I’ve often written about ways to boost your creativity, including even tips on using AI to do so. But can certain foods help get the creative juices flowing? There’s research which suggests that yes, there are. So, what should you be eating and drinking to help you overcome the dreaded writer’s block?
Eating your Way out of Writer’s Block
As I’m sure many of you know, writers suffering from writer’s block find that their creative process slows to a crawl. Every new idea just doesn’t seem right, and this situation can be extremely stressful.
Each writer processes his/her creative flow differently and there’s no getting around it. From speaking to close friends or going for a walk, most of us treat writer’s block differently.
While there isn’t a foolproof way to get over it, you can take steps to help your mind overcome it. As anyone can tell you, your brain needs fuel to function. Without the right nutrition, it’s quite possible for your brain chemistry to be affected.
Hence whether you’re knuckling down for a long writing session or trying to keep the creative fire burning, it’s important that you eat right to keep your brain running smoothly.
1. Green Tea
Green tea is one of my favorite drinks. Whether you drink it hot or iced, green tea is a refreshing treat that quenches your thirst and refreshes your creative machine.
Besides being packed with compounds that improve your general health, green tea contains caffeine; a stimulant that sharpens your mind and helps you stay concentrated. This is essential if you’re going for a writing marathon as you pen your magnum opus.
Some writers choose coffee as their brew of choice, but I’ve often found coffee to be too strong and the caffeine overload can give you a headache or heart palpitations.
Alongside this, green tea has been proven to be a great way to help your body detox itself of harmful toxins. This ensures that you’re refreshed, alert and creative for longer periods of time. After all, have you tried writing a book when you’re lethargic and your minds in a haze?
Finally, as an added benefit, green tea is loaded with antioxidants which decreases your chance of developing cancer. While this may not necessarily make you more creative, it’s nice to know that green tea can keep you healthy and cancer-free! Check out more of the health benefits of green tea here.
2. Nuts
Go nuts for nuts when you’re trying to keep your creative juices flowing. Packed with good fats and loaded with energy, nuts are the ultimate superfood and one of my favorite snacks (indeed, they’re quite often the only dinner I have). The fats found in nuts have been proven to be an excellent source of brain food.
From cashews and pistachios to macadamia and almond, nuts are a delicious and convenient snack that every writer you swear by. Keep a can of nuts at your desk and you’ll be able to stave off hunger whilst keeping yourself energized.
Most of the time, some writers are tempted to stop for a meal when hungry. This disrupts the creative process and a heavy meal can leave you sleepy and lethargic. While a salad and some chicken are perfect for a light snack, you may lack the time to prepare one. So, if you’re feeling hungry and looking for some fresh inspiration why not snack on some nuts?
3. Eggs
Boiled. Fried. Scrambled. Poached. Raw.
Okay, maybe not raw, unless your process also involves boxing. But eggs are convenient, tasty, and a great source of protein. In short, eggs are a godsend for busy writers. Bursting with nutrients, amino acids and vitamins, eggs encourage the healthy growth of cells which keeps you healthy and your mind sharp.
It is not a coincidence that they are an essential part of the diet of most elite football players in the NFL.
With plenty of good cholesterol, eggs can also reduce your risk of developing stroke or heart disease.
4. Salmon
While not my personal favorite, if fish is good enough for the grizzlies, then it’s going to be good enough for you. And salmon has a variety of health benefits.
Loaded with Omega fatty acids that stimulate healthy brain function and fight heart disease, this pink-fleshed fish can be eaten fried or grilled.
DHA, an omega fatty acid found in salmon, cannot be manufactured by our own bodies. This is why fish oil pills and salmon have taken off in a big way in recent times. So if you’re looking to get some serious writing done and like fish, maybe stock on some salmon this winter.
5. Water
You may be surprised to see water mentioned here. And yet, too many of us drink less water than we should.
If you don’t replenish your body’s water supply by drinking plenty of fluids and you become dehydrated, your brain won’t be able to perform its normal functions, including attention and memory.
Dehydration affects sodium and electrolyte levels in the body, which has also been linked to cognitive changes. Even two hours of dehydration can lead to cognitive decline and reduce concentration.
