A couple of weeks ago, as I focused intently on a lengthy project, I hit a typical mid-afternoon writer’s block. This was the part of the day where I battle the urge to crawl under my desk and take a nap – 2 p.m. It’s nap time at 2 p.m.

First, if you’ve never experienced writer’s block, are you a real person or a super-human writing mastermind? Second, if you have, you probably know how difficult it can be to break through. I tend to get writer’s block most frequently when I’m working on a project that requires creative language rather than traditional news writing. It’s not as easy for me, so I’ve been looking for methods to not only get through the block but also build creative writing skills.

Here are three tips that I’ve been trying out:

1. Take a break. A short break can help clear your mind and refocus the words beginning to jumble on your screen or page.
2. During your break, practice creative writing with quick and easy exercises like writing prompts. You can buy a writing prompts book or try the 7x7x7x7 method. It’s fun!
3. Play some background music. This may seem like a no-brainer, but the “focus” playlists under genres and moods on Spotify are great for concentrating during creative writing sessions and don’t distract me.

What are your other tips for breaking through a writer’s block? Share in the comments below.