that are always in my ears are How I Built This and Don’t Keep Your Day Job.

I can’t deny that the first thing I reach for when I’m in desperate need of motivation is my bookshelf. I’ve found that the best defense is a mix of inspirational self-help books and poetry, to remind you that you have a tremendous amount of self-worth and potential, and that life and love and pain and beauty are all so real.

Rupi Kaur’s Milk and Honey – from the always-moving and soul-baring Instagram-famed poet, a physical copy of her simply moving and beautiful words that I only put down in moments to hold my hand to my heart and inhale in awe at how she chose those words. Each page was beautifully arranged to make you want to rip them out and frame them all over your wall. But you won’t, of course. This is one I can always rely on to put into words the frustration, pain, and beauty I’m experiencing. Get yours now.

William Carlos William’s Spring and All – One of my favorites for his simple, poignant, and stunning words, it keeps me warm and reminds me of the beauty all around despite its at times masked appearance. Oh, and that I should use less words. Get yours here.

Jen Sincero’s You Are A Badass – my favorite words from a woman who somehow combines the beliefs and practices of the Secret with a modern straight-forward approach that hits you hard and stays with you. Her mantras are powerful and her words result in a genuine feeling that you can’t and won’t fail. It’s the kick-in-the-ass motivation I can always rely on. Buy it here.

Stephen Pressfield’s The War Of Art – absolutely unmatched, powerful description of recognizing and defeating resistance to your own creativity. I dare you to pick this up for 5 minutes and maintain your creative rut. Seriously, I dare you. Get yours here.

Marcus Almond’s Brooklyn To Mars – And this one, that toes the line between motivation and poetry flawlessly – Marcus Almond’s words are stinging and powerful and make perfect mantras to copy and place around your workspace. Plus it’s small enough to keep permanently in your bag and to help ignite that creative fire no matter where you are. Buy it here.

My space is always filled with music, but because of this, I have a habit of passively listening by simply toggling between my Spotify-created playlists. To ignite my soul and get through this winter-induced creative rut, I turn to a mix of modern and vintage peppered with a little irony and aggression.

Currently getting lost in a daydream with LCD Soundsystem’s new album American Dream

And channeling the forward-moving anger with Gil Scott Heron’s The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

I’ve always been a firm believer in physical movement as a motivator. If something isn’t working in the place or headspace you’re at, get up and move. To another room or to a cafe down the street or on a 6-mile run or dancing to Salsa Nation. Changing the physical space you’re experiencing has an impact on everything that your brain is taking in. Don’t convince yourself you don’t have the time; you don’t have time to keep sitting stagnant and expect different results. Go. Move.

 

The best way to keep moving forward is to set some dates, get some tickets, respond to those save-the-dates with a less visceral eye-roll and a more physical trip planned. Go somewhere you’ve never been before, just outside the city or on the other side of the world. Dusting off that passport will shake the dust from your soul and paint everything in a more hopeful light. The best place to start? Here. Search “Everywhere” and “Cheapest Month” and then, you know. Go.

Where we work often dictates how we work, and our spaces can thus reflect the stagnation, disorganization, and lack of motivation in our routines. Update your space with a few little things instead of allowing yourself to get lost in a full redecorating mission. A few prickly cacti from Homecoming in Greenpoint keep me on my toes and add a little attitude to my normal houseplant landscape. This oversized calendar from Need Supply in Richmond allows me to never forget the date or to lackadaisically participate in the passing of time. And this scentful little candle from Tulip and Bear that reminds you that late nights are really just magic hours.