In an experiment, researchers examined athletes who had exercised for two hours without drinking any fluids or eating. They found that functions such as complex problem-solving, coordination, and attention suffered the most.
So, I now make sure to have a bottle of water on my desk at all times, taking frequent sips throughout the day.
What about alcohol?
Some people suggest having a drink to break through their writer’s block. In fact, I recently wrote about the relationship between alcohol and writing. But letting your creative juices flow is not about turning all Hemingway and hitting the bottle. It’s all about relaxing.
It’s true that many associate relaxation with holding a glass in their hand. And when enjoyed responsibly and in moderation, a drink may help with the creative process as it removes inhibitions. This allows you to think more freely unconventionally.
More important, though, is to do whatever takes your mind off your writing. Whether the process you have associated with relaxation involves eating at a 5-star restaurant, hiking, drawing a long bath, or taking a brief getaway, use it to remove that writer’s block and start writing again.
So, there you have it, here are some foods and tips that may help you overcome writer’s block. While a bit unorthodox, I hope they work for you!
beetleypete said:
Hmm…Red wine helps my writing flow, there’s no doubt about that.
But I have to avoid Amazon later, or I end up buying things I forgot I had ordered! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Lol–I can see how that might happen 😀
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robertawrites235681907 said:
These foods and drinks all make absolute sense to me, Nicholas. A great post.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thank you so much, Roberta 😀
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Deborah Jay said:
I’m very pleased to find these all on my regular menu 😀
When I reached the point in my life where I knew I had to either put up with ‘middle aged spread’, or do something about my weight gain, I took myself off to a nutritionist to learn how to eat myself thinner – without getting too far into the system (the basis of US Olympic athletes’ diets), I learned that the most important component was frequent snacks of high quality protein, and two of the best sources are nuts and salmon.
Did you know, if necessary, a human could live healthily with just 3 items of food?
Salmon, mango and avocado together fulfil all nutritional needs, along, obviously, with plenty of water.
My weight is now under control, and I’ve also found focussing on writing easier, so great advice Nicholas!
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V.M.Sang said:
Me, too! I eat and drink all of these. Probably I should eat a few more nuts as they seem to have slipped from my diet a bit of late. Don’t know why as I love them. (Good job I proof read this as I’d written muts instead of nuts!)
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Deborah Jay said:
🤣🤣🤣
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Ha ha, yes, I’d steer away from eating mutts 😀
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
I had no idea of the 3 foods thing! Wow… Thank you, Deborah 🙂
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Charles Yallowitz said:
Interesting list. Although, I’m guessing this differs between people because of that last thing you said. If breaking through a writer’s block is relaxing than I’d assume favorite foods would be the best bet. A cup of seltzer and ice is a common thing for me because the taste and cold relaxes me. Wonder if authors should come up with personal menus to get over this problem A meal to unblock the creative clog . . . I can’t think of a good name for that.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
A name, huh? Perhaps, “the creative menu?”
I’d steer away from anything with the word “unblocking” in it 😀
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Charles Yallowitz said:
The de-clogger?
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Joan Hall said:
The title of this post caught my eye. I like all the things you mentioned but I prefer black tea over green (even though I know green is better for you). Anyway, alcohol tends to relax me too much, so I try to stay away from it during writing sessions. I’m not a huge consumer of it anyway. Great post, Nicholas!
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thank you so much, Joan! Black tea gives me heartburn, so it’s either green or white for me. And definitely no coffee, as it makes me all queasy! Ah, the joys of growing older 🙂
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Joan Hall said:
You’re still young. Just wait. LOL (I am not a coffee drinker.)
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wilfredbooks said:
This is certainly food for thought, Nicholas (sorry: someone had to do it! 😉 ). There is no shortage of theories & studies about how various foodstuffs affect us in different ways, and not everything can be tolerated in equal measure, but I think you hit the nail on the head in your final section: “It’s all about relaxing.” Any cognitive process tends to be more difficult if we are keyed-up or stressed, so any food and drink that contributes to relaxation must be helpful! 😀
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Ha ha–you’re the first and only one so far, Jon 😀
I completely agree; one man’s medicine is another man’s poison, as I always say!
