Clearing My Head: Making room for new ideas and exciting possibilities

Now that the busy holidays are over, it is the ideal time to recharge and clear our brains of unnecessary issues and concerns. It is important for our well-being that we find time for ourselves to be quiet and recharge.

When we are so busy, overcommitted, and striving for perfection, there is often a drought of creative ideas. Now you can find a time and place where you can let your mind wander, daydream, relax your body, or listen to calming music.

Making time for yourself to chillout and regain your energy is an essential element to nurture creative thinking.

Making time for yourself to chillout and regain your energy is an essential element to nurture creative thinking. Creativity cannot happen when your mind is overloaded or filled with too many distractions. Find a time for yourself – 15 minutes or more – to think about “nothing”. When an unwanted thought tries to capture your attention, throw it out. The goal is to clear your brain so there is space for new ideas and possibilities.

It’s OK to be alone.

When I was working on my graduate degree, writing a dissertation, working full time, and raising two young children, I became very concerned because I had no creative ideas, or no new possibilities incubating. It was very scary because I had always had many ideas. Had my graduate work killed my creativity? Had over-work sapped my brain? As one person told me, “It’s done something to your brain.”

On the day I graduated, driving home alone in my car as my family followed, my ideas starting popping. A shower of new ideas was coming to my consciousness. I was overjoyed! I celebrated the return of these exciting possibilities. But why was this happening at this time and place? I realized that for the first time in over 2 years I had a quiet time. Many of my difficult tasks that had been filling my time and thoughts had been accomplished. This quiet time in my car provided the place to relax, be quiet, and let my mind flow.

Give yourself the gift of time.

Escape from an overstimulating and demanding world and turn on your creative ideas. You are creative! Your ideas have not dried up. All that is needed is the time and calmness to let your marvelous possibilities sprout and grow again.

Enjoy this first step in your creative journey.