When Mark asked the Thoughtwrestling team to talk this week about we do our best creative work, I thought at first it would be an easy article to write. Well, it’s turned out to be not exactly that simple. You see, I had to make sure a few things were in order first.
I had to wait until morning.
I am absolutely a morning person when it comes to writing. In the morning, with exactly one cup of coffee in my system, the words and ideas just flow. I think that’s mostly because in the mornings around my house, it’s quiet, and pre-email and phone call onslaught. Also, having just woken up, my brain is clear and refreshed. If I need an extra kick-start, I’ll meditate for a few minutes, or play my guitar. That usually sets me on the right track and gets me in the creativity “zone”.
What is your best creative time – morning, afternoon, evening…the middle of the night? Find out when your best flow happens, and work within that. Schedule your creative time for when your mind is most free. Everyone’s rhythm is different. Finding yours will make your creative time much more productive.
I had to have my healthy distractions.
I keep my Twitter stream open to the side when I’m writing, because occasionally the conversations going on there inspire me too. Unlike many people, Twitter is not a distraction to me – in fact it augments my creativity because it gives my brain a slight shift when I need it – akin to getting up and pacing behind my chair, or staring at the ceiling. The spark I need is often found when I’m not focused entirely on figuring out what to write next. And besides, I work from home, and mostly alone. Twitter is my “office background noise”.
Consider how distractions can actually be helpful to you. Not many people can create “on command”. Maybe your healthy distraction is listening to music, or being outside in the hustle and bustle of a big city. Perhaps it’s having a warm cat laying on your lap. We all need different levels of stimulation when we work. Try different environments. Turn on some noise in the background, whether it’s opening a window, putting on some music or letting your Twitter stream run. The ideas you want might just be hidden in the background of your creation space.
I had to have the right workspace.
I can sort of create from anywhere, but I do my best work when I’m sitting at my office desk. Maybe it’s the large screen of my iMac, or maybe it’s just the discipline of sitting upright at a desk, but it’s here that my best ideas come forward. Oh sure, I can do the laptop at a coffee shop thing if I absolutely have to. But if I need to really focus on creating, then upright at my desk in my quiet office is the best place for me.
Consider your workspace. Do you thrive on chaos? Many of us think we do, but true creation often doesn’t occur in the midst of chaos. Do you have a space for creating that’s your own? A computer desk, an office, a studio? Try to carve out a spot where you can be free to spread yourself out and create. You’ll find yourself drawn to that space more and more, as it will be a place of enjoyment and expression.
I had to have Peace and Quiet.
Yesterday I tried to write this article, and it just wouldn’t come. Mostly that’s because my work day was really hectic. Emails were flying, the phone was ringing off the hook, I had a couple of meetings. By the time I got around to focusing on this article, my creative brain was toast. My lack of Peace and Quiet yesterday zapped my ability to create. You see, if we are just “go-go-go” all the time, and aren’t able to take even a few minutes to ourselves, it really affects our brain. Any artist will tell you, that in order to get into their “zone” of creativity, solitude and quiet is essential.
Find some Peace and Quiet every single day, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Tapping into that place inside where peace resides is essential for embracing your creativity. The more you carve out time for yourself, the more you’ll be able to create.
Everyone is different in their approach to creating. You don’t have to be like me, or anyone else. Your creative space is your creative space. But do keep an open mind to trying different things – you’ll find what works best for you, and the creative juices will just start to flow!
Image by jhderojas
Subscribe to Thoughtwrestling so you can read more great ideas about creativity, problem solving, and getting things done.
No related posts.
Like you, Susan, I am a morning person. Because writing is what I do all the time, I can’t solidly say that it is the only time I write but it is my favorite time for blog post writing. I like the birds singing outside and my coffee cup at my side.
My new office remodel totally makes me happy. I can see forever from the windows right in front of me. I am not a radio or music person even though one of my closest friends is a musician. I like the bird’s songs but I don’t turn anything on when I am writing.
In these months, I just invested in a new table with swivel rocking chairs outside on the deck so often you will find me out there to write resumes or even blog posts if it is dry and warm.
Morning and sometimes late in the evening are my times. I seem to like some noise so the radio is usually on, in another room, basic commercial hit radio – maybe because I worked in radio for so long.
But it’s ambient noise. From another room. I can’t listen to music that is really good, in the same room, because I get to into the music. Depending on what I’m writing, however, I’ll deliberately listen to a certain kind or piece of music because it creates the mood and tone for what I’m writing. I think music is very powerful in that regard.
Wow..just wow. My process is almost identical right down to strumming the guitar in the morning. Are you sure you aren’t just peaking through my windows in the AM. Well there are a few differences: I’m more of a green tea w/ginseng and a PC kind of guy. Great post and I’m glad to see that when I’m creating for Financially Digital I’m not the only one that has my guitar and twitter stream well within reach
There are times when the best working condition eludes us and when such moment comes from me I succumb, struggling will get me nowhere. But on regular days I go in parallel with your methods here. It is important to find the best working condition in order to maximize our creativity.
[...] I’ve mentioned here before, my personal style for doing any kind of creative work usually involves silence, healthy [...]