7Mental Space

Having realised how much the physical environment matters for creativity, Fawzooz began to wonder about the effect of his mental space on his creative ability. His physical surroundings were already set up, but he felt his mental space needed the same care.

He began reading and researching the effect of mental space on creative performance, and learned that it can become crowded with unfinished tasks, worry and stress, all of which block creative thinking. He realised he needed to clear his mental space just as he had organised his physical one.

“He needed to clear his mind just as he had organised his desk.”

Meditation. He began meditating for fifteen minutes every day before work, and found it eased pressure and tension and let his thoughts flow more freely.

Mindfulness. He used mindfulness techniques throughout the day to stay focused and balanced, which helped him manage the rush of thoughts.

Writing ideas down. He made a habit of regularly writing down ideas and tasks to clear the clutter from his mind, using mind maps and checklists.

One task at a time. He cut back on multitasking to avoid exhaustion and confusion, choosing to focus on one task at a time, and his efficiency improved and his thinking grew clearer.