How Clutter Can Lead to a Case of Writer’s Block

By James Adams

Writer’s block can strike at any time, and for a variety of reasons. Though not all causes of writer’s block can be determined, some of the more common ones are stress, relationship problems, illness, family troubles, and burnout. But did you know that clutter in your home or office can also cause this problem? You might be unknowingly suffering from clutter-induced writer’s block.

There are many ways clutter and disorganisation can put a halt to your creative output.

1. The Stress Effect: Stress is a major known cause of writer’s block. All those piles of paper, coffee mugs, and random objects on and around your work space are signs of stress that you cannot ignore, no matter how into your work you might be. Regardless of where it’s coming from, stress is the number one destroyer of creativity. And let’s face it — you probably already have enough stress in your life. Clutter can only add to your stress levels.

2. That Subconscious Sucking Sound: You might not be thinking about the disorder that’s surrounding you. In fact, you may believe that you have been messy for so long, clutter is now just a fact of life, and you don’t have a problem with it. Many creative people can even get superstitious about their sloppiness, believing that if things were cleaned up, they’d never be able to find anything again. But the truth is, the back of your mind is always fretting about clutter and vowing to get organised soon. This subconscious worry can really bite into your output.

3. The Feng Shui Flow: Even if you don’t believe in feng shui, the basic principles hold true. Having a lot of clutter around disrupts the energy flow, saps creativity, and makes you feel fatigued. Your brain — yes, even if you mostly use the right side of it — prefers to look at clean, organised surroundings. Once you clear the clutter, you’ll start to relax, and your energy will be restored along with your concentration.

4. Ghosts of Problems Past: The clutter that’s hanging around your home or office represents moments frozen in time. All that stuff serves as a reminder of the past, that project you started and abandoned, the dinner you ate at your desk when you were pressed for time, a fun purchase you keep meaning to put away but haven’t found the time to yet. When your mind is stuck in the past, its hard to move on and find new ideas. Therefore, your writing is blocked.

5. Focus, Grasshopper: To write well, you have to focus on the words you’re trying to put on paper (or on the screen). Having a lot of clutter around splinters your focus. While you’re trying to organise your thoughts around the piece you’re working on, your mind is calculating how much time it’s going to take to do the dishes, including that glass sitting next to your monitor, or whether you remembered to take out the trash, because there’s a little snowdrift of candy wrappers huddled beside your keyboard. It is a good idea to get rid of as many distractions as possible, so you can focus on nothing but your words.

6. Desktop Disasters: How many icons are scattered on your computer’s desktop? Electronic clutter is just as distracting as physical disorder and has the same effects on your writing state of mind. Concentrating on a writing project is difficult when you’re faced with a half-dozen reminders of other things you could be doing, along with links to your favourite procrastination tools like blogs, Facebook and Solitaire. Additionally, if your electronic files are a mess, you’re going to lose a lot of time looking for what you need, and you can also lose your train of thought, and consequently develop writer’s block.

7. The Power of Procrastination: If your brain were a computer, your constant mental to-do list would probably occupy more than half of your RAM at any given time. This means you’re left with a low capacity to devote to your current writing project, and chances are good that your overworked processors are going to balk at the new workload , leading to writer’s block. Cleaning up clutter can help you unearth things you’ve been meaning to do for a while, but keep putting off, even though your mind still stores them under stuff you still have to tackle. Recycling old newspapers and magazines, passing on books or clothing to friends and family, or donating a carload of used goods to a local charity shop will free up some of that mental RAM so you can focus on writing.

So, the next time you find yourself staring at a blank screen in despair while sentences and paragraphs refuse to form at your fingertips, try curing your writer’s block by engaging in a little clutter busting. Even something as simple as clearing off your desk and wiping off the dust can give you a much-needed creative boost.

Author Information

James Adams works at Spares Next Day where he reviews hoover bags for vacuum cleaners and other cleaning products.

Photo Credit: dekok

7 Tools for Managing a Virtual Office Efficiently

By James Adams

Across the globe, a number of companies are realizing the necessity and frugality of a virtual office. As a result, managers and business owners are looking for the best tools for efficiently managing a virtual office.

One main concern for most office managers is communication. Bosses need to effectively stay on top of the work their employees are doing and to be sure their employees are able to contact them for advice, ideas, etc. Collaboration between employees is imperative for business survival.

You can manage your virtual team effectively using these seven tools:

1. Conference calls: The easiest way to do a virtual meeting is through a conference call. Although a manager cannot see their employee, they can judge by the employee’s tone and responses how his work is progressing. If hearing a faceless voice is not appealing, managers can use software like Skype, OpenWengo, or other video-enabled VOIP programs. With these programs, a manger can actually see the face of his employee through a web cam. This method offers a personal touch to the traditional conference call.

2. Online meetings: The next alternative is the virtual meeting place. Programs such as Webex, Raindance, GoToMeeting and Adobe Breeze allow staff members to view, manipulate, and discuss actual work contributed by other employees. Most of these programs are available for a small subscription fee.

3. Productivity tools: The best way to get a virtual team working together cohesively is through the use of web based tools like Google Docs. These tools allow employees to create, upload, share, and edit each others files. Since they are online, files can be viewed and edited at multiple sites at the same time, including mobile devices. Add this practicality to a standard conference call or video conference call and businesses have a viable alternative to subscription-based virtual meeting places.

4. Online calendars: Using a online calendar allows employees to keep track of important items like deadlines on projects, but also on each other’s doctor appointments, hair appointments, and kids programs. These calendars help employees feel more comfortable about contacting each other and they help employees to take care of themselves and their families.

5. Smartphones: Many of these smartphones now have apps to run most web based programs like Google Docs and Google Calendar. This means that it’s now possible for employees and managers alike to work anywhere, including at the coffee shop or even dentist’s lobby.

6. Social networking sites: If used appropriately, virtual employees can bounce ideas off of each other, share photos or stories, and mingle without the wasted time of venturing down the hall to the water cooler. Managers can also use them to keep in contact with their employees and to find out what is truly valuable in their employees lives.

7. Instant messaging: Most messaging can now be done on cell phones as well as on the computer, and messages hang around on the system until answered.

Whether stretched across the street or across the globe, successful businesses need communication, collaboration, and dependability from their employees. If used appropriately, these tools will help managers and business owners efficiently manage their virtual offices and employees.

Author Information

James Adams writes about and reviews office equipment at Office Kitten, a supplier of hardware to UK-based businesses.