Humans are creatures of habit. It’s likely that you get up in the morning and perform the same tasks—breakfast, teeth brushing, breakfast, exercise, shower, etc.—in your preferred order almost every day. It’s soothing to us to have a set schedule and have control over it. We know what to expect.

One of the things that everyone tells new parents is that children need a schedule. You’re supposed to set up a ritual for mornings, nap times, meals, and bed times. Children learn what to expect when they see you setting certain things on the cupboard. This comforts them. Or, like with my oldest, it prompts an immediate fight. “You’re NOT brushing my teeth. I’m NOT going to bed.” Yes you are, dear.

I’m getting to a point.

If we start with schedules and rituals as babies, then it makes sense to carry them on throughout our lives and apply them to gain a certain effect, especially when you need to relax and focus. So when you want to write, set up a ritual to lead to a more successful writing session. Your body will get used to the steps and relax so you can start creating faster and hopefully mitigate writer’s block.

I have a minimal writing ritual after I put my girls to bed at night, and it usually gets me straight into a writing mood. In my newly quiet house, I fix myself a snack and enter my office, which is already set up to be a writer’s sanctuary. I turn on a couple lamps because I prefer dim lighting. Then I sit down in my desk chair and take a couple deep, relaxing breaths. I open what I’m working on and check if I need to do any research to start. Then, I dive in.

You can easily set up your own writing ritual. Let’s start by thinking about the same things you think about when you’re adding detail to your scenes: the five senses. Add in whatever you want to affect your mood and get you to start writing.

It’s seriously that simple!

Smell—You can go to a coffee shop or a favorite restaurant if the smell of coffee brewing, bread baking, or spices cooking stimulates your mind, or candles or essential oils can easily be used to create the smell you want in your office. Smells like peppermint or lemon are known to help boost thinking and spawn creativity, so a candle or oils with those scents could help get you in the mood to write.

Sight—We all know that sitting in front of a TV or at a football game would be distracting if you’re trying to focus, but have you thought about other aspects of sight to get you into the writing mood? Consider what colors calm you and make you feel like being productive. Blues? Greens? Greys? Splashes of color in the accents? An office in the right color can be soothing enough to help you block out anything weighing on your mind and help you focus.

Also, consider clutter in your writing area banished. Seeing a pile of papers or junk out of the corner of your eye can be distracting, especially if it’s a to-do pile, so move it off the desk and worry about it after your writing session.

Taste—Many people like a hot cup of coffee or tea when they are working. The heat is soothing, and the taste may add to the sense of comfort. Having something in your stomach makes you feel more satisfied, too, so you are calm, as well as less likely to hop up and down every few minutes getting snacks to put off writing. (I know you’re thinking about it!)

Sound—Whether you prefer silence or music, make a selection that won’t detract from your writing session. Play around with different types of music to see if they change your mood and affect your writing. Don’t feel limited to classical. World musics, chanting monks, an acoustic guitar, jazz flute, and many other options are available, so explore!

Touch—Don’t forget to sit in a comfortable, supportive chair. Slouching in a bean bag or trying to get comfortable on a stone bench may distract you from your thoughts, so eliminate the possibility by selecting seating that keeps you comfortable and focused.

With your environment set up, start your writing ritual with the appropriate sound, taste, and smell. Then, decide if you need to pace a few times, take deep breaths, do some yoga poses, stretch, close your eyes, etc. What will make your body drop all the outside stressors and zero in on being creative?

Starting yourself out the right way can reduce the stress that distracts us from our creativity, and repeating these conditions and actions with each writing session will put your put in the habit of getting ready to write and then actually producing your best work.