How to find creative inspiration and continue working when you’ve sabotaged your focus.
By May
Every creative body has an issue: we tend to sabotage our “vision” when working on a big project. The worst part—we do this through distractions that we think are essential to the creative process.
Just a glance at the news or your Twitter feed for a second can send a productive workday to the rubbish pile.
The hard rule is to set up your environment to be distraction-proof, but let’s be honest… it’s not easy maintaining creative inspiration when we’re distracted.
Let’s get into it before the truth starts burning your eyes.
BS= Bob Segar
You can set up a distraction-free zone all you want, but there will be fancy projects that require heavy concentration.
Queue the mental break.
What is a mental break? It’s the dropping-off point where we open the door just a crack to the other side.
The other side looks like a host of mindless activities, such as: checking text messages, social media feeds, and reading today’s headlines—all non-essential actions to a typical workday.
We know we’re supposed to be self-regulating screen time, but where is our self-checker when you’ve fallen 50 clicks into a viral video?
It’s at this point that I’m reminded of Bob Segar’s lyrics, “I can go east, I can go west, it’s all up to me to decide.” (Roll Me Away)
Yes, the puppies are super cute and easy on the eyes, but if you learn dark matters on the way to watching the puppy cam, the rest of the day will go down as a complete wash and not one for the creative books.
Spinning The Day
The streams of information pouring in from all directions is a powerful prowess.
Initially, we may struggle with gauging what’s important to us, which can seem like everything.
Next comes the moment where we know we must return to work. At this moment, you’ll either feel rejuvenated or like your brain just ran a 10K.
If it were easy to look away and continue your journey, I wouldn’t be writing this post. So, I’ll share with you the most helpful tips I’ve learned along the way to keep the juice juicy.
Here is how to find inspiration and refocus after reading or seeing too much.
Early Mornings—a Preventative
Fact: The most peaceful time on Earth is the pre-dawn hours when very few cars are on the road and people are still sleeping. The sunrise is always beautiful, as are the morning sounds.
Consider this:
- Incoming text messages will be zero before 7 a.m.
- News will be slower.
- People will still be finding their way to the coffee machine.
- Commuters can’t work while driving.
My advice is to be the earliest bird in your nest, and your creativity will thank you.
The Matinee
If the mental fog has set in, I suggest test driving the Don Draper method—the movie reset.
Perhaps the most powerful reset on this list is to stop everything you’re doing and go dark. Get to a theatre, sit for a couple of hours by yourself, and consume whatever’s playing on the screen.
Turn off your device and allow time to restructure your brain for creative work.
No, an at-home/streaming movie doesn’t count.
Break Your Routine
Changing your working environment is a very effective way to find inspiration.
If you typically work at home, pick up your laptop and take your work to a coffee shop, bookstore, park, or community pool.
Even for an hour or two, the distraction will help you dial back and tap into your creativity.
According to FastCompany, exploration is tied to the neurotransmitter dopamine, which also plays a role in motivation and learning.[/caption]According to FastCompany, exploration is tied to the neurotransmitter dopamine, which also plays a role in motivation and learning.
Go Shopping
Get your grocery list in order and head over to the store. Take a shopping trip to the mall or walk around your local independently owned stores. Allow yourself to get lost in the land of retail.
Learn Something New
The root of the problem is the mindless information we consume. These little bits can damage our processes and consume our inspiration.
To counteract the mindlessness of it all, look into learning a new skill, a new language, or hone your skills and work on these courses during your breaks.
Here are some of my free favorites:
Go Outside
Did you know our creative output improves by about 60% when walking versus sitting? (positivepsychology)
Getting outdoors for a 15-minute walk around the block is enough time to reset.
If there is no access to nature where your office is, take a walk around the city block. The point is to physically remove yourself from your workstation.
I recommend combining a power walk through an indoor or outdoor mall for an ultimate reset. The scent of warm pretzels baking mixed with the perfume counter at the department stores are the elixir you’ll need—trust me.
Weave a New Web
Get a library card and get lost in a good story. Check out all the digital content available for the community to enjoy. There are audiobooks and eBooks galore.
Create a playlist designed to get your creative inspiration back- anticipate this moment to happen, and the band-aid will be within reach. (No pun intended.
Flip through a magazine instead of Instagram. Magazine’s forecast trends so you’ll be a step ahead of everyone else.
Tip: Go for a mag with D.I.Y. qualities or something that pertains to a personal hobby for even better creative stimulation.
Conclusion
There’s an article on LinkedIn from 2018 detailing how creativity is the most valuable skill to have in the workplace. Since 2018, creative jobs have been on the rise, as are creative problem solvers.
So put your armor on and protect your creative zone with all your might.
Just remember those distraction fires will always burn, and sifting through the smoke without falling down the rabbit hole is exhausting.
If you’ve already gone too far, try one of these methods to get you back on track.
Let me know what you do to transition back into the creative zone in the comments.
