•  19th century landscape painter J. Turner stated he would tie himself to the mast of a ship during a violent storm in order to feel the power of the sea he was about to paint.

•  Voltaire would write using his lover’s back as a desk.

•  Poet Edith Sitwell would lie quietly in a coffin for inspiration before writing her dark literature.

•  Benjamin Franklin would soak in a bathtub while writing.

•  There are probably undiscovered methods out there that would work for you.

•    Acknowledge any non-productive feeling. Label it – anxious, worried, mad, etc.

•    Find a method to connect your mind with your body. For example, step through each of the 5 senses and ask yourself what you are experiencing with each.

•    Focus on an internal point of reference for concentration, rather than submitting to external distractions. For example, think about your neck relaxing, or your brain revving up to work a big problem.

•    Look for humor in something if you need your spirits lifted. (Try hanging around a playground if you have time).

•    Tie yourself to the mast of a ship and drift in the Gulf (works best during hurricane season).

•    Have selected music on an iPod or ready in your car to escape.