Dancing to beat writer’s block?

Yes!

When I was teenager, I used to turn off the lights, turn up the music, and just dance. Maybe I was practicing for an upcoming dance, or maybe I really enjoyed it. I can’t remember. I do recall, however, sweating profusely and feeling really good afterwards.

Last year, I picked that back up. My mind was far too busy to write, and when that happens, I try a couple things:

• Make a list of all my thoughts (things to do, complaints, desires, ideas, etc.).
• Prioritize my to-do lists (and maybe even delegate).
• Move my body (go for a run, a walk, some Comcast cardio, or yoga).
• Meditate.
• Freewrite.

Making the list didn’t work. Prioritizing my to-do list didn’t work. Meditating didn’t work. And I honestly just didn’t even feel like running, walking, or any of the other above-mentioned exercises. So I turned on some music and decided to journal. Then my song came on. Every other song is my song, so don’t ask which one (lol).

And I danced. The next song came on and I danced to that too. I’m not too shy to dance. I’ll move on the dance floor and even wind a little while cleaning, but dancing for the sole sake of doing just that, as I’d done as a teen, had become a long lost hobby.

Sometimes it takes a little while to get in the groove. It even feels a little awkward in the beginning. When so, just warm up. Use that time to connect with your body. Engage your senses:

• Light a candle (or some incense).
• Dim the lights.
• Remove some clothing (or all of ’em).
• Stretch while lotioning your limbs.

For me, that stretch usually turns into swaying, which then becomes dancing. Having rhythm ain’t important. It’s not about how you look. It’s about how you feel. Move in a way that feels good to you. Something about relaxing the hips, winding the kinks out of the lower back, and flexing the shoulders that gives creativity more space to roam.

Might be with the kids, your boo, or by your damn self. Try it out and let me know how it works for you. And for more juicy writing tips, be sure to sign up for my weekly newsletter.