What to do when you're stuck for content ideas
It's happened to us all at one time (or more) - staring at the screen, trying to come up with something to post and drawing a complete blank. Whether it’s illness, busy-ness, burnout or just feeling a bit flat, content slumps happen to everyone. And if you’re in one right now, this post is for you.
You might be juggling a million things. You might be tired (or recovering from a houseful of sick kids like I was recently). Or maybe your confidence has taken a knock and you’re second guessing everything you write.
Whatever the reason, the good news is there are simple, practical ways to get your content mojo back – without reinventing the wheel.
Let’s talk about why content slumps happen, how to reset your mindset, and five go-to prompts to spark fresh ideas when you’re feeling stuck.
Why we get stuck
1. Burnout
We’re all doing too much. When you’re busy delivering work for clients, running a household or recovering from illness, content can fall right down the priority list. Then when you do sit down to post something, your creative brain feels completely fried.
2. Pressure to be original
There’s a myth that every post needs to be insightful, fresh and ground-breaking. But most of your audience needs repetition – not reinvention. If you’ve said something important before, say it again.
3. Comparison paralysis
Seeing what others are posting can send you into a spiral of self-doubt. You might start thinking, "Everyone else has said this already," or "My take isn’t good enough." Your voice matters. Stay in your lane.
4. You’re not sure what your audience wants
If you’re out of sync with your audience, it’s hard to know what to post. The good news? You can ask them. Run a quick poll or question box on your stories. Look through your DMs or comments to see what questions pop up regularly. And check your analytics – what’s worked well in the past?
Five ways to spark content ideas (even when you’re exhausted)
1. Revisit past posts
Scroll back through your old content and look at what performed well. Could you:
Repost it exactly as it was?
Update the caption with a fresh perspective?
Turn a static post into a reel or carousel?
Repetition is not a bad thing. People need to see messages multiple times for them to stick – and most people won’t remember something you posted three months ago.
2. Answer FAQs
What questions do your clients or potential clients ask you all the time? If they’ve asked you once, others are probably wondering too. Make a list and create one post per answer. Better still – pop into stories and use polls or question boxes to crowdsource ideas straight from your audience.
3. Open your content vault
If you have a content vault – a running list or database of content ideas – open it up and pick something simple to post. If you don’t have one, start one. Better yet, I can create one for you (more on that below!).
4. Tell a story from your day
Sometimes the best content comes from everyday life. A recent client conversation, something that didn’t go to plan, or even how you plan your week using colour-coded pens can make a brilliant post. These human touches make you relatable.
5. Let go of the idea that it has to be profound
Not every post needs to change lives. If it’s helpful, entertaining or relatable, it’s worth sharing. Your audience wants to get to know the real you – not just the polished, educational version.
Mindset matters
Here’s your permission slip: repurposing isn’t cheating. It’s smart. It saves you time and energy. It helps reinforce your message. So use what you’ve already said. Reframe it, repost it, or turn it into something new.
And remember – consistency is better than perfection. You don’t need a polished, Hollywood-style feed. You just need to keep showing up in a way that feels manageable and real.
Need a hand?
Here are two ways I can help you get unstuck:
Spend 60 minutes with me on Zoom. We’ll:
Generate a list of fresh content ideas
Work through what’s holding you back
Talk about what to post, how to say it, or which buttons to press
Whatever you need help with, we’ll tackle it together.
2. Done-for-you Content Vault
Let me create a tailored bank of content ideas just for your business. I’ll:
Learn about you, your audience and your tone of voice
Create a personalised list of ideas you can dip into any time
Make sure you never run out of things to say again
All the links you need are in the show notes – or come and find me on Instagram (@heleninthedetail).
If you’re in a content slump, you’re not broken – you’re just out of steam. Try one of these tips per day and take a small step back into creativity.
Baby steps lead to momentum. And momentum is what gets you back in flow.
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