Plateaus

Lately, I’ve been battling a tremendous amount of brain fog. I’ve been distracted by personal issues while dealing with physical ailments. Sometimes it feels like I’m taking more steps backward in life than I am making progress.

Life after suffering a TBI/stroke is measured by making progress, which takes time. The recovery process feels like an endless cycle of lows and plateaus. Some days are easier to function, while others are a fight just to get out of bed. Below are a few tips from persons who are plateauing in their recovery after injury.

• Track your progress to make sure you are plateauing.
• Stay motivated.
• Make training a priority.
• Join a support group.
• Try something new, a plateau can be an opportunity.

Recently, I was heartbroken to see on the news the little leaguer who fell out of bed and suffered a brain injury. He now motivates other kids in his recovery process and even encouraged his younger brother to take his place at the Little League World Series!

“Motivation is what gets you started, habit is what keeps you going.”

Jim Ryan

Consistency is key to creating any habit. As writers, we must remain consistent in our writing, especially when we don’t feel like writing. Writer’s block is another name for a writing plateau.

Writers Block

We all, at some point, have hit a wall in our writing. Professionals and newbies alike experience plateaus. According to WritinGeekery, there are four basic types of writer’s block (plateaus): perfection anxiety, burnout, nothing good is coming out, and lack of inspiration without burnout. Chances are, your wall (writer’s block) lies in one of these four areas.

Ironically the best way to break through a writing plateau is to write.

“The best way in the world for breaking up a writer’s block is to write a lot.”

John Gardner

But how do we do it?

7 Ways to Overcome Writer’s Block

1. Step away from whatever you’re writing and do something creative: The key is to keep exercising the creative part of your brain and eventually, you’ll tap back into the flow of writing.
2. Do freewriting: Spend 15 minutes a day writing whatever comes off of the top of your head. Don’t worry about grammar and punctuation, just write.
3. Move your body: Dance or exercise. This may sound funny but when you get your body into a flow, your mind follows.
4. Eliminate distractions: Giving yourself time and space to be in solitude is important to staying focused.
5. Write early in the morning: When you first wake up in the morning, your brain is in Theta mode, the brainwave pattern that your mind is when you dream.
6. Write while you sleep: Your subconscious mind is always problem-solving, even when you’re sleeping.
7. If nothing else works, I resort to my number one lethal weapon to cure writer’s block: the glass of water technique: before you go to bed, fill up a glass with water. Hold it up and speak an intention into the water.

“The wonderful thing about writing is that there is always a blank page waiting. The terrifying thing about writing is that there is always a blank page waiting.”

J.K. Rawlings

Don’t let the fear of failure paralyze you.

After living with a brain injury for almost 26 years, I have learned to be creative in how I deal with my plateaus. Depression is the most common side effect of brain injuries. Due to the nature of my depression being a head injury, I choose not to take any medications for treatment, I choose to listen to my doctors and practice my faith. It is faith that has helped me handle life setbacks without medication. That is how I have chosen to break through my writing plateaus.

Breakthroughs

“Breaking through writer’s block is like thinking outside of the box: Both require an ability to imagine a world outside your four walls or rearranging them to get a better view.”

Susan J McIntyre

In life, focus is critical to staying on target, whether as a TBI survivor or as a writer. Too many stimulants can be overwhelming, especially for somebody with a brain injury. My ears are super sensitive to loud sounds; even soft sounds can disrupt my ability to focus.

It is hard to break through a plateau when we’re not 100% focused. At times, I was paralyzed by the pain of loud noises, that wouldn’t bother the average person.

Harmful side effects of sound on the human brain.

• Your brain becomes inflamed
• Your mood darkens
• Your immune system weakens
• Your focus goes out the window
• You may have difficulty sleeping

I’ve learned the importance of a good night’s sleep and getting the rest from living with a brain injury. While the length of time to recover from brain injury is different for everyone, the amount of sleep we each need isn’t. Overstimulating the brain is a clear factor in hitting a writing plateau.

Martin Johnson survived a severe car accident with a (T.B.I.) Traumatic brain injury which left him legally blind and partially paralyzed on the left side. He is an award-winning Christian screenwriter who has recently finished his first Christian nonfiction book. Martin has spent the last nine years volunteering as an ambassador and promoter for Promise Keepers ministries. While speaking to local men’s ministries he shares his testimony. He explains The Jesus Paradigm and how following Jesus changes what matters most in our lives. Martin lives in a Georgia and connects with readers at MartinThomasJonhson.com  and on Twitter at mtjohnson51.