Start the week

On Monday morning I joined the commuters into town; the first early trip to London for some months. Grey faces, grey suits and an air of weariness prevailed around me - where's their energy gone? A young mother got into the train compartment, struggling with buggy and an attempt to feed her baby while standing up. I felt my indignation rise as I gave her my seat and surveyed the blanked out Blackberry men hell bent on avoiding connecting. Maybe they're in desperate need to cushion their bodies against their daily schedule, so I let them be.


Along the bank of the Thames my day felt joyful with the sense: 'Yippee, it's Monday.' I met with colleagues who've become friends, people I trust implicitly whose company I love, and the whole day felt free and spacious. This 'yippee' mindset feels so light and easy as I choose my own agenda, own my time, my space, my life. When I do what my own book suggests I Live Life. Love Work.

Ten top tips to close down creativity

Many of the people I work with in organisations are under immense pressure to perform miracles. Too much to be done in the allocated time. Unrealistic understanding of the real work and time involved. Expectations that they should be innovative, inspirational, creative, confident and competent - all of the time.

With the pressure so creativity declines. That's why the Saturday afternoon workshops; Clear Mind. Clear Body as well as the writers' events are so popular.

Stop for a moment to consider how your creativity suffers. Here are some of the ways I get in my own way.

1. Get too tired. Know that feeling of working late when you should be relaxing and winding down?



2. Eat sugar. Drink caffeine. How did I get tempted by coffee and a biscuit instead of water and fruit?
   


3. Take on extra work. That little word 'no' went missing.
   


4. Spend time with energy vampires. Again, I could have said 'no' to that invitation that didn't appeal.



5. Beat myself up for what I haven't achieved. Why not see the successes?
   


6. Compare myself with others. When I know their world is so different to mine.
   


7. Worry. About stuff that won't matter later.
   


8. Forget to go out and play. How dull is that?
   


9. Feel there's no time, so don't get started. Even ten minutes is worth getting started for.
   


10. Cut out the clear thinking time. When I know how these moments of space are so important.

I also know how unblock my creativity by turning these situations on their heads. Here's how:

First - Write down how you get in the way of your creativity as I've just done here.

Second - Take each statement in turn, flip it upside down and find the opposite situation.

Third - Identify one thing to do differently.

As an example, my number one of 'Get too tired' flips to 'Get too much rest'. OK, that's unlikely to happen. Yet, one thing I can do differently is to take a lie in or afternoon nap when I feel the tiredness builds. It's really that simple. And it's amazing just how it can feel wonderfully indulgent resting up a bit and how much faster the creativity flows afterwards.