Here at Breathe. Think. Feel. we want to create a space where we can discuss all sorts of things that affect the mind, body, and spirit. Thus, this space will often house discussions that deal with creativity, productivity, organization, balance, and wholeness.

To start things off, we will be doing a multi-part series on the intersection of creativity and productivity. Today’s topic: Giving Your Mind the Space to Think.

Oftentimes one of the hardest things for creatives is to find the ability to focus our thoughts. We worry about everything, we fret about nothing, and we are scared that there are no good or worthy or interesting thoughts in our brains. And more often than not, we are so preoccupied with other things–phones, friends, life–that we don’t give ourselves the opportunity to develop a train of thought to its conclusion. So, today I offer some lines of thinking that helped me wrap my head around this problem and some strategies that helped me overcome it. I hope you find it helpful.

First, get comfortable with silence. Don’t spend all of your time trying to fill in those quiet spaces with noise. The quiet spaces are already trying to say so much. Give them a listen. In my opinion, this is the most important thing you can do.

When you fill every possible moment with entertainment or busywork, or busy talk, you aren’t doing what you think you are doing. You’re not really bored. You’re not really occupying your time. You’re consuming. You’re distracting yourself from free thinking. You’re silencing your voice.

Second, let your mind create instead of consume. Let it speak for once, and let it have time to form some thoughts of its own.

Try to find little snatches of time where you can let your creative mind speak to you. If you constantly occupy your mind, then you never let your brain have a chance to ruminate and reflect. These periods of reflection are of the utmost importance to creativity and inspiration. Know that if you calm your inner monologue, your creative side has a chance to speak. Let your thoughts surprise you.

We constantly want to occupy ourselves with entertainment. But this constant shifting and consuming kills our ability to focus. And when we can get our minds to focus, we can make it sharper, we can hone those ideas, and we can make them shine.

Next, use strategies that set yourself up for success. An inability to focus has been, personally, my biggest obstacle. I had to seek out or invent strategies that helped me get over this muddle-brained mountain. This is a huge feat if you can accomplish it. Be proud of that.

But also know that it will be an ongoing struggle. There will be days that you feel less focused, less productive, and lethargic, even when you have gotten into a habit of productive behavior. Yet, a great thing to remember is that if you have internalized these strategies, you can always draw on them, fall back on them, and get out of your rut. You know you can, because you have done it before! Remember what the feeling of accomplishment is like, and let that guide you.

Here is a list of a few tips that I have found useful in letting my thoughts run free:

Instead of checking your email when you are in line at Starbucks or Chipotle, allow yourself time to think about what you are working on creatively.

Instead of listening to the radio on your commute, turn off the dial and tune into your thoughts.

Place your phone in another room while you are trying to create.

Turn off the internet. Use airplane mode or disconnect the wi-fi.

Instead of going to lunch with colleagues, take a solitary lunch in the park accompanied by some time gazing at the clouds in the sky. 

Instead of driving to the grocery store, take a walk there and let your mind wander the entire time. Follow it wherever it goes.

Let the shower be your brainstorming chamber.

Let your car be your creativity pod.

Let your backyard be your Walden.

Let the silence creep in.

 

Want more productivity and creativity tips? Check out Freelance in Your Jammie Pants, available at Amazon.