When the Mind Runs Dry: The Power of a Hard Reset

We all go through moments when inspiration fades and the mind feels heavy. The instinct is often to push harder — but sometimes the real key is to pause, reset, and return stronger. In this reflection, I share how a simple ritual helped me find my creative flow again.

Lately, I had been feeling under the weather — “not vibing high at all,” as my good friend Daliz would say.
And I couldn’t figure out why.
I was struggling to come up with ideas to write about.
I needed my ritual badly, hoping it would help.

I reflected: family, work, health, finances, relationships — all seemed in check.
Still, I couldn’t find where I was lacking.
I even started wondering if all my creative ideas were gone. That’s a tragedy.
I felt heavy, low on energy, uninspired.

After three days of pure procrastination and frustration, I decided to go old school on this feeling — in other words: a hard reset.
(This is my ritual.)

I went back to my Solo Soul roots.
A lone wolf mindset — or if you don’t like wolves, you can think of a chick just cracking out of its shell, looking confused but ready to begin life.
I pulled out my mental notepad — my step-by-step list of what always helps me reset.

Step one: stop trying to do everything.
Focus on one thing — and do it well.

I chose the gym. Why? Because it doesn’t require much thinking, but it gets the body moving and the brain firing.
(Science backs this up: physical exercise increases blood flow to the brain and releases neurochemicals like dopamine, endorphins, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which boost mood, clarity, and creativity.)

No blogging, no writing, no side projects — just working out.
I added one more thing: eating healthy and drinking plenty of water.
Operation: get the machine running again.

“Movement awakens the mind just as much as it strengthens the body.”
(— Solo With Soul)

After three days of this, I began to feel lighter.
Relaxed.
Ideas started flowing again — like small ripples on a calm lake.

But I wanted more.
I wanted that balloon of creativity to fully inflate — and burst.

Before all this, I used to read a lot — psychology, history, future trends, technology — anything that sparked curiosity.
I even found myself thinking about finding a time machine, setting the date incorrectly, and ending up 2.4 million years back in time in a community of Homo habilis. No way back. 😅
So I sat down and started reading again.
Flooding my mind with new inputs — some fascinating, some not — but the point was simple: to wake up the mind.

By the fifth day of this ritual, I was experimenting with my Oculus Quest headset.
I could see this giant red balloon on top of my head, just ready to blow.
Four minutes into an app… BOOM.
A crazy idea hit me — out of nowhere.
I knew that balloon had just popped.

I ripped off the headset, sat in front of my desk, and began writing like mad.
When I finished, I jumped straight into working on another project. Then another.

Suddenly, I was rolling again.
“Welcome back to the land of the living, my friend — you have slept for quite some time.”
That line from Eminem’s Rap God echoed in my head.
(And yes, I may have smiled at my computer.)

“Sometimes the clearest ideas come not from forcing the mind, but from freeing it.”
(— Solo With Soul)

The lesson?
Getting one thing done well builds momentum.
And momentum fuels creativity.

I’ve been in this place before, but only now do I recognize the pattern.
For me, a hard reset — going old school — is the key.
Simple actions. One step at a time.

When the mind runs dry, don’t fight it. Reset. Refill. Return stronger.
And remember — a little fun and curiosity go a long way. ✨

The Funnel Effect

We spend so much time running from loneliness, but what if it’s not something to escape… but something to master? Think of this as a mindset shift, not a self-help cliché. It’s about clearing the noise, making space for real connections, and learning why solitude might just be the most powerful upgrade you’ve been avoiding. Ready to find out? Let’s get into it.

Sometimes, we convince ourselves that any company is better than being alone. We settle for toxic environments and shallow relationships—not because we don’t know better, but because we’re terrified of solitude, as if being alone were some kind of punishment.

The truth is, we often end up surrounded by people who don’t really care for us, but only for what we can offer them. And when we can’t—or no longer want to—keep giving, they simply turn their backs. I guess that’s why people say you only find out who your true friends are when you hit rock bottom.

In The Prince, Machiavelli captured this harsh reality perfectly:
“People will profess loyalty when it costs them nothing, but abandon you when personal risk arises.”
In other words, the moment you stop flowing with their current, they drift away.

But is that a bad thing? Or is it actually a blessing in disguise?
Well, it really depends on what you truly want.

When I started doing what I love—taking photos, exercising, eating healthier, partying less, spending time in nature, riding my bike—I lost almost all my so-called “friends.” But guess what? I found new, incredible people who actually align with the life I’m building.

I like to think of it as a funnel.
At the top, the funnel is wide open—just like life when we’re open to meeting everyone. You pour in all kinds of pebbles; they represent the people you meet. But as the funnel narrows—that’s when you start changing, growing, and refusing to do what no longer feels right—only the smallest pebbles make it through.

