But honestly, it’s not the clever, trendy words that do the heavy lifting.

More often, it’s the small, familiar ones. The words that draw people in without trying too hard. The ones that don’t demand attention, but quietly add context and guide readers toward you.

In this post, I want to showcase and salute three simple words that punch far above their weight:

Because. Here’s. Let’s.

Yes, two of them are contractions. My third-grade English teacher might object, but I’m comfortable with my choices.

The Orienting Power of Small Words

These words matter not because they’re flashy, but because they orient.

Orienting is a concept we should give more space to. It goes beyond explaining or persuading.

Explanation answers why. 

Persuasion tries to move someone.

Orientation does something quieter and more foundational. It helps people get their bearings.

Orienting language, like because, here’s, and let’s, doesn’t just add information. It reduces uncertainty.

And when uncertainty drops, clarity has room to land.

Let’s look at what these three small words actually do. Notice how I use “let’s” here. Orienting in action!

BECAUSE Adds Context

It answers the quiet, unspoken question: why should I care about this? When people understand the reason behind your message, they’re more open to it. Because does that work quietly and efficiently.

Example: Imagine that you’re sending an email…

• “Please review this before Friday.”
• “Please review this before Friday, because I want to make sure we have time to address any questions.”

That simple because turns a somewhat harsh command into a reasonable, compelling request.

HERE’S Offers Guidance

It tells the reader that something specific and useful is coming next. No guessing. No mental warm-up required. It lowers the effort of reading and creates an immediate sense of connection.

Example: You’re writing the lead-in sentence for a bullet-point list…

• “What you will learn:”
• “Here’s what you will learn:”

Here’s gently changes the vibe from impersonal to helpful and friendly.

LET’S Invites Collaboration

It turns instruction into partnership, adding a sense that you’re moving alongside the reader, not just talking at them. 

Example: You want readers to review a summary…

• “Take a moment to review key points.”
• “Let’s take a moment to review key points.”

Let’s adds a calm, human voice. It reminds the reader that they’re not alone. You’re with them, and you’re helping. 

Why This Matters

Before you can persuade, impress, educate, otherwise make an impact, you need to steady people. They need to move through your sentences with confidence that there is both purpose and gravitas to what they’re reading.

Big words can energize.
Strong ideas can inspire.

But it’s the quiet power of small, orienting words that holds everything together and builds momentum.

Because explains.
Here’s guides.
Let’s invites.

None of these words are fancy. They simply make your writing easier to follow and easier to trust.

And that’s what makes them powerful.

The post The Quiet Power of Small Words appeared first on Kim Scaravelli.

It requires zero equipment, zero skill, and zero movement. But here’s the twist: it might be the most challenging ten minutes of your day.

Ready? Here’s your creativity exercise:

1. Set your phone timer for 10 minutes
2. Just sit there

Why is This Simple Creativity Exercise So Hard?

Ask yourself this question:

When was the last time you were truly, completely, mind-wandering-to-weird-places bored?

Not the “scrolling Instagram while waiting for coffee” kind of bored. I mean the staring-out-the-window, daydreaming kind that used to fill our childhood summers.

I bet you’re struggling to think of a single moment!

We’re living in an era where being constantly “tuned in” isn’t just possible, it’s practically mandatory. From the moment we wake up until we reluctantly set down our phones at bedtime, we’re swimming in a sea of mental stimulation.

Our 21st-century mindset has convinced us that productivity is king and busy-ness is queen.

So when you try to STOP for 10 minutes, your brain will revolt. If you’re like me, your thoughts will go into overdrive, ping-ponging between that presentation due next week, the weird noise your car is making, and whether you remembered to buy dog food. And honestly? That’s completely normal!

How to Level Up Your Mental Space

Think of this creativity exercise as creating a cozy space for your frantically busy brain. At first, it might feel like trying to wrangle a room full of sugar-charged toddlers. That’s okay. Your mind isn’t used to this kind of freedom.

If you’re finding it hard to slow down your thoughts, you might want to try these 3 breathing exercises first.

Once you can manage 10 minutes of whatever-pops-into-your-head time, try graduating to two 15-minute sessions. The gold star level would be a full 30 minutes of mental free-range time. Full disclosure: most people never reach this daydream master status, and that’s perfectly okay!

