Welcome along to Coffee with Claire.
I am without my coffee again today, which feels slightly criminal, but I have just come back from ten days in Japan and it got me thinking about the power of changing environments.
I felt incredibly inspired while I was there. It might have been the skiing, the food, the culture, the beautiful people, or wandering through snow filled streets each morning. But what it really gave me was space. Space to think, space to explore ideas, and space to reconnect with creativity.
And that is what I want to talk about today.
Creativity Loves a Change of Scenery
When you step out of your usual environment, something shifts. You are no longer surrounded by the same cues, routines, and mental clutter. Instead, your mind opens up.
I noticed that while I was away, ideas started flowing easily. Business ideas. Life ideas. Health ideas. Things that had been sitting quietly in the background suddenly felt clear.
That distance from everyday life created room for exploration.
Micro Changes Can Create Big Shifts
Changing your environment does not have to mean hopping on a plane.
For me, even small changes at home make a difference. I have about four different places where I like to work, and each one brings a slightly different energy. Sometimes it is about productivity. Sometimes it is about creativity. Sometimes it is simply having a clean, uncluttered space.
When your physical space feels lighter, your mind often follows.
The Power of Working From a Cafe
One thing I do most weeks is work from a cafe. With travel, events, and meetings, that change of energy is huge for me.
It might sound counterintuitive, but the background noise helps me focus. I often get more done in a cafe than I do in silence. There is something powerful about being immersed in movement and life while getting into a deep flow.
Let Nature Do the Heavy Lifting
If you want a bigger reset, nature is my top recommendation.
The bush.
The beach.
Anywhere that creates distance from the everyday.
Nature sparks wonder. And wonder fuels creativity.
That sense of stepping away from routine makes it easier to see things differently and bring new ideas to life.
Space Creates Clarity
What I learned in Japan is that creativity thrives when there is space. Not because life is cluttered, but because space allows thoughts to land.
When the noise quietens, things start to fall into place.
So here is my encouragement for you this week.
Think about one small way you could change your environment. Move rooms. Work from a cafe. Take a walk by the beach. Sit somewhere different.
That small shift might unlock something really special.
Now I am off to finally get a coffee. Thank you for joining me, and I will see you next time.