As 2020 comes to a close and we look forward to a new year filled with fewer challenges and obstacles, we all look for ways to maintain our creativity. How are you finding creativity for yourself, for your clients, for your coworkers?
During the New England winter months, where the days get shorter and the nights get longer, it can become a challenge to sustain creativity, especially when a majority of us are working from home. But have no fear. There’s no need to dull the creative spark during this time of the year. I encourage you to charge up your creative battery and find inspiration.
Creativity comes in many forms. Maybe you like to paint a portrait of your furry friend, cook a new recipe, test filters on your phone’s camera app, or write in your spare time. There’s always a way to be creative no matter what your speed or comfort level.
As a designer, I am frequently expected to be creative on the spot, so how do I maintain my creativity, especially during this crazy trip of a year? I remember these simple tips:
Tips on how to stay creative
Take a break and a breath. Remove yourself from your daily routine to take that breath. Get outside and breathe some fresh air, take in the warmth of the sun on your face, and reset. Make yourself a cup of your favorite drink and relax, even for just 5-10 minutes. This will help relax your mind and reset your focus. Creativity cannot be sustainable for long periods of time without these much needed daily breaks.
Do something fun and new. New activities force us to think outside the box and break out of our normal routine. Not only will you free yourself from the monotony of a daily routine, but you’ll start using your brain to think differently. Now you can tap into the creativity that you may not have focused on or noticed before. New activities will also help you think of challenges differently and get creative with solutions.
Take time to pamper yourself and, in turn, pamper your creativity. Do something for you, and just for you. When we take the time to take care of ourselves and focus, our mind opens up and our muscles relax. Pampering can be anything from a nice long bath to a yoga class, a Saturday morning at the spa, or a meal from your favorite local take-out restaurant. Remember that pampering isn’t something you earn, but something that everyone deserves. It will help you reset your mental and physical health. Do it for yourself, do it for your creativity.
Utilize others. Creativity doesn't need to be a solo task. Because everyone thinks differently, bouncing ideas off one another can be the best way to view a problem from a different perspective. Creativity can thrive among a group of people, so the next time you’re feeling stumped, send a quick message to your team and let the ideas start flowing.
Don’t force it. Putting pressure on yourself to be creative at the drop of a hat can extinguish your creative flow. For most, creativity does not come on-demand 24/7, nor is it something that you can flip on like a light switch. It needs nurturing. It needs enrichment. And it needs time. We have all been under tight timelines where we need to create the next great idea in the next five minutes. As difficult as that can be, utilizing these tips will better equip you for the next time that happens. Do the best you can, and remember to strengthen your creativity so you don’t feel like you’re forcing yourself to be creative. Next time it’ll just come naturally.
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Edited by Kelly Moynihan // Originally published on imarc.com