The Real Magic Behind This Creativity Exercise

Remember: the goal isn’t to have peaceful, profound thoughts; it’s to give your busy brain permission to be busy in its own way. Step one is simply getting comfortable with hitting pause on your day.

In the words of brilliant writer and artist Austin Kleon,

“You’re often most creative when you’re least productive.“

All the truly marvellous inventions and creations happen in the space beyond to-do lists.

Creativity needs breathing room! So here’s your permission slip: Take that mental pause. Tune out. Daydream. Make a strategic commitment to deeper thinking.

Trust me, it will pay off for your creativity and professional growth. And your mental health will thank you for it.

The post The HARDEST Creativity-Boosting Exercise EVER! appeared first on Kim Scaravelli.

Truth bomb:

You can have impressive qualifications, years of experience, and a stellar track record, but if your brand voice sounds generic, or doesn’t show the depth of your expertise, people will move on to someone who sounds like they know their stuff.

So, how do you boost brand authority and make sure your voice shows everyone you’re the best at what you do?

That’s the BIG question, but before we dive in, let’s nail down what we’re really talking about.

What exactly is a Professional Brand Voice?

Your professional brand voice, often referred to as your personal brand voice, is how you express who you are, what you do, and why it matters.

“Your personal brand is a promise to your clients… a promise of quality, consistency, competency, and reliability.”– Jason Hartman

A strong brand voice blends personality and tone to show authority without coming across as forced. Imagine your brand voice as a guest at a dinner party. It should be sharing insights and offering helpful advice, NOT droning on like a lecture or blending into the background.

True authority comes from confidence, but not the ‘I’m the best, and everyone else is terrible’ kind. It’s the calm, assured tone that makes people feel they’re in good hands: ‘I’ve got this, and here’s how I can help you.’

If your brand voice sounds stiff and formal, or timid and forgettable, you should make a few adjustments.

Ready to check your brand voice authority?

Start with a quick check-up. Pick a key platform where your brand should shine, like the home page or about page of your website. Then, ask yourself:

• Does my brand voice sound confident and knowledgeable?
• Is it clear why I’m the go-to expert in my field?
• Does my personality come through, or could this be anyone talking?
• When people read this, do they feel assured that I know my stuff?

If you’re nodding ‘yes,’ you’re on track. If you hesitated or cringed like you just bit into a lemon, it’s time for a tweak.

 Tip: Don’t just trust your own judgment. Ask a few trusted colleagues, clients, or friends (the honest ones who’ll tell you if there’s spinach in your teeth) how they perceive your brand voice. You might be surprised at their insights.

How can I build a stronger sense of authority?

An authoritative brand voice has a few key elements that make people sit up, take notice, and, most importantly, trust you. Here’s how to make it happen:

Be confident, not cocky.

Sound like an expert, but avoid being overbearing. Confidence means sharing your knowledge clearly and assertively, while still keeping a warm, approachable tone. No one wants to deal with an I’m-better-than-you attitude. It’s not a good look.

Get straight to the point. 

An authoritative voice doesn’t beat around the bush; it’s clear, direct, and easy to understand. Axe the jargon (unless your audience really needs it) and focus on clarity. When you truly understand something, you can make it simple. That’s when your authority shines brightest!

Stay consistent.

Authority is built on consistency. Your tone, style, and language should align across all platforms. Whether it’s your website, social media, or emails, your audience should always get the same professional, trustworthy vibe.

Drumroll time!

Here are 3 simple things you can do NOW:

FYI: There’s no need for a drastic overhaul! In fact, changing too much at once can backfire.

Just tweaking a few key details can do wonders for your brand voice. Think of it as light housekeeping. You want to polish your strengths so your authority shines through.

So, grab your duster, and let’s get to it…”

1. Ditch filler words and phrases.

Filler words and phrases are things like “I think”, “maybe”, and “sort of”. They make you sound unsure, and let’s be honest – no one wants to hire someone who sort of knows their stuff. Confident, straightforward language shows you mean business.

Want a quick lesson on filler words? I’ve got you! Check out Want More Concise, Powerful Content? Ditch These 20+ Words!

2. Don’t just TELL… SHOW.

You have the skills and the know-how, so let your expertise shine. Make your brand voice stand out by clearly showing what sets you apart. But remember, words alone don’t carry weight without proof. Share stories, insights, and case studies that let people see your brilliance in action. It’s one thing to say you’re an expert; it’s another to show it.

