Real Estate - Get that room of your own! At least get a good chair. Plan your work area so it’s convenient, well lit, comfortable. Control distractions like email or tiny tots. Remove mirrors, muttering, “Get thee behind me…” Some writers need dull rooms so writing becomes the escape from boredom; artists usually don’t. Calder’s sculpture studio had mobiles flying overhead like birds. Create the environment you need to work in, not to hyper-ventilate nor fall asleep.
Fermentation – The wide-awake version of “sleep on it.” Simmer. This is not waiting around for some ditzy Muse. Mull over the problem, but make few sketches. Resist drawing until you can’t stand for one more minute not to. When you do finally put ideas to paper, the stupid, time-wasting ones have often dropped out. But you must feel when the solution is ready (ripe banana!) and at that crucial moment you have to document, or ideas dry up.
Take a Break – When feeling stale, stretch. Walk. Get blood pumping to your brain. Or keep your hands busy with knitting or gardening. Or wash your face. That headache may be dehydration, so drink water. Caffeine helps, but 12 cups are 10 too many (as are some energy drinks). Give yourself a treat: eat chocolate, listen to a favorite song, wear the cozy red sweater.
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