Whether it is writers block, a deep purple funk or getting stuck in a rut, we’ve all been there. When you’re working from home - like me - or even if you’re working outside of the home, finding inspiration that triggers motivation can be a challenge. Wanting to give some tips on inspiration, I realized I’m not the foremost expert on the topic but wanting to get a new blog post up sooner than later, I thought I’d improvise and share with you the Top 10 Thing that I personally do to get inspired.

10. Drink coffee. I hate to admit I’m back on a coffee jag. There is something about the first sip of coffee that really gets my brain engaged.

9. Change my surroundings. If I’m working in the dining room, I’ll switch to the living room or the home office (which is woefully neglected because it is in the basement, and I have a slight phobia of basements). In my pre-married life, I’d literally change my surroundings by moving furniture around, but I think that would drive my husband crazy. When in the city, I love working from cafes with wifi.

8. Peruse blogs. I’m still not adept at perusing my RSS feed reader but when I do, I find great nuggets of inspiration. I’ve also used a Web app called Snackr to create a ticker-like display of blog headlines across the bottom of my computer screen. I turn it on when I really need some brain tickling.

7. Engage in social networking. My watercooler is on Twitter. I get my news, tips on how to do things, and inspirational messages from Twitter. In those lulls in my brain, all I have to do is peruse my Twitterstream and get fired up with new ideas.

6. Play with my daughter. While it is hard when I’m frustrated from writers block or feeling down to get into the playful spirit, hearing my daughter laugh or hearing her tell a story can create a shift inside of me toward something more positive and inspired.

5. Read a book. I’m talking about the paper kind of book, not the digital. Sometimes, just holding a “real” book in my hands can be comforting. Reading something different - like fiction - can help to pull me out of my rut.

4. Engage in retail therapy. While it is hard to do much shopping in rural Alaska, I do enjoy stopping by the Tok General Store for a few items. While shopping to get out of a funk can be risky, I have to admit it really does help. When I’m in the “big city” and have a plethora of stores available to me, just walking in and looking around can do wonders for me.

3. Cook or bake. I’m domestically challenged, but I’ve discovered cooking and baking as a way to loosen up my creativity. I tend to open up several cookbooks at once and work off of different versions of a recipe and often have to be creative when I don’t have all the right ingredients. So far the experiments have been edible, and the creative time a great respite.

2. Take a shower. While some people love a nice hot bath, I prefer a nice hot shower to just let go of all the things that may be burdening me and affecting my creativity or mood. I could stand in a shower for hours but find that I’m suddenly inspired with a great idea which cuts the shower short.

1. Hug my husband. Love. Endorphins. Nothing like ‘em. When things are really caving in on me or getting me down, I throw my arms around my handsome hubby and know that I’m loved, protected, and valued. Love is inspiration.

What do YOU do to get inspired?