This, the first in a series of weekly tips in the service of expanding our creative and productive selves.

There’s something about sitting down to a blank page, stepping up to a blank canvas or starting any new project that can be overwhelming….commonly known as the creative block. As a freelancer without a structured work life this can apply to any work we’re doing. We all know the feeling—the fear, resistance and paralysis behind procrastination.

©Elizabeth Watt

One of the best pieces of advice I ever was given was to consciously leave work ‘unfinished’ for the next day—it makes it much easier to start and find your way back in to the flow, picking up where you left off. This seems counter-intuitive in some ways; going against the grain of the discipline of seeing a thing through to completion, yet it sets you up for a stronger start to the next day, avoiding the ‘blank page’ syndrome. If in fact the practice is about showing up each day, and it certainly is, then let each day dovetail off the previous. The new start comes much more readily when already in the flow of the work. Try it to see if it makes a difference….and keep me posted.