Writer’s block: It happens to the best of us—especially English majors because they do a ton of writing for their classes.

I am currently having writer’s block coming up with more topics for these opinion columns, and it’s only the third week of the semester.

I have plenty more columns I have to come up with, so I decided to write about writer’s block and how there are multiple different ways to get the creative juices flowing again.

As a business major, I have my fair share of papers to write (as do most majors) and I have writer’s block just like the next college student.

One of the most beneficial ways for me to overcome writer’s block is instead of staring at my paper trying to think of what next to write, I take a 20-minute break doing a fun activity like watching Netflix or taking a walk around the beautiful campus on a sunny day.

Changing your environment can be really relaxing and help your mind become uncluttered and roam-free.

When I am uncertain where to go for my paper, even after I take a break while doing a fun activity, I reread my paper and then have a friend look over it—not to proofread, but to see if they have any new ideas that I have not thought about before.

It’s refreshing to hear other people’s opinions on a paper because everyone thinks differently, and having different perspectives on a paper that you’re stuck with can be priceless.

Sometimes those perspectives can lead you in a whole new direction for the paper and get you out of a writer’s block.

Now that I have given suggestions for overcoming writer’s block, here are some things that will not help you.

Wallowing in self-pity is not the way to go if you want to get past writer’s block.

Being so stressed that you cannot get anything written becomes so time consuming and upsetting that it is not a healthy or productive way of getting over writer’s block.

The biggest no-no in overcoming writer’s block is procrastinating and not writing anymore because you are stuck and have no idea where to go.

Procrastinating is a bad idea because if you say you are going to take a 20-minute break but instead keep adding 10 more minutes to your break, the work will never get done, and before you know it, it’s 1 a.m. and time for bed.

This column has helped me quite a bit with my writer’s block. I’m confident that next time I write a column I will not have writer’s block and I will find more tips and tricks on getting past it.

Kate Rehwinkel is a senior management major. She can be reached at 581-2812 or kerehwinkel@eiu.edu.