Are you looking to invite in creativity, gain mental clarity, set new goals or get past an energy block? Our mental and physical state are more interconnected than we think. Sitting in the same space, sticking to the same routine day after day is not always conducive to generating new creative ideas or seeing a situation in a new light. Traveling is an amazing way to gain perspective and inspiration, but most of us can't pick up and book a flight every time we have a mental block.
I have several new projects I have been playing around with, but not fully committing to or knowing what direction to take them in. Making a solo trip to our family lake house about an hour and a half drive outside of the city gave me a quiet and novel space to eliminate distractions and spend time working in nature.
Switching up your space for even for a short amount of time can have huge benefits to inviting in new waves of energy and fresh ideas. It can be as simple as trekking over to a different coffee shop or shared work space, working in a park or perhaps taking it a step further and making a day trip. Do you have a family or friend who has a space they can let you use? A place in nature you could drive out of your neighborhood or city to for the day? Here are some things I found helpful on my solo retreat.
Choose somewhere different from your typical work space for optimal creativity.
1. Clear the Space and Invite in Good Energy
When I arrived I cleared the space with some Palo Santo and re-arranged the furniture of the room to a way that felt right. I brought some energy clearing crystals and had them next to my favorite candle burning. If you are in a public space, choose a spot that feels right to settle into and consider bringing some smaller crystals.
2. Settle in with a Meditation
Engage in a brief meditation to feel settled into the space, clear any anxiety, stress and worries that won't serve you during your creativity session.
3. Bring Tools + Food
Come with some sources of inspiration, an agenda/plan, journals, computer if you need one and anything else that may be useful. For me, I brought some books for inspiration, some resources I downloaded from online, a personal journal and a work journal. I also had my computer but set boundaries to not check email or social media- I had limited internet anyways!
Packing food was essential for me because there are no groceries or restaurants around where I was, but I always find it helpful to conserve brain power and time by having (healthy) pre-made food on hand when I am trying to get work done. This prevents me from either not eating (energy drainer!) or interrupting when I get on a good creative roll.
Having pre-made food on hand saves time and brain power, plus prevents forgetting to eat.
4. Reflect
Before leaving, reflect on what new ideas came your way and what you accomplished. Evaluate if the space was effective and what your plan is for next steps and moving forward. You may reap the benefits of this new energy later that day, days or even weeks later. Continue journaling/brainstorming to build on ideas after the experience.