Tip: Don’t let testimonials sit on a forgotten page! Kind words from real people are MAGICAL. Scatter them everywhere, like vibrant confetti.

3. If your brand voice is out of sync across social and your website, tighten it up!

Consistency isn’t just a bonus—it’s a must. Create a simple style guide with your preferred tone, key phrases, and go-to vocabulary. It doesn’t need to be fancy, just clear and useful.

Then, stick to it everywhere: your website, social media, emails, and more. Wherever people encounter your brand, they should hear the same confident, authoritative voice.

Conclusion

Your professional brand voice is your secret weapon. It’s how you show the world what you’re made of without having to shout it from the rooftops.

Remember, it’s not about sounding like an expert in everything; it’s about showcasing your strengths in your field.

So take a moment to assess your existing brand voice, make those adjustments, and picture your clients nodding along, thinking, “This is exactly who I need.” Because when your voice is strong, authentic, and authoritative, people listen. And they take action!

Want to boost brand authority and connect with your audience? Grab my free download: 5 Foolproof Ways To Add Personality And Sparkle To Your Brand Content! and discover simple ways to engage clients, build trust, and make your professional brand voice unforgettable.

The post Boost Brand Authority: Strengthen Your Voice to Stand Out appeared first on Kim Scaravelli.

FYI: To my 8-year-old self, that drawer was an impenetrable vault where I kept my most sacred items, including a very grownup lipgloss I was too self-conscious to wear, my lucky rock, and a photo of my celebrity crush (cut from a magazine and decorated with heart stickers).

I wrote every night, from under the covers of my bed, using a sparkly, purple-ink pen. Decades later, I still love to write with colourful gel pens. It feels magical!

There were days when I poured my heart and soul into those tiny, lined pages, and days when I simply recounted what I had for dinner and what I watched on television. But regardless of the subject matter, writing down the details made it feel important.

That’s the power of journalling. The best journals for organizing and reflecting focus on what’s important to YOU.

Journaling is a fantastic way to capture life’s moments, explore your feelings, and express your creativity. But it’s also a means of clarifying and sorting through the tasks and tidbits of daily life.

My brain is a mad jumble of overlapping thoughts and ideas. My journals help me categorize, filter, prioritize, and examine STUFF.

“All the noise in my brain. I clamp it to the page so it will be still.”— Barbara Kingsolver

To me, journal is a holistic term that encompasses any kind of writing that’s from-me-to-me.

There’s a glass cabinet in my office with an entire shelf dedicated to my many journals. There are also a couple of journals beside my bed, one in the coffee table drawer, and one in my glove compartment. I’m a bit of a journal-hoarder. Is that a thing?

Each journal has a rectangular white label on the front that tells me what I’m using it for. Based on those labels…

Here are the best journals for organizing and reflecting:

My Gratitude Journal is where I jot down at least five pleasant moments in the day. These don’t have to be HUGE things. Often it’s as simple as the sweetness of my morning coffee or the jolt of joy I get from smiling at a toddler in the grocery store.

I’ve kept a Gratitude Journal for many years and it has made me more aware of those moments. In fact, I think it has re-wired my brain to look for joy instead of focusing on minor annoyances. I highly recommend starting one.

Helpful hint: Completing your Gratitude Journal first thing in the morning is a lovely way to start the day.

Travel Dreams and Plans is a bucket list of places I want to visit. But it’s more than a wishful thinking journal. I also create pages on HOW I can make these journeys happen. Once I’ve selected my next adventure, I figure out a budget, list the things I need to buy and organize, etc.

This journal has helped me activate my dreams! I’ve been to so many parts of the world that I suspect would have remained unseen without the motivational power (and practical support) of my Travel Dreams journal.

Cool Words, Takeaways, and Random Facts

I have more than a dozen of these journals, dating back to 2012. When I read something that clicks with me, I reach for a pen! Over the years, I’ve amassed an eclectic collection of trivia and wisdom on both trendy and obscure topics.

For example, I just randomly opened one from last year. There was a gorgeous quote from Maya Angelou on the left page. On the right page, there was a brief explanation of why Dawn dish soap is used to clean ducks after an oil spill. Both important pieces of knowledge to have at-hand.

