How To Power Through Creative Blocks And Get Into The Zone
Have you ever worked on a project and felt like you were flying a thousand miles an hour?
You destroyed every obstacle, solved every problem, then realized a whole day had gone by. You were lost in your work. You were in a flow state, also known as “the zone.”
How do I get in the zone?
Like a certain super-powered psychic would do, you should put yourself in the right state of mind. One of the ways you can achieve this is through ambient noise. A recent study by the Journal of Consumer Research found “…for highly creative individuals, a moderate noise level may lead to higher creative performance…” Ambient noise, like the sound of a coffee shop, can boost productivity and creativity. I guess that explains the massive amounts of screenplay writers who prefer a Starbucks to a traditional office.
Make some noise
Here are some apps or sites that can help you focus and be more creative:
- Thunderspace (iOS)
- Ambiance (iOS, Android, Mac OS)
- Soundrown (web)
- Coffitivity (iOS, Android, Mac OS, web)
Impekable’s Founder and Namesake, Pek Pongpaet’s personal favorite ambient noise is the humming sound of the Enterprise from Star Trek: The Next Generation here’s a couple links that loops it for 24 hours. Yes, 1 whole day!
The next time you are trying to work at the office or at home, listen to some ambient noise and you’ll be surprised how a little noise can make a lot of difference in your work.
References
- Flow (psychology)
- Is Noise Always Bad? Exploring the Effects of Ambient Noise on Creative Cognition
- Noise Sources and Their Effects
- Study of the Day: Why Crowded Coffee Shops Fire Up Your Creativity
- Mild Ambient Noise Can Spur Creativity and Keep You Motivated
- Why Ambient Noise Makes You More Productive
Get In The Creative Zone was originally posted on Impekable Design Studio’s blog section by Fabianne Rico.
