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The Latch has partnered with Microsoft to celebrate the launch of Windows 11. With Windows 11, you can achieve more than ever before, hitting your own personal 11/10 across creativity, connectivity, productivity, and gaming.
What do you do when you sit down to create and end up staring at the blank screen and nothing springing to life?
Maybe you sit there stewing in your rut or in an endless loop of procrastination?
Say hello to the dreaded creative block.
Not only are they frustrating, but creative blocks can also become a barrier to productivity — and if you’re feeling this way, I can assure you that you’re not alone.
New research from YouGov commissioned by Microsoft ANZ shows that over the last 18 months, many Australians have struggled to find motivation and joy in the things they love, but would like to achieve more in the year ahead.
When rating their levels of connectivity, creativity, productivity, and having fun or finding joy in things they enjoy doing, Australians reported struggling to achieve the goals they set themselves before the pandemic. They gave this question a rating of just over five out of 10 across the board, compared to their best-ever or ideal best, which would be between seven and a half, and eight.
As a life coach, I help clients from all walks of life live an inspired and fulfilling life. Below are some of the tips I regularly share with clients to clear creative blocks and increase their productivity.
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How I Help My Life Coaching Clients Release Creative Blocks and Increase Productivity
Shift your stagnant state
When you’re feeling stuck, nothing changes if nothing changes. It’s best to get your energy flowing again by doing things differently to spark those creative juices. To shake things up, you could try flipping your normal routine on its head. This doesn’t have to be massive life shifts, and could be as simple as switching the hand that you use to brush your teeth in the morning, or prepare a different meal for lunch.
A change of scenery can do wonders too, whether that’s working outdoors at your local park or café for a few hours. If you’re not keen on going somewhere else, you could also rearrange the furniture in your workspace to gain a new perspective and outlook on things.
For those who want an instant shift at the tip of their fingers, the brand-new Windows 11 operating system has some powerful new features to empower your productivity and inspire your creativity. With the Desktops feature you can create personalised Desktops that display a specific set of apps to help you stay organised and focused. That means you can set up multiple Desktops to keep work separate from play or gaming.
Just like we all create separate spaces in your home for different activities, this is one way you can carve out a special space that’s free from distractions and designed just for creativity on your computer. You can even customise each Desktop with its own name and wallpaper, all on the one PC. When my clients are struggling to focus on computer-based tasks, I suggest this as the perfect avenue to have a dedicated space in which to focus and unleash creativity.
Finding the right tricks to master productivity can be a challenge, but if you’d like to learn more about the ways Windows 11 can help you get on top of your to-do list, head here for more information.
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Instead of resisting and fighting against the block, try to work with it. If you usually manage your diary with specific time slots, try to instead structure your day around your energy levels.
Everyone has an intrinsically different level of motivation, drive, and energy at any given moment, which is why I highly recommend keeping an energy diary. That way, you can track when you feel the most zest and enthusiasm versus the times you feel lethargic and tired (hello 3pm slump!).
With your own personalised data, you can redesign your day in a way that suits you. For some, performing creative tasks and being productive is easiest first thing in the morning and, for others, their peak productivity happens when the sun goes down after the day has been done.
Sometimes, when you’ve tried all avenues and still feel like you’re coming up against a block, it may be a sign that it’s time to take a break. Inspiration can come from anywhere and for me, as a life coach, it’s when talking to other people. A huge part of creativity is being able to connect the dots, and there’s no doubt that connections fuel creativity.
You never know what someone might say or share in a conversation that will get your imagination and inspiration flowing. It’s never been easier to get together with friends, family, or colleagues thanks to online collaboration programs like Microsoft Teams. With Windows 11, Chat from Microsoft Teams is installed and pinned to the Start bar, making it easy to fire up a conversation with your nearest and dearest. The best part is, you can speak to anyone with audio, text and video, regardless of the device they’re using, which naturally makes life easier.
Disconnect to reconnect
Creativity isn’t just a process. Creativity is a mind, body, and soul experience. It is as rich and multilayered as life itself. Being in the creative flow is a mystical experience when all the ideas are popping off in your brain and you’re feeling the excitement rush through your body. So when you’re stuck in a creative rut, embrace your senses.
Get playful with textures, whether it’s feeling a cool breeze on your face or running your hands over a soft blanket. Perhaps it’s classical music that helps you concentrate or an intense cinematic score that makes you realise a masterpiece within is ready to leap out. Maybe it’s creativity through the nose with the deliciously fragrant scent of jasmine or the ever-invigorating aroma of peppermint that inspires you.
And remember that a sensory experience doesn’t just have to be a physical one, it can also be evoked mentally — our mind is an incredibly powerful tool. Kickstart your imagination and get playful with your senses.
Stimulate your senses
Waiting for inspiration for strike? The best of ideas often strikes unexpectedly and in the strangest of times.
In fact, the stroke of genius you’ve been waiting for may be in the shower! It’s no surprise as in the shower you are in a relaxed state of mind, which means your brain is more capable of mustering new insights, expansive thinking, and connecting the dots you’ve been struggling with.
If you add cold water in the mix, you’ve got a huge productivity boost, too. Sometimes a shock to the system is just what you need to get out of the endless thoughts in your head. Cold water is refreshing, which leads to greater energy levels to do the things you need to do.
Not only that, but the chill factor will also definitely invigorate your brain and boost your alertness to be your most creative and productive self.
Have a shower and even better… a cold one!
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Photograph by Candid Chaser – Ash Garit
Photograph by Candid Chaser – Ash Garit
Photograph by Candid Chaser - Ash Garitt