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wilfredbooks said:
Reblogged this on Wilfred Books and commented:
Eating & drinking the right things can help you to be a successful writer!
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The Story Reading Ape said:
Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog.
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Jaq said:
I can’t write if I’ve had a drink. Luckily my diet has me eating everything else on the list and lots of fruit and veg.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Sweet! Sounds very healthy 🙂
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Jan Sikes said:
I incorporate most of these into my diet although I am sporadic with the Green Tea. I’m a coffee girl all the way!
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
It’s the American way 😀
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missimontana said:
Good post! Thanks for sharing this information.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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Shana Gorian said:
This are all so very true! I always say after a dinner with salmon, “Looks like I”m going to have a good writing day tomorrow!” because it really does juice up the brain. Same with the other things you mentioned. 🙂 Great post.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Oh, wow! Thanks for sharing that 🙂
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Pingback: 5 Foods and Drinks to Help you Boost your Creativity | theshammuramat
OIKOS™-Publishing said:
Its wonderful, Nicholas. Worth to test out. Thank you, and have a productive Sunday! Michael
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thank you so much, Michael! Hope you had a great one 😀
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OIKOS™-Publishing said:
I had.Thank you Nicholas! Best wishes, Michael
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kimwrtr said:
Reblogged this on Kim's Musings.
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DebyFredericks said:
I like to do my writing, at least in the generative stage, right after meals. I’m relaxed and full of energy. This works especially well for me if there’s coffee or tea with the meal.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
True… I take it you’re having light meals, then?
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DebyFredericks said:
Actually, it’s usually at lunch time during the school day, so I have exactly 1/2 hour between groups. I don’t do a lot at a time, but I keep it regular every day.
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bamauthor said:
Most of these are on my list, though I have not really gotten into green tea yet.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
I only like it in the form of Lady Grey (or Earl Grey) to be honest 🙂
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Sherrie Miranda said:
When I drink alcohol, even one glass of red wine, ll I want to do is chit chat. Until I want to go to sleep.
Thanks for the other ideas. I have been eating more of these foods & I think it’s helping!
Sherrie Miranda’s historically based, coming of age, Adventure novel “Secrets & Lies in El Salvador” is about an American girl in war-torn El Salvador:
http://tinyurl.com/klxbt4y
Her husband made a video for her novel. He wrote the song too:
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Alcohol makes me sleepy, too, so I tend to avoid it… until it’s bed time, anyway 😀
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Sherrie Miranda said:
Reblogged this on SherrieMiranda1.
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floatinggold said:
I haven’t really thought about combating my writer’s block with food, but I can understand that those snacks help.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
More than a steak might, I guess 🙂
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floatinggold said:
A steak is in a category on its own.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
So is the ensuing nap 😀
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floatinggold said:
You are so very wise.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
And chronically sleepy
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floatinggold said:
It’s like I’m hearing myself talk.
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usfman said:
In other words, good nutrition for writing can be helpful in many other ways. I like easy chewing foods when I write like bananas.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Bananas are a great fruit! They both replenish your electrolytes and release a nice, steady flow of energy. Love them!
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Sumita Tah said:
Reblogged this on English Literature and Grammar.
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Sumita Tah said:
Great post. Reblogged it in Englishtutorialedu.com
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thank you!
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Jo-Ann said:
Good article
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thank you, Jo-Ann 🙂
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Jo-Ann said:
You’re welcome
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Mr.'Lets Taste it All said:
Very inspired’ love the information
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thank you 🙂
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Winter Flora said:
These are all great brain foods. And lucky for us they’re all delicious 😁
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Yum! Thank you for the visit and comment. I hope you’re enjoying the holiday season 🙂
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Lukraakvars said:
Wow thank you so much for these tips and insights. I’m going to have to go shopping.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Nice! I hope whatever you shop for boosts your creativity 🙂
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Lukraakvars said:
Thank you. Based on your blog, it should haha.
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