When I need inspiration (or a quick fact about cleaning ducks), I peruse through these journals – and I ALWAYS find something that sparks my imagination.

My Doodle Day

This one is super fun! Sometimes, when I’ve spent the day battling with words and generally functioning as an adult, my brain hits overload. That’s when I whip out my Doodle Day journal and my embarrassingly large collection of sparkly pens. Instead of struggling to express my thoughts with nouns and verbs and adjectives, I switch into doodle-mode and play.

It’s astoundingly easy to disconnect from your worries when you’re focused on swirling and twirling around a page, crafting flowers and dragons and whatever else your heart desires.

Note: There’s a fellow named Austin Kleon who’s brilliant at combining doodling with writing. You should check out his blog and his books.

Rants is the necessary counterbalance to my Gratitude Journal. Because 21st century life can be infuriating and while gratitude is valuable, toxic positivity is NOT.

Honestly, I find this journal hugely beneficial to my mental well-being. It’s both cathartic and therapeutic. Once I’ve vented freely – with no judgment and no need to temper my language – I have a larger capacity for deep thinking.

It’s funny how I become more attuned to the nuances of an issue or a situation only after I’ve spilled my rage onto the page.

Conclusion

The best journals for organizing and reflecting are the ones that match YOUR life.

Right now, at this stage of life, those five journals are what works for me. That said, when my children were young, I didn’t have time for doodling and my budget didn’t allow for much travel. But I DID create a journal filled with funny things my kids said and did.

I keep that journal in a special place and peek inside when I’m feeling nostalgic. It never fails to warm my heart and bring tears to my eyes.

My old diaries live in that same special place. And opening them immediately transports me back to my childhood bedroom. I guess writing with colourful gel pens IS magical!

My advice is to NOT overthink it. Whenever you see a beautiful notebook, buy it. Leave it on your desk, your coffee table, or beside your bed. And act on your first impulse to open that notebook and put pen to paper!

The post 5 Fabulous Journals That Help Me Organize, Navigate, and Ponder Life appeared first on Kim Scaravelli.

The concept of personal branding goes back to 1997, when a fellow named Tom Peters wrote “The Brand Called YOU”. Tom’s theory was that doing your job well was valuable – but to reach a higher level of success, you needed to differentiate yourself from all the other people who had equal (or better) skillsets.

Tom identified personal attributes as the secret sauce.

Over the years, personal branding was increasingly associated with social media influencers and B-list celebrities. The term became somewhat tarnished, so marketing and branding folks came up with a new label: professional branding. To some entrepreneurs and executives, this term has more gravitas and a less cringe-y vibe.

That said, it’s largely a To-MAY-toe To-MAH-toe situation.

Whatever adjective you choose to tack onto it, the core word is BRAND.

Your brand encapsulates your skills and talents, expertise, and personality. And your brand voice is how you intentionally share all that stuff with the world.

I believe that the first step towards creating a strong brand voice is DITCHING the idea that your personal and professional identities are separate.

They’re not. You’re just one person!

Maybe you dress differently at work. Or swear more when you’re at home.

Maybe your work space is neater than your living room. Or vice versa.

But these are just surface differences. Deep down, you carry the same attitudes, beliefs, values, and viewpoints, and that’s what makes you unique.

Your personal and professional brand is one and the same.

Whatever you call it… YOU are your brand. And whether you’ve worked on it or not, you already have a brand voice.

You broadcast your brand voice to the world every day, through your website, social media, blog posts, newsletters, email, and face-to-face interactions.

Call it your personal brand. Or call it your professional brand. Call it whatever feels right to you. Because it’s just a label.

The important thing is to differentiate yourself in a positive way. And that happens by developing an authentic brand voice that highlights both your expertise and your personal qualities.

“To become more successful, you don’t have to change who you are. You have to become more of who you are. Your personality has a built-in specialty. It’s how you do what you do — and how you do it differently than everyone else. This is your highest value.”  – Sally Hogshead, author and speaker

The post Personal Brand Versus Professional Brand. It Doesn’t Matter! appeared first on Kim Scaravelli.

Talent is over-rated. 

If you want to become BRILLIANT at something:

• Start by picking SOMETHING you’re interested in because it’s easier to work hard for a long time when you enjoy your work. I’m guessing that Picasso liked making art!

