Tips to recharge your creativity
Creativity is like sunlight.
Too much of it and you’re feeling drained and tired.
Too little of it, and you’re lacking something necessary for survival.
Creativity and Sunlight
This past winter was our first winter in a new state, thousands of miles from what were used to.
We knew we were in for a new adventure – including snow, cold, and cloudiness.
What I didn’t realize was just how cloudy it would end up being.
For ~4 months, we had only a handful of sunny days.
All of the other days were cloudy, foggy, snowy, or rainy.
By the end of February, this was starting to get old.
It took a lack of sunshine to be able to appreciate the sunshine.
Fortunately these past couple weeks have been filled with some warmer temps and signs of spring.
I was quickly reminded of something I was lacking:
That good ol’ vitamin D.
This reminded me of an important lesson about creativity.
If you lack creativity (or for this example, sunlight), you are missing a key feature of your well-being.
On the other hand – too much of it leaves you feeling burnt out and drained of vital energy.
Much like the sun, it takes a fine balance of creative input AND output to operate at maximum efficiency.
During the dog-days of summer, another day in the sun feels overwhelming and unnecessary.
A day working inside in the AC usually sounds nice.
During the dark days of winter, a day in the sun sounds like a distant paradise.
A day in the sun feels like a life-giving, soul-warming recharge.
I’ve found that creativity often operates the same way.
Look and Listen
This week we traveled back to the Midwest to spend time with family.
One of my new, favorite parts of travel is the opportunity to observe.
Recently, I’ve been understanding the importance of observation for a creator’s life.
Although I haven’t yet read the book, Rick Rubin in his book “The Creative Act: A Way of Being”, quotes:
“Look for what you notice but no one else sees.”
What things do you see, that others don’t?
Traveling is a wonderful opportunity to see.
Walking outside is a wonderful opportunity to see.
Staring into a warm fire is a wonderful opportunity to see.
Sitting at a coffee shop is a wonderful opportunity to see.
The thing you notice may just be your spark that’s worth stoking.
Inspiration in the Mundane
It doesn’t take much to pull inspiration from everyday things.
If you’re willing to sit in silence, take the phone away from your face, and simply look and listen the things around you – you quickly become an artist consuming details for their next project.
The problem is, most people are distracted.
Earbuds in ear, to-do list in their head, and entertainment in front of their eyes.
Pleasure has never been easier to access, and as infinitely entertaining as it is today.
However, it’s the moments beyond these distractions that give us a glimpse into the beauty around us.
As I sat in the airport waiting for our flight to board, I put my phone on silent, and simply sat there.
I looked around.
I watched people. (By the way, who doesn’t like doing this?)
I listened to the noises around me.
I eavesdropped on what was happening all around me.
If you take a moment to listen, you will find endless inspiration.
Observance is oxygen for the writer.
Without it, we’re starved of something necessary to create.
When’s the last time you took a moment to listen?
To watch?
To do nothing?
This might just be the exercise you need to find that creative balance you’re looking for.
It gives you a moment to just be.
And that’s been my favorite way to recharge and recover.
Takeaways for You
Find what works best for you to recharge and recover.
– Go for a walk outdoors without earbuds. (ideally 30+ minutes)
– Go to a coffee shop and drink a coffee without your phone.
– Read a book and focus on each word you read.
– Sit at a local park and look and listen to the things around you.
You’re surrounded by creativity – you might just be overlooking it.
–Eric Pfohl