Writing Excuses 21.12: Breaking Down Barriers- Environment
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Mar 22, 2026 They explore how your physical space can block creativity, from chair comfort to cluttered sightlines. Sound and silence get a deep dive, including playlists and focus apps. Practical fixes come up, like phone bowls, notification strategies, and quick comfort tweaks. They also cover setting boundaries with household members and a sensory inventory homework to spot what to change.
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Erin's Pavlovian Writing Song And Headphone Bubble
- Erin Pavlov-trained herself with a single song to cue writing sessions and now often uses noise-cancelling headphones at home.
- She sometimes misses environmental cues like storms because she screens out everything while focused.
Use Specific Audio To Trigger Productive Headspace
- Use targeted audio to trigger productive states: Mary uses instrumental power-anthem playlists and Brain.fm binaural tracks to focus.
- Choose sounds that mask internal noise or provide an aggressive beat to push through blocks.
Journal Briefly To Identify Environmental Triggers
- When distracted, sit or stand in your spot and ask what is pulling your attention, then journal the answer to reveal environmental causes.
- If no story problem exists but you still get up frequently, treat it as an environmental trigger to fix.