Boost Your Creativity By Doing Nothing
Rob Lawrence
http://www.agendared.comFollow @ihelpmusicians
Whilst putting together some tracks a few weeks ago, I was in such a state of flow that when I paused for lunch I realised it was ten past four in the afternoon. Such days rock – the sort of days you are so immersed in your activity that time flies.
“Time flies like an arrow, Fruit flies like a banana” – Groucho Marx
Now not all these days are those days. Some days suck. You might go about everything the same way as usual but you find yourself sitting there shuffling with no sense of moving forwards.
In my mission to find better ways to create, I found something that works well for me. I would be very interested to know if it works for you.
Turbo-boost your productivity by doing nothing to do with your creativity
Over a two year period (being my own guinea pig) I have adopted some counter-intuitive advice in exchange for quality creative time.
I now take a break from what I am doing.
This may sound counter-productive. However, research shows that when we’re stuck on a task, we have a better chance of making progress by changing focus both mentally and physically.
Imagine for a moment how a centred, rested and nourished version of you would approach your daily creative work. You’d be well balanced and fully focussed on your activity.
There’s also evidence to suggest that by stepping away from creative challenges your subconscious may come up with new ideas or a fresh approach you have yet to test. So not only is it good for your focus, it can also directly inspire your creativity.
Suggested action: Go and do something else. Get in to the habit of taking a deep breath and trying something else for a moment or two. Just let go!
When it’s going well – STOP!
I have been experimenting with this approach for some time now and can vouch for positive results. For example, when putting tracks together in my home studio last week, I had been working for 90 minute bursts with 30 minute breaks to get my body and brain away from my creative work.
This complete disconnect from the priority of the day, even for only thirty minutes, resets my physical and mental energy when I get back to it.
With a clearer and sharper mind I often come back to the desk with new solutions. While I’m loading the coffee machine, a new song arrangement might pop in to my head. Or I might have a flash of insight as I’m fixing the tail-light on the VW giving me an opportunity to see an old idea in a new way.
In an eight hour day I’m getting at least six productive hours in the studio and two productive hours elsewhere. That’s much more productive than eight half-arsed hours chipping away with no clear direction. Let me break down an example for you:
07:45 – 08:00 – Stretch. Coffee. Consumed breakfast.
08:00 – 09:30 – Studio (1hr 30 mins)
09:30 – 10:00 – Made a call, texts, on-line shopping, social media (30 mins)
10:00 – 11:30 – Studio (1hr 30 mins)
11:30 – 12:00 – Chopped vegetables, loaded slow cooker, fixed VW tail-light (30 mins)
12:00 – 13:30 – Studio (1hr 30 mins)
13:30 – 14:00 – Took iPod for a run around the block, inhaled fresh air, returned two calls (30 mins)
14:00 – 15:30 – Studio (1hr 30 mins)
15:30 – 16:00 – Snowboarding magazine and returned one more call (30 mins)
16:00 – 17:30 – Studio (1hr 30 mins)
17:30 – Time with my lady after a good day rocking out and getting other things done.
This Saturday was rich: full of breaks, time to do small chores and I was still able to find time to interact on Facebook and Twitter. Considering, too, that my studio time could equally be exchanged for any other creativity activity: blogging, writing, designing or song-writing.
Total – Studio time – 7.5 hours
Total – Free time – 2.5+ hours
Suggested action: Set the timer to 90 minutes and then take a 30 minute break, no matter what you are working on. Repeat.
Try using an on-line timer such as E.gg Timer.
By scheduling and taking breaks we shift our minds away from our immediate creative challenges allowing ourselves an opportunity to come back with revitalised energy levels and fresh inspiration. The unexpected yet beneficial treat from the whole day was that it felt calm, controlled and relaxed.
Further reading:
- Jonathan Fields – Is Twitter The Ultimate Creation Killer?
- A Day Without Distraction – Lessons Learned from 12 Hours of Forced Focus