• Do that SOMETHING every day. Not just on days when you’re feeling motivated. Betcha Picasso had days when he wanted to stay home in his pajamas – just saying.

• Watch and learn from folks who are already brilliant at that SOMETHING. Picasso had all kinds of muses, collaborators, and influencers.

Don’t set around waiting for some combination of talent and circumstance (or trendy AI writing tools) to save the day.

Start learning. And practicing. And putting in the effort. Like Picasso!

The post What Picasso Knew About Becoming Brilliant appeared first on Kim Scaravelli.

But I don’t actually RIDE the bicycle. Truthfully, the seat is tiny and it hurts my lady parts. Also, I look ridiculous in a helmet. And I never learned all the silly hand signals so veering through city streets seems unwise.

I definitely write more than I bike. Writing causes no lady-pain, has no helmet requirement, and is unlikely to result in a traffic collision, so it’s naturally more appealing to me.

Plus, I’m a professional writer, so folks pay for my words. To date, no one has offered money to watch me pedal my Costco bicycle around the block.

Anyhoo…

Writing is obviously NOT the same as riding a bicycle. But there are enough similarities to make some solid analogies. And as a writer, I love analogies.

So, without further ado…

Here are 10 ways writing is like riding a bicycle:

1. Once you learn, you never forget.
2. If you don’t do it for a while – and then you start again – it can feel a bit wobbly.
3. It’s harder to do when you’re tired.
4. It’s harder to do when you’re in a bad mood. But sometimes you go faster when you’re angry.
5. You may huff and puff a bit at first. But once you find your rhythm it becomes less effort.
6. It’s nerve-wracking. Sometimes.
7. It’s blissful. Sometimes.
8. There’s always someone who’s a little faster than you are.
9. There’s always someone who makes it look easy. And never seems to huff and puff.
10. Sometimes the motivation to do it kicks in AFTER you start doing it.

The post 10 Ways Writing Is Like Riding A Bicycle… Sort Of. appeared first on Kim Scaravelli.

To be cheeky, I asked the AI Assistant in my Buffer app to create a post about “authenticity” and here’s what I got:

Authenticity is key. In a world full of filters and facades, staying true to yourself is more important than ever. Embrace your uniqueness and let your genuine self shine. #BeAuthentic #StayTrue

????????????Yes! This IS an AI-generated Twitter/X post about the importance of being authentic. The irony is thick.

Twenty nine words plus two hashtags, yet these sentences manage to say virtually nothing. It’s astounding.

AI can convey information. It can emulate various styles and tones. And it can certainly facilitate the process of researching, writing, and editing content.

But authenticity cannot be AI-generated because it’s the product of the human soul. AI copies. It regurgitates. But it does not create new thoughts, ideas, and perspectives. It is, by its very definition, artificial. It is the opposite of real and authentic.

AI tools, like Chat GPT, make it ridiculously easy to churn out mindless bits of nonsense – like that silly Twitter/X post. But they’re really just tools. WE decide how and when to use them.

And that’s why…

The main enemy of authenticity isn’t technology, it’s psychology.

We have been taught to crave perfection, which is the real problem. Because creativity and authentic expression defy perfection.

We each have areas of expertise – subjects we’ve studied in school and knowledge we’ve acquired through the years. And we each possess our own unique combination of personality, feelings, and perspectives.

Our authenticity is a gorgeous, messy blend of all these fine ingredients. 

Perfectionism drives us to tidy up that messiness. It’s the critical inner voice that nibbles at your confidence and whispers that your authentic words are not good enough.

We reach for AI because we want our writing to be perfect… but perfect is boring.

Don’t be fooled by the sales pitches. AI is NOT UPPING your writing game. It’s just absorbing your authentic thoughts into the collective and replacing uniqueness with banal sameness. It’s erasing the YOU from your writing.

So stay true to yourself. Write more – and edit your words on your own. The more you write, the more confident you will become. And confidence is magical!

Repeat this mantra as often as required:

???? My words don’t need to be perfect. They need to be meaningful.

With that in mind, I must share the most lovely poem about the beauty of simply being YOU…

Imagine if the sun refused to shine,
because the moon was shinier.
if streams ceased to flow,
because rivers were flowier.
if snow didn’t dare to fall,
because rain was fallier.
if stars did not glow,
because planets were glowier.
what a world it would be if nature compared,
if flowers didn’t flower,
because their neighbours were flowerier.
You, my friend, must stop all that folly,
no one can be more you,
you are youier.

