Calm Water, Clear Mind: Why Canoeing is a Favourite “Writing Tool”

Some people swear by coffee. For me, nothing resets my brain like calm water or a walk outside in nature.

There’s something about canoeing in particular that allows you to move forward, but progress only happens if you are patient. Paddling a canoe or kayak is a reminder to slow down and let rhythm reign.

That’s how it helps me write and edit.

When I’m on the water, my mind stops trying to impress itself. No multitasking, no doom-scrolling, no background noise. Just trees, sky, and the soft pattern of paddle… paddle… glide. It is supremely meditative.

By the time I’ve floated across a cove or a lake, clarity, in the form of solutions and new ideas, are surfacing.

My husband took this photo on one of those golden evenings when the gentle light feels like an embrace. It reminded me that creativity isn’t something to chase. It’s something you allow to arise.

If you’re feeling stuck in a project right now, whether you are writing, editing, or thinking your way through a problem, here’s my suggestion: Find calm water, literal or metaphorical.