How to Clear Your Mind Before Getting Creative: 6 Powerful Techniques

Unlocking Creativity Starts with a Clear Mind 

Have you ever sat down with a blank canvas, only to find your mind wandering to your to-do lists, emails, and that weird thing you said ten years ago to a friend? You're not alone (trust me). Mental clutter is a huge barrier to creativity, and it can turn a promising artistic session into a discouraging struggle.

The good news is that you don’t have to wait for inspiration! I watched a great Skillshare class by Liz Brindley called “Make Your Art: Time Management for Creatives“ because I could feel I was stuck. I knew I was procrastinating, never getting anything done past the occasional doodle that never went anywhere, and I just couldn’t get out of the rut. The class was incredibly helpful, and I’m still using “The Big 3” to plan my work and business. 

One thing from the class that truly resonated with me is that you can visit your muse. I believe this was based on a quote from a book by Austin Kleon. I don’t have to wait for my muse to come to me, and maybe I shouldn’t! This hit me hard, and I realised that I have loads of inspiration and ideas, however, they often come along at an inconvenient time. Now, I have a list and jot things down as they come to me. Then, I genuinely look back at the list when I start a creative sesh, and the ideas and inspiration come flooding back.

However, even if you have decided to visit your muse and you have a list of ideas and places to start, your mind can still be just full of fluff and stuff. But you can actively prepare your mind for creativity and focus. Here are a few ways I declutter my mind, clear mental blocks, and step into a creative flow.

1. Brain Dump: Clear the Mental Clutter

Before you start, take five minutes to write your thoughts down on paper. Write down everything that's bouncing around your mind. Tasks, worries, things you need to remember, random ideas. Don’t overthink it and forget spelling, handwriting, and punctuation as this piece of paper is destined for the dump (or the recycling bin!). This technique is really good to help you get a good night’s sleep too!

It’s so simple but achieves so much:

• It frees up mental space for creative ideas
• It reduces anxiety over things you "should" be doing (why shouldn’t you prioritise creating art? Especially if it’s part of your career!)
• It helps you see patterns and ideas that might inspire you

Once it’s out of your head and on that piece of paper, your brain will feel freer, making it easier to focus on art, writing, music, or whatever creative project is calling you.

2. Move Your Body: Yoga, Walking, or Any Quick Exercise 

Your mind and body are deeply connected, and a still body often leads to creative stillness. A quick movement session can help shake off stress and refocus your brain. These are my faves:

10 minutes of yoga:

• • I focus on stretches that open the chest and relax the neck and shoulders as this is where I hold all my creaky tension. I imagine this is a common problem for artists.

A short walk outside:

• • Nature is an instant creativity booster. I walk twice a day with my (currently snoring) greyhound, but you don’t need a dog to go for a walk.

Jumping jacks or a dance break:

• • This is so fun and gets the blood flowing just as quickly as any formal exercise! 

Movement releases endorphins, increases oxygen flow to the brain, and provides a mental reset, all of which enhance creativity.

3. Breathing: Quiet the Mental Noise 

Creativity flourishes in a calm mind, and meditation or breathing exercises are excellent tools for quieting inner chaos. Try this simple breathing exercise before starting your creative work:

1. Sit comfortably and close your eyes
2. Inhale deeply through your nose for 4 seconds
3. Hold your breath for 4 seconds
4. Exhale slowly through your mouth for 8 seconds (if 8 is too long, try 6 seconds)
5. Repeat 4 or 5 times before allowing your breathing to go back to normal

I also find square breathing particularly calming, when your breath in, hold, breath out, and second hold are all the same length. Meditation might not be for you, but even a few moments of stillness and deep breathing can help reset your mind. Breathing techniques reduce stress, slow your heart rate, and shift your mind into a state of flow, putting you “in the zone” where you can lose track of time and enjoy creating. 

4. Doodling: Create Without Pressure

Instead of forcing inspiration, try sketching or doodling. The goal isn’t to create a masterpiece, it’s to engage with your creativity without pressure. So grab a sketchbook and just start. Try doodling freely. Try drawing patterns, lines, or abstract shapes. If you’re a writer, write nonsense words or free-associate ideas.

This exercise loosens up your creative muscles and signals to your brain that it’s safe to explore without fear of judgment. No one is looking, you don’t have to create a masterpiece every time.

5. Mindful journaling 

Mindful journaling is a technique I often use when I don’t know where to start. Sometimes I do this on paper, or sometimes on my iPad in Procreate. It’s a very simple method with very few tools that always provides you with a subject to draw, while contributing to clearing your mind:

Draw something you can see, something you can hear, something you can feel, something you can smell and something you can taste. Just sketches, they don’t need to be perfect. I often do this after breakfast, so I have drawn a surprising number of Marmite jars!

This also works well when you’re taking a walk. A slightly different method that can be completed in a quick stroll:

In your head, say 5 things you can see, 4 things you can hear, 3 things you can feel, 2 things you can smell and something you can taste.

Mindfulness encourages the brain to make connections and innovative solutions and boosts focus and playfulness. It also reduces the fear of failure, a debilitating feeling for so many artists. I’ve recently started Emily B. Studio’s Imaginarium, a postal booklet club with creative journal and drawing prompts, hit the link for more info or join here with StampFans.

6. Optimise Your Environment (Without Procrastinating!)

We all know that a cluttered space can lead to a cluttered mind, but be careful, "fixing your environment" can turn into procrastination. Before you know it, the time you had is gone, and the only thing you’ve achieved is an extremely tidy living room, which really looked pretty good to begin with. However, there’s nothing wrong with making a slightly more inspiring workspace:

• Declutter your immediate area, but keep it focused to your desk, or perhaps things that are in your line of vision.
• Adjust your lighting. Natural light is a wonderful boost if it’s available, but warm lighting can enhance creativity too.
• Play background music or ambient sounds. Is this your thing? I vary; sometimes I want something on, but at other times, the sound of the birds is just perfect. Remove distractions if you can.
• Put your phone on silent and try not to start scrolling. I find a focus timer quite effective. I set a timer for 20-30 minutes before I can go and get a snack or check my phone. Often, this is enough for me to get into the zone, and I ignore the timer anyway.

A simple, intentional workspace refresh can make a huge difference in your ability to create freely.

 

 

Final Thoughts: Creativity Thrives in a Clear Mind

Before you start your next creative session, take a few minutes to clear your mental space. Whether it’s through a brain dump, movement, meditation, or mindful sketching, these small habits can make a huge difference in your ability to focus and create freely without wasting your time.

So, next time you’re feeling stuck, don’t just sit there waiting for inspiration; go and create it. The more you feed your mind, the more your creative cup fills up. Inspiration is out there, you just have to look for it. Do you have any tips and techniques to share?

Now, go and enjoy your creative session!