– Donna Ashworth

Be YOU. Stay authentic and weird and wild. Play with your words and let them run amok. Abandon perfection. It’s over-rated!

The post Authenticity Is More Valuable Than AI-Generated Perfection appeared first on Kim Scaravelli.

For many years, I worked in a makeshift office in the unfinished side of my basement — just steps away from the oil tank and the kitty litter box. And my first real office doubled as a spare bedroom, so I had to take the day off work whenever my mother-in-law came for an overnight in the city.

What I’m saying is… your writing space won’t always be perfection. But it CAN still be a comfortable environment where you enjoy hanging out and doing your thing. 

And yes… I enjoyed my kitty-litter-adjacent space. I painted it sunset orange with a fake window that looked towards a fake forest . And I wrote some spectacular content in there!

When it comes to your writing environment, here are some general guidelines to follow:

• Stake your claim. Your work deserves respect, and you demonstrate that respect by establishing a designated space. Even if it’s a very tiny table in the corner of a very tiny room, it should be yours, and yours alone. If you’ve got roommates or family, train them not to touch this space.

• Allow only two kinds of things into your space: items that are necessary to your work and items that bring you joy. That’s it. Don’t let a laundry basket sit in the corner. Move the household mail to your kitchen. Find another home for the exercise bike.

• Expand over time. As you write more (and you will), and as you take ownership of your title as a writer (which will also happen), reward yourself with a bit more space and a few more joyful items. Spread out. Claim more territory. Make you – the writer – increasingly visible.

Location isn’t everything, but it’s something. And you deserve to enjoy where you work.

So without further ado..

Here are the 5 things you should keep in your writing space – just because I said so:

1. A decent chair

A poorly designed chair is an ergonomic hazard in your workplace. Trust me – you want to avoid neck and back issues. So ditch the pretty but uncomfortable chair you bought at HomeSense and don’t even think about sitting on a stool. Buy yourself a chair made for office work. FYI: You don’t need to spend a fortune. IKEA has some pretty good options.

2. At least one lamp

There are three lamps in my writing space – and I use them all. I have a desk lamp that adds extra light to my keyboard area. I have a standing lamp that I use instead of overhead lighting (when I feel like softening the mood a bit). And there’s a clamp-on lamp attached to my coat rack that I turn on when I’m on Zoom calls – because a little more light makes me look younger and less tired.

Lighting sets the mood of a room, and writing is largely dependent on mood. So get yourself at least one lamp, and more if possible.

3. Your favourite books

My all-time favourite book is To Kill A Mockingbird. It sits near my desk, where I can look at the tattered cover whenever I like.

I also have a collection of books by brilliant, witty women, like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Mindy Kaling, Erma Bombeck, and the queen of humour writing, Dorothy Parker. If you don’t know who Erma Bombeck and Dorothy Parker are, Google them!

And I have a stack of books about creativity, writing, and content marketing, by folks who OWN that space, like Ann Handley, Donald Miller, Austin Kleon, and others.

I surround myself with beautiful words, helpful words, and words that make me smile, because it fills my writing space with positive vibes – and because I believe in creative osmosis!

4. At least one REAL painting

I’m not dissing generic wall art that matches your curtains or covers a wonky dent in your drywall. But there’s something inspirational and magical about a REAL painting.

You don’t have to spend a fortune and it doesn’t need to be the focal point of your writing space. The painting in my office is a small (11×14) watercolour featuring a variety of flowers in a soft blue vase. It’s the work of a family friend and I love it.

To me, a painting is the most visceral form of creativity. It lives and breathes and inspires me to be creative!

5. A coffee/tea mug warmer

Yep. This is number five on my list of MUST HAVE ITEMS. My first mug warmer arrived in my Christmas stocking decades ago. Since then, I’ve replace it a few times, but I’ve never worked in a space without it.

If you’re wondering what I’m talking about… It’s like a miniature version of a hot plate. You can buy one online or at Walmart for about $20.

Trust me. The mug warmer is a game changer.

No more running to the microwave. Or worse yet, drinking cold coffee or tea. Yuck!

When it comes to your writing space, comfort is essential. And warm beverages are comforting.

