Breathe Your Way to Creative Flow
You don't have to be an artist to experience creative blocks – here's how to break through the next one
There are things I love about living in Miami… things I’ve learned to tolerate… and things that will always be completely batsh*t insane.
The next few days are kind of a combination of all three, though mainly the first.
Art Week is here and it’s my absolute favorite time of year in Miami. There’s nowhere in the world better to be.
Seeing the creative energy that takes over the city every year has me thinking...
You know that feeling when you're in a creative flow? When ideas are coming effortlessly, and you're totally absorbed in what you're doing?
Lots of people (including artists, but also mere mortals) chase this state religiously. But here's what's wild, and what a lot of them probably don’t realize.
Your breath can help you access your creative sweet spot.
And you don't need to be painting masterpieces or sculpting a multimedia installation to benefit. If you ever brainstorm offers, write, or strategize for your business, creativity is part of your daily work too.
Now, when you're stressed or overthinking, your breath typically becomes shallow and rapid (hello, perfectionist “my art is me” tendencies!). This triggers your sympathetic nervous system, leading you into fight or flight mode.
This won’t be earth shattering, but it’s worth pointing out: it's pretty hard to access your creative genius when your body thinks it's running from a tiger.
But just like the artists and hangers-on flooding Miami this week, you can create your own optimal conditions for creativity. And it starts with your breath.
Here’s a simple technique for next time you need to tap into your creative flow.
Find a comfortable position (no uncomfortable viewing bench required – your office chair works just fine!)
Take a slow, full breath in for 4 counts
Hold for 4 counts
Exhale for 6 counts
Spend a few minutes at this - set a time for 5:00 minutes (about 20 breaths, but I’d rather you time this than keep count)
This simple pattern helps activate your parasympathetic nervous system – i.e. "rest and digest" mode. It's like telling your brain, "Hey, we're safe right now. Let's just chill and let those ideas come gushing out like a can of spilled paint."
I used this exact technique this morning when I sat down to crank out this newsletter. And while I might not be creating the next multimillion-dollar artwork for Art Basel, I’m thinking about duct-taping a piece of fruit to the wall and seeing if it sells for just as much it helped put me in the zone mentally and get psyched up to start writing.
And I might do it again this afternoon… just because I can!
That’s the beauty of breathwork – it's always available to you. Whether you're:
Staring at a blank document trying to write a proposal
Preparing for a creative presentation
Problem-solving a tricky business challenge
Or just feeling stuck and needing fresh perspective
Your breath is right there, ready to help you shift from stressed and stuck to flowing and creative.
Something fun to try next time you’re looking at art (or just people watching... let's be honest, that's half the fun of Art Week):
Notice your breath.
Are you holding it in concentration? Or has it naturally slowed down as you take everything in? When we're truly absorbed in something – whether it's actually a masterpiece, or perhaps our own reflection – our breath often shifts into a slower, calmer pattern all by itself.
So if you're feeling creatively stuck this month (or just stuck in art-induced traffic hell), use your breath to help you shift back into flow. No VIP pass required!
Last Gasp
“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” — Scott Adams
Are you going to any Art Week events? Let me know what you’re looking forward to most in the comments below. For me, it’s the Great Elephant Migration on the beach... even though someone got caught enjoying the ride.
Nothing could be more Miami.