By Lynn Walsh, RTDNA Blogger

We've all been here: covering another fire, sent to another white powder incident or in the news meeting pitching a story you just are not that excited about -- being uninspired.

It happens to all of us (hopefully not that often) and when it does it can be frustrating and make the day a lot harder.

For me the key is to work through it and to always start fresh the next day. It's easier said than done sometimes, but here are some ways I try to get inspired.

1. Get out of town. Sometimes a change of scenery is all you need. It gives your mind a break but also can get you thinking about what the city your visiting has or does that your city may not have or offer. You can see how the city operates, maybe seeing something that works for the community or doesn't seem to work as a visitor can turn into a story idea for you to investigate.

2. Attend a community event. You may feel like you are going to lots of community events. But, when is the last time you went as a participant instead of as a reporter or sponsor? It's a different experience and gives you a chance to really experience the event, talk to people as a "regular guy" and observe people without them knowing you are "with the news." For me, sometimes just listening to conversations people are having will get you thinking about future story possibilities.

3. Ask yourself what you want to know. This happens to me all the time.  As I am doing my day-to-day responsibilities I wonder about a lot of things and normally end up looking things up to find out why something is done the way it is or why it's not done at all. This process is just like research for a story and chances are if you are wondering about other people are too. I am always curious about what governmental department is in charge of certain services. This leads to more questions like how much is their annual budget? What do they spend money on? Are the officers in charge elected or appointed? These questions sometimes lead to stories and sometimes just turn out to be helpful while out in the field.

4. Google and web surf for fun NOT work. When I think about it, I rarely use the web for purely personal use; there is always some sort of work reason involved. But, what would you look up if it wasn't work related? Where would you end up? Let yourself travel through the links on web pages and who knows what you might come up with!

5. Take a break and have fun. Sometimes taking a break and really enjoying life can be hard. Between Twitter and Facebook and breaking news alerts sent by text it can be hard to turn off. But, when you do it can actually help you in the long run. Let yourself have fun and not think about work for a few minutes, hours or even a day or two. A little break can help you feel refreshed and hopefully inspired!

I find that if I'm excited about a story or excited about anything in general, my work is better. So, get excited and let yourself think outside the box when it comes time to pitch a story or cover another fire -- think of the angle no one else may have.

Lynn Walsh is an Investigative Producer for WPTV in West Palm Beach, Florida. Share your thoughts with her on Twitter, @LWalsh.