CREATING A CALM ENVIRONMENT AND ENCOURAGING CREATIVITY

One of the most important things for me when it comes to allowing my creativity to flow and really feeling 'in the zone' is the environment around me. If it's cluttered, noisy, messy or just chaotic I cannot concentrate at all, let alone try to allow those creative juices to flow. Because of this, I thought I'd share my top tips that I've found really help me to get centred, feel connected, both to myself and the earth and energy around me and feel inspired.

Tip #1

Sit on the floor. You might think this is a bit of an odd place to start, but honestly I can't tell you how much this helps me! Just changing your scenery by moving from your desk to the floor could be the key to unblocking your creative wall. And I don't just mean plonking your butt on a cold, hard surface, but creating a little haven of comfy cosy goodness. I love to unroll my yoga mat, grab some fluffy cushions, bring along anything you want or need to get some work done and make you feel creative, I like to have my diary, my bullet journal, a cup of something warm, a pen, maybe a book to pick up when I want a break and my laptop. Once you have everything you need just sit, cross legged, maybe take a few moments to breathe in and out and just feel the earth beneath you, and then get going! The joy of sitting on the floor is that you can change position really easily if you get tired; lie on your belly propped up on your elbows for a bit, lie on your back for a bit, get in the lotus position and feel like a zen master - whatever floats your boat! Make sure to be aware of your posture especially if you're sitting up right, you don't want to slouch over, every now and then just check in, make sure your heart is shining forward and change position if you're uncomfortable for a bit.

Tip #2

Music. An absolute key to creating an ambient environment in my opinion. Recently I've just been letting Spotify take over and listening to my daily mixes that are tailored to my tastes based on what I choose to listen to regularly (and no it's not all Zara Larsson for those who know me!). Choosing a relaxing, calming music playlist is such a joy, if you follow any yoga enthusiasts or teachers, or anyone into spirituality on any social media they often share amazing playlists to use whilst meditating or practising yoga and these are incredible for helping you get into the zone. One that I've been listening to loads was shared by Yoga with Adriene and it's called ATL Self Love - fab for something on in the background whilst you're connecting to your inner creative goddess!

Tip #3

Candles. I know, I know, what an avant garde, out there suggestion for creating a peaceful environment! But seriously, just lighting a candle in my home and space honestly makes such a massive difference! If I've been feeling a bit down, it's a grey day outside, I just want to sit on the sofa and veg out, getting up and lighting a few candles a. gets me up and then I feel bad sitting down again and doing nothing and b. looks beautiful. I was lucky enough to be gifted a beautiful pink himalayan salt tea-light holder for Christmas and it was seriously one of my favourite presents. If you've not seen them before take a look on Amazon and pick one up, they really do give such a gorgeous glow. Not only do they look beautiful though, salt candle holders are also accredited with releasing negative ions into the environment, helping to balance all the energy released by modern technology and improve the quality of our environment, so, pick one up, place it in your work space and allow it to work its magic.

Tip #4

Breathe. When you're in the middle of working, trying to get the creative juices flowing but suddenly you just feel like you want to give up and nothing seems to be working or sounding like you want it to, just take a moment to breathe. Setting your workspace up intentionally can be so important to helping you feel balanced, calm and creative. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I'll pick up my laptop to check on an order or just do something quick, and I'll somehow end up spending hours on my blog, writing and creating, maybe changing around the layout a bit, and finding a creative spark from nowhere. It's great when this happens, but more often than not I find that if I set my space up intentionally, creating a calm, clean area with lots of things that inspire me, taking a moment to sit and breathe before getting to work, I feel SO much more connected and ready to get those ideas down on paper. Try it now; close your eyes, take a deep breathe in for a count of 4, hold at the top and then release for a count of 4. Don't skip the slow exhale, it's just as important as the inhale and is often rushed to move on to the next inhale. Repeat this 4 or 5 times and see how you feel.

#spirituality #life #working #workingfromhome