As I sit here racking my brain on what I could possibly write about that anyone would care to read, I think of all things I could do today. Go to the beach, it’s cloudy, go to yoga, just practice at home, sit at a coffee shop, i’ll have to put on clothes. Notice how none of those has anything to do with work? Yeah. It’s one of those days.

It’s one of my “white space” days where I block out the first portion of my day to work on business necessities. Sometimes it’s easy for me and I sit down and get it done in an hour or two.

Today, however, is a different story.

To get myself together I went on a walk down to the beach for 30 minutes in silence (moving meditation) I started thinking of all the places that inspire me to create when i’m having “one of those days”. There are a lot of ways to inspire creativity like meditating, turning on your diffuser or music, but sometimes those end up being even more of a distraction.

Here are 5 places I go or rely on to get creative inspiration.

Go for a walk

Walking outside has been proven to boost creative both during and shortly after your walk. By simply taking a walk outside and leaving your “normal” work space, you literally start thinking outside of the box. Even if it’s just a quick stroll around your block, you’ll come back refreshed and focused!

Visit the Beach

This is my favorite thing to do if i need some creative inspiration! It’s similar to walking, since i’m walking on the beach, but the sound of the waves and the heat of the sun brings me to a whole different place. If you don’t have a beach nearby, maybe try a pond or lake. Being near the water is soothing, which helps you channel your thoughts for creative focus.

Listen to Podcasts

In probably all of my posts i’ll talk about podcasts. In my 5 podcasts for creative entrepreneurs post, I talk about the podcasts that give me the most inspiration. I listen to them all day long because i love being inspired by people that were in the same position as me. By listening to podcasts about creative entrepreneurs I get so many ideas about what I can do with my business.

Practice Yoga

This is my favorite way to start my day because I really think it has a lot to do with my creative productivity for the rest of my day. By dedicating the first hour or so to myself and clearing my mind, I create a foundation that gives me space for ideas. Even if I don’t do a moving practice, i find the days I meditate for 10-20 minutes are much more productive.

Go to Your Local Coffee Shop

Sometimes being in a quiet place alone does not give me any idea sparks and I need to be around people. Watching them. Yes, i’m talking about people watching, i’m not that creepy. I like going to local coffee shops with my laptop and be surrounded by other people working, catching up with friends or just finishing a barre class. Being around that buzz I need that working at my desk from home doesn’t always provide.