You are plain lucky if you’ve never felt stuck because of a mental block. Most people, at some point in time, get trapped with some mental block on different issues- figuring out a career, feeling stuck in a career, dissatisfied in relationships, or discontent with the day-to-day issues. It is extremely frustrating and can deeply impact your personal & professional life.
There could be many factors that may have blocked your mind: from over-thinking, over-analyzing everything to overloading yourself with too many responsibilities.
What is a Mental Block? Is it normal?
In layman’s terms, mental blocks mean an inability to concentrate, think, or reason clearly, resulting in a lack of drive. It is perfectly normal to experience such a phase in life.
However, if you don’t learn how to get over it, then your productivity and sense of contentment with life can get derailed.
What Causes Mental Blocks?
The mental ability or the inability to think clearly can be caused or exacerbated by:
- Lack of sleep
- Mental Exhaustion, Overthinking
-
- Working in a cluttered or chaotic environment
- Procrastination: Putting off important tasks also leads to stress and anxiety
- Too many responsibilities
5 Simple Ways to Clear your Mental Block
1. Start with the small tasks, take breaks when needed
Sometimes we’re so overwhelmed with work that we don’t know where to begin. This can lead to feeling stressed and anxious. So make a list of the things you have to do and start with the easy tasks. Knocking a few assignments off your to-do list can help you get into a positive headspace.
Many times we tend to focus more on our mental block than the actual thing we’re trying to accomplish. Taking a quick break refreshes us and you may approach your task with a new perspective. Have a cup of coffee, listen to your favorite song, and get back to work. These breaks will keep you moving forward whether they’re one hour, one day, or even one week.
2. De-clutter
De-cluttering is one of the best ways to clear your mental block. If you’re someone who gets easily distracted or overwhelmed by working in a busy environment, clutter could be one of the things triggering your mental blockage. Take some time to tidy up your study table/desk and/or office space. When your workspace doesn’t feel as claustrophobic and distracting, you can focus & devote more mental energy to your tasks at hand.
3. Be easy on the self
Don’t try to bite off more than you can chew. While it’s good to be known as the person willing to go above and beyond, set your limits right. Don’t commit to tasks that you know you can’t finish. Over-committing can increase your stress, have a negative impact on the overall quality of your work, and will stress you to no end.
In an office set-up, if your supervisor is assigning you more work than you can complete, talk to them about it. Explain your situation, restructure your workload to set things right.
4. Calm your environment
Your environment is more than just your physical surroundings – it also encompasses the people and activities that surround you in your day-to-day life. Work out ways to be in peace with your surroundings. Reprogram yourself, delegate responsibilities if you’re overburdened, stay organized, and set realistic expectations of yourself and others.
Rethink how you spend your energy and create a schedule you thrive on. Surround yourself with people and an environment conducive to clarity.
5. Self-Care
Your mind needs time to rest and recover; if you push yourself too hard without any time for rest and relaxation, you’re going to experience mental blocks at some point. Self-care is one of the best tools for promoting health and happiness. Not to forget, happy people are more productive. Self-care and healthy work-life balance are important for your mental health, and they’re your first line of defense against mental blocks and burnout.
Conclusion
Mental blocks act as barriers in the way of your creativity, motivation, and productivity. So if a mental block is ruining your day, fret not, you have a handy guide to deal with it. Stay positive!