There are so many different ways to help your creative juices flow; Some of them are basic organizational skills, some others are more subjective and depend on the artist. One thing is for sure, we need to set the right mood in order to activate our brains to the point where you can see sparks coming out of your head.
To have a full creative environment, you need to please your 5 best buddies. They have always been with you and, the more you please them the sharper they get. These buddies are you senses.
This is a list of things you can do – related to your senses – to improve your work space and get the most out of your ah-ha moments.
SMELL: Take a second and take a deep breath. What does the air you breathe smell like? is it a bit stale? too stuffy? raunchy? if the answer for any of those was yes, then it’s time to have an air makeover. Light some incense, sprinkle your favourite fragrance around you. Even better, eat few oranges, save the peel and have it next to you. Fresh, natural, inspiring. DIY orange peel freshener
TOUCH: sticky table? dusty chair? give it a quick wipe! If you are a bit of a germaphobe, then disinfect it too. I would avoid the usage of stuff like Lysol {creepy!} I would use a tiny bit of white vinegar diluted in water to wipe your work space. Don’t worry, the sour smell will go away after it dries out , while it dries just think of your space as a giant bowl of fish and chips, yum! 1001 uses for vinegar
SIGHT: make sure to ALWAYS have something nice to look at. Whether you have a picture of your puppy, your human puppy or husband, beach, anything goes! Another key element in here is lighting. Choose something that will perk your brain up, but not so bright that will melt your eyelashes. What about some wall art? Mixed media art
TASTE: snack time! the last thing you want is to be distracted because your gut is flipping the bird at you. Have a handy snack by your side. Trust me, if you stroll to the fridge and try to make something then you will also check your twitter, Facebook, txt your friends and before you know it you are back in square one saying “aaah sh*t, what was I doing? “
HEARING: this to me, is the MOST important of all. If all you can hear is cars, your neighbours watching Oprah and the homeless peeps in the back alley doing their sunday night rounds, then you need to get some good ear buds and an awesome playlist. Make a note to yourself to spend some time looking for bands that will help you ease into that Zen moment. Here is my current favorite playlist, which has been on repeat since this morning:
If you have any insider tips of the craft leave a comment and share your knowledge.