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Mental Decluttering: 9 Ways To Declutter Your Mind When You Need To Be Creative

November 14, 2011 By Lena 1 Comment

nature walk to clear your mindI don’t know about you, but when I have too much going on in my mind, I suffer from the mental “fuzzies.” It’s like having dust bunnies in the head, the kind you get under the bed when you forget to sweep it out.

But it’s more than that. In a lot of ways, your mind is like a closet that you shove all kinds of things (thoughts) into and forget they’re there, only to have them remind you of their presence when you have to open the door to get something else out.

I’m convinced, based on my own experience that creativity comes best with a clear mind. So taking the time to declutter mentally as well as physically is a good way to, well, create more access to your creative center. (I’m no psychologist though, so take whatever I say here to be my personal experiences, not professional advice.)

So if you’re not feeling as creative as you’d like to, here are a few of my favorite ways to clear the mental cobwebs and make room for new ideas.

1. Do something physical.

You know, that dreaded “E” word…
Yes, I’m talking about exercise. I never would have believed that exercising can clear your mind until I joined a gym and started working out every day. Even if I only go in for 20 minutes and walk on the treadmill, it leaves me feeling clearer and cleaner bot mentally and physically and I come home ready to sit down and write for the rest of the day.

2. Organize your space.

When your space is organized, it’s much easier to organize your thoughts as well. If you’re feeling mentally cluttered because there are already too many thoughts taking up room in your head, then having to deal with physical clutter only makes it worse. Take some time either at the beginning or the end of each day to organize your space, especially your work space, and you will find that your creative energy flows more smoothly when it doesn’t have to navigate piles of clutter and unfinished work.

3. Organize your thoughts.

Just as you organize your space, you can also organize your thoughts. I realize that doesn’t sound very inspirational, or even creative to suggest making lists and writing things down but it really does help. If you can journal or even keep a list of the things you have to do, the things you’d like to do, and the ideas you come up with during the day it makes it much easier to access the mental energy needed to tackle each item on the list at the appropriate time.

4. Focus on one thing at a time.

There’s nothing more mentally tiring than trying to juggle several projects at once. Focusing on one project at a time lets you focus all your creative energy on that work so that you can create to the best of your ability.

If you must work on more than one thing during the day (and we all do to some degree) make sure that you give yourself enough of a break in between so that you approach each project with a clear mind.

5. Make some “Me time” for yourself.

Speaking of taking a break, make sure you always take some “me time” during the day. Even if you can only manage ten or fifteen minutes it will help to recharge your body and spirit as well as your mind. Having only to focus on yourself instead of meeting the demands of others for those few minutes will give you a lift and time to clear your mind.

6. Go for a walk.

One of the nicest ways to use your me time can be going outside for a short walk. It is a great way to not only clear your mind from a previous project, but to gather new ideas and creative energy. Let your mind wander free and take in the sights and sounds of nature all around you and you’ll be surprised and what you come up with that you might not have considered if you’d spent the entire day indoors.

7. Find other ways to relax.

If walking is not your thing, (and granted it’s not for everyone) then do something else that you find relaxing. Whether you like to curl up with a good book, or soak in a nice bubble bath, or even hit the local pool for a swim these are all ways to get in some quality me-time and let your mind wander at will.

8. Learn to meditate.

Or, if you already know how, then make time to practice every day. One of the best ways to clear your mind is through meditation. I’ve also found that not only do I get rid of the mental dust bunnies, I also come up with some of my best ideas just by meditating.

9. Take a deep breath.

Finally, if you need a quick mental clearing, nothing beats just taking a deep breath or two. Breathe in calm, peaceful energy and exhale all your stress, tension, and mental clutter. I find this works especially well if I’m in the middle of something and the words just won’t come.

Clearing out your mental clutter is essential to being more creative. Try using some of these tips to get rid of your mental dust bunnies and you will find that older ideas and energy that no longer serve your purpose are replaced by fresh new energy and ideas that will leave you at your creative best once again.

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Seven Sparks To Ignite Your Creative Engine

June 16, 2011 By Lena 1 Comment

Finding your creative spark is a process we all have to go through at least once in our lives. For people who rely on their creative abilities for their livelihood, that spark can sometimes prove to be elusive – especially when there’s a deadline looming. For others who don’t think they even have a creative cell in their body, the thought of actually igniting their creative fire can be downright scary.

The plain truth is that we are all, each and every one of us, creative beings in our own right. Creativity is the mother of innovation, and regardless of how you use yours – as an artist, an inventor, to help others, or just as a means of creating pleasure for yourself – you deserve the awesome feelings that use can inspire. Your creative fire is already smoldering deep inside your, and just a simple spark can be all it takes for that fire to turn into a raging inferno of creative passion.

Sorry… I got a little carried away there. The thought of coming up with new ideas and new ways to create always gets me a tad over-excited. Happens every time I sit down to write an article, put a newsletter together, take a picture, or even play the piano. I can get downright giddy with it at times. *grins*

If your creative engine needs a bit of TLC, why not try one of these sparks to help get it going…

1. Do a brain dump.

Come up with at least 100 thoughts and ideas in a single session. I know it sounds overwhelming, but it is doable, and works really well at jumpstarting the creative process. It also provides a good way to do a let go of all those random thoughts you may have rolling around in your mind.

A couple of things to keep in mind during this process are: a) don’t edit or censor yourself — let things flow as they will; and b) make sure you really do complete it in a single session. You can sort and analyze later, but put all 100 thoughts down on paper in a single session to start with.

