Everyday between 8:00 and 8:30am writer Stephen King arrives at his desk with a cup of tea. He turns on some music, takes his daily vitamin, and begins to work - exactly as he began the day before. Using this routine, King has produced well over 50 books, averaging 1-2 novels a year since 1974 when he published Carrie. Clearly, daily routines can be incredibly valuable. That is, until they're not.

How to battle the stagnation that ultimately sets in with most any creative endeavour?

"Several new science papers suggest that getting away - and it doesn't even matter where you're going - is an essential habit of effective thinking." Certainly, we've all experienced the feeling that work concerns are just less important the farther away we get from the office. Now there's proof to back up the classic "out of sight, out of mind" expression.

It's not just about going out for a walk around the lake like I am about to do but also about getting out there, having new experiences, meeting new people and experiencing new cultures. If you can't afford Thailand, then go across town - even that mitt be enough.

The Cure for Creative Blocks? Leave Your Desk by Jocelyn K. Glei for 99%.