A change of scene to break up writer’s block

I don’t really believe in writer’s block, but if I did, I might cure it at the gym.

I joke, but how many times have I told myself, after I get [arbitrary amount of work] done, then I’ll go to the gym? A bunch. Afternoon trips to the climbing gym down the street are a reward.

The other day I was struggling to start on an assignment and decided to take my laptop to the gym in the middle of the day. I’d climb one lap of the endurance route I’ve been working on, then write for a few minutes while I regained feeling in my forearms. Repeat until brain and muscles are numb.

Even after the first lap, the writing came easily. The mental clarity to decide what to write came easily.

This wasn’t a social trip to the gym, but not all of them need to be.

Entering a season of more deadlines and more short writing pieces, I’ll probably make more workday trips to the gym. Will my laptop get grubby? Yes. Very. But it feels like a small price to pay to make getting unstuck that much easier.