2. Use positive thinking techniques like affirmations, motivational quotes, and inspirational stories as a jumping off point. I can’t begin to count how many times a random quote or a piece of song lyrics have set me off on a train of thought that’s resulted in a new article or the beginnings of a novel.

3. Use the color yellow.

I’ve recently learned that, psychologically speaking, yellow inspires creativity. I’ve always thought my obsession with writing everything on yellow legal pads was just a quirk. I’m actually kind of relieved to know there’s something more to it than just another reason for my family to think I’m weird.

4. Use all of your senses.

I don’t know about you, but I read so much and rely on visual cues so much that there are days I just want to close my eyes and not look at anything for awhile. Being able to engage your other senses is a great way to come up with fresh ideas for creating.

5. Talk to people.

Most people love to talk and share their thoughts. Interview them, ask questions, and really pay attention to what they have to say. Tapping into other peoples’ brain power is a wonderful way to jump-start your own creativity.

6. Get out of the city.

I’ve often thought that people who live in the country have a much bigger advantage when it comes to being creative. You can actually hear yourself think out there!

Lately my favorite place to think is by the river. I am very fortunate to live in a city that has a lot of green space and water. So that even when I can’t actually get out of town, I can still find somewhere that’s quiet enough to think and recharge for another week of writing.

7. Last, but definitely not least, take a break when you need to. I read something the other day that said the time to relax is when you think you don’t have time to relax. Putting more stress and pressure on yourself when things aren’t flowing will only lead to more stress and frustration.

Get up and walk away – even if it’s only for five or ten minutes. You’ll find that when you come back the mental cobwebs will have cleared away and you’ll be ready to create again.

Finding your creative spark is an individual journey. We all have our own routines and processes to follow, and what works for me may not work for you. Nevertheless, I hope that these ideas give you some fuel for your own creative engine.

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Get Out of That Rut: Easy Ways to Increase Your Creative Energy, Part 2

October 8, 2009 By Lena Leave a Comment

ruttedtrack01You’ve heard the saying “a change is as good as a rest” haven’t you? When it comes to giving your creative energy a boost, there’s definitely some truth to it!

When you’re stuck in a creative rut, little things that change up your routine can help to get the energy flowing again.

Here are 7 more ways to put your creative energy on track. (See four more ways in Read Get Out of That Rut, Part 1)

  1. Change the route you normally take to and from work.
  2. Read a book that you wouldn’t normally consider reading.
  3. Strike up a conversation with the person next to you in line at the coffee shop, grocery store, etc.
  4. Check out a new store you’ve never been to. Window shop if you feel nervous about just going in to browse.
  5. People watch. You can sit in a park or at a cafe and create stories for the people who pass by.
  6. Have coffee with a friend you haven’t seen for awhile. It’s so easy to lose touch that you’d be surprised just how much of a creative boost you can get from renewing old friendships.

As I’ve said before, boosting your creative energy doesn’t have to take a lot of hard work or money. Small changes are sometimes all it takes to get the flow going again.

Get creative!
lena

P.S. Get in the habit of carrying something to write in, like a Moleskin notebook, when you’re out. You never know when that next great idea will hit you. :)

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Get Out of That Rut: Easy Ways To Give Your Creative Energy a Boost, Part 1

September 28, 2009 By Lena 1 Comment

purpleflowersI don’t know about you, but there are times when I can get into a serious creative rut. Nothing flows and I start feeling like I have the creative energy of a rock on those days.

I don’t let myself get too down about it though. Sometimes all it takes to get out of the rut is to find a new way of expressing myself.

Here are a few ideas you can use if you find your creative energy has decided to crawl under a rock for the day:

Redecorate a room in your house. It doesn’t have to be a major renovation project. A fresh coat of paint, or even just rearranging the furniture can be enough to stir the energy and get yours flowing again.

Change your wardrobe. Again, this doesn’t have to be drastic. Sometimes we slip into a rut with what we wear and don’t even notice it.

For example, at my least creative awhile back, my son pointed out to me that I hadn’t worn anything other than jeans and a black or grey t-shirt in years. We actually counted and I had over 30 black shirts in my closet. That’s a rut!

He dared me at that point to go a week without wearing anything black. So I went out and bought some new tops in bright blues and greens, and even a pink one. As soon as I changed the outward colour scheme, my inner energy shifted as well and I was able to start writing again. (And it was a good excuse for a shopping trip!)

Move your body. One of the easiest and cheapest ways to unstick your creative energy is just to get up and move your body. Turn on some funky music and dance for five minutes and see if whatever’s holding your creativity down doesn’t shake itself loose.

Use your imagination. Sometimes forcing the issue is the only way to move forward. But I’ve found that you have to be a little sneaky about it. :)

Some things you can do here are rewrite a fairy tale the way you think it should be told, or just write the silliest story you can think of at the time. No one’s going to see it but you.

My favorite thing to do when I’m really stuck is scribble. I have a nice big white board on the wall and when nothing else works to get my creativity flowing, I just pick up the markers and doodle and scribble all over the whiteboard. You’d be surprised at how often the seed of a new idea comes out of one of my scribble sessions.

Increasing your creative energy doesn’t have to take a lot of hard work or money to make changes. Most of the time you can get it flowing again by taking small actions that are just a tiny bit different than what you’ve been doing. The important thing is that you do take action and not let the lack of creative energy slow you down or stop you altogether.

Have a wonderful, creative day!
lena

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