And here’s the best part:
Those small pebbles are your real people. The ones who stick around. The ones who matter. I’ve always believed it’s better to have one real person by your side than a crowd of fakes.

If you’re ready to try the funnel technique, know this: it’s going to be hard. And if you’re already in the middle of the filtering process, be strong. This is the darkest part of the funnel. You’ll feel painfully alone at times.

But embrace that pain—it’s part of the journey.
This is when you truly meet yourself.

Ask yourself real questions.
Try the things you’ve always wanted to do.
Dare to go for a coffee on your own.
Eat out by yourself.
Go to the park, lay on the grass, feel the air touch your face gently. Listen—not to the noise of the world, but to the quiet voice of your soul.

Learn to appreciate the small details this life gives you.
And when you learn to love your solitude, something beautiful happens—the right people will start finding their way to you, like magnets.

Today, I can honestly say I love being on my own. And when my real people show up, I cherish every second of their company.

How to Beat Laziness and Find Instant Motivation

Of course, you’re not going to feel great all the time. Some days, you’ll feel like you’re just wasting your time on whatever project you’ve started. Especially when you’re not seeing any real results—or at least, that’s what the uninspired version of you wants to believe.

You’ve probably read books, watched videos, and seen articles about what to do in these moments, yet somehow… you still just don’t want to do it. And to be honest, that’s fair. We don’t always have to be operating at 100%.

Today, for me, it’s been one of those days. I couldn’t find a single thread of inspiration. All I wanted to do was lay in bed and chase instant gratification. And my best ally for that? My iPhone. So, like clockwork, I started scrolling.

Instagram? My favorite. Threads? Pretty entertaining too. But the reels? That’s where I get stuck.

I’ll be honest—every time I finish scrolling, I feel guilty. For me, and the life I’m trying to build, it’s a waste of time. And yet, loving something doesn’t mean it’s good for you… and I love scrolling.

So, how do I escape that love trap?

How do we escape it?

I have this crazy little trick I call “The Last Train to Inspiration Land.”

Here’s how it works:
allow myself to be lazy—but only for one hour.

Let’s say I come home and already have a list of things I need to do: clean up the place, work out, get dinner ready, spend some time writing for my blog, take a shower, and maybe research a few topics. But just thinking about that list makes me want to do absolutely nothing. Add to that the fear that none of this is going anywhere, and demotivation hits hard.

So, I make a deal with myself: one hour of guilt-free laziness.
Scroll. Lay down. Do nothing. Waste time.

But while I’m doing that, I gently remind myself of the why behind each task. I think of the benefits of finishing them. I remember why I started chasing this lifestyle in the first place.

I don’t want a 9-to-5 life—not because there’s anything wrong with it, but because it doesn’t fit my dream.

Then, laziness kicks in again. I see a reel of someone working out and think, Man, I wish I had those abs. And then the truth hits: I could have them… if I wasn’t so lazy. If I just got that workout done, it’d be one step closer.

And here’s the science behind it—dopamine, the chemical tied to motivation and reward, kicks in after you take action, not before. That’s why waiting around to “feel motivated” rarely works.

So during that hour, I do something I call micro-motivation. I talk to myself. Brutally honest, real talk. I remind myself that what I have—or don’t have—is because of me.

If working out isn’t on your list, pick one small activity. Just think about getting one thing done and focus on the reward. You’re not looking for a massive burst of energy—just a tiny spark.

That spark is everything.

It might come 20 minutes in, 38 minutes, or even at the very last minute of your “lazy hour.”

Today, it hit me at minute 43.
I was lying on the couch, feeling completely drained, scrolling Instagram, overthinking everything. Then, out of nowhere, I felt it—that tiny, almost invisible spark.

And I grabbed it.

I jumped up, planted my palms on the cold floor, and started doing push-ups.

At 25 push-ups, I got up and started tidying my living room. With every little action, something incredible happened. My body started producing norepinephrine, the chemical responsible for focus and getting you into “action mode.” I was feeling sharp and alive.

I kept doing push-ups between tasks to keep that momentum going.

When I got to the kitchen and washed the dishes, a new feeling kicked in—serotonin. Calm, positivity, and a growing sense of pride.

By the time I finished tidying up, I was full of energy. I went back to my workout, and before I even finished, ideas started flooding in. Suddenly, the creative block I had earlier was gone.

I rushed to my desk, opened my laptop, and wrote this post.

That’s the magic. You just need one win to get on the train headed straight for greatness.

So next time you feel that spark—no matter how small—grab it and don’t let it go.

That’s your last ticket to Inspiration Land.
Miss it, and the train leaves without you.

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