So those are the basics. If you don’t have them – get them. And in case you’re wondering what else I have in my lovely little office, here are a few more things that bring me joy:

• A gorgeous, colourful tapestry
• Photos of my daughters
• A Happiness Jar that I fill as I enjoy good moments throughout the year
• A collection of beautiful notebooks – because you cannot have too many notebooks.
• Scented soy candles
• Plants (because nature is inspiring)
• A soft blanket (because I CANNOT be creative and COLD at the same time, and a blanket feels cozier than a sweater)
• A soft black cardigan (because I don’t want to be on a Zoom call while wrapped in a blanket)
• A pretty pot filled with every possible colour of fine-point markers (because sometimes I need to see what words look like in neon pink. Or purple. Or marigold yellow)
• And a copy of my own book, Making Words Work (because I’m proud of it)

The post 5 Things You Should Have In Your Writing Space (Because I Said So) appeared first on Kim Scaravelli.

Professionally, I’m paid to think deep thoughts, strategize, organize, and write creatively. It’s how I pay my mortgage and put my kids through university. So I’m pretty disciplined when it comes to keeping my brain sharp.

I do breathing exercises every day because the world is a busy place, overflowing with distractions and stressors. Practicing deep breathing helps me stay calm, creative, and productive.

If you want to read more on the science behind deep breathing, check out How Slow Deep Breathing Results in Positive Emotions and More Creativity.

I have 3 Go-To breathing exercises. Each serves a specific purpose.

During the workday, I have one exercise that helps me let go of negative, distracting feelings, like annoyance and impatience. And I have another that improves my concentration.

At night, I have a slightly longer breathing exercise that lets me take my foot off the gas and relax.

Here they are. Hope you find them helpful.

Feeling frustrated? Or annoyed? Or pressured?

Breathe in deeply to bring your mind home to your body. – Thich Nhat Hanh

Pursed lip breathing is the fastest way I know to clear your head and reset your thinking. Like when you have a difficult conversation and need to let it go, so you can move on with your day.

• Close your eyes and get comfortable in your chair.
• Inhale slowly through your nose for at least the count of two. Let your belly get bigger as you breathe in.
• Pucker your lips, like you’re going to whistle, but instead…
• Exhale slowly through your pursed lips for at least the count of four. The secret is to exhale normally. Don’t force the air out too quickly. Give it enough time to push those negative thoughts out!

Want to think DEEPER?

Deep breathing brings deep thinking and shallow breathing brings shallow thinking. – Elsie Lincoln Benedict

When I need to SHARPEN my thinking, I use box breathing. This is a type of paced breathing that draws your attention inward.

Box breathing was popularized by Navy SEALS who used it to increase concentration and enhance alertness. It’s somewhat different from other types of breath work because all the ratios are 1-1-1-1.

• Close your eyes and exhale to a count of four.
• Hold your lungs empty for a count of four.
• Inhale to a count of four.
• Hold the air in your lungs for a count of four.
• Repeat this sequence for a minute or two. That’s usually enough time to power UP your concentration.

As I do this exercise, I imagine myself tracing a square – moving to the right, then down, then to the left, and then up. I feel purposeful and in control.

Can’t stop thinking?

Conscious breathing heightens awareness and deepens relaxation. – Dan Brule

Monkey-mind is a huge issue for me!

As I’m working, my thoughts gain so much momentum that it becomes hard to slow my brain down and relax.

If I can’t get my monkey-mind under control by bedtime, my sleep gets messed up and I spend the next day as a cranky, unproductive toddler.

When I need help putting the brakes on my imagination, I do what I call the 10-For-Zen. As the nickname implies, this requires 10 minutes, so it can be helpful to set a timer. Otherwise, that monkey mind can interrupt the process by fretting about how long you’ve been at it.

Note: Feel free to stretch out on your sofa for this exercise, if you like. But I prefer to lie on my bed so if I fall asleep I’m already where I need to be for a lovely, restful night!

• Close your eyes and gently breathe in through your nose (mouth closed) for a count of six seconds.
• Now exhale, slowly and gently, allowing your breath to leave your body without forcing it.
• Focus on the process: IN 1… 2… 3… 4… 5… 6… and OUT 1… 2… 3… 4… 5… 6…
• When the 10 minutes are complete, don’t jump up. Open your eyes slowly and appreciate the quiet. Or fall asleep until morning. No judgement.

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