One of my favorite things about living and working in Southern California is the weather. And how could you blame me? Sure, it’s hot at times, and every couple of years it rains for three weeks in a row. But the weather here is great for outdoor activities all year round. It can also be a boon to your work life.
Sometimes we get stuck on a project and just can’t seem to move forward. Whether it’s trouble solving a problem or the need for an innovative idea, there are times when the solution just doesn’t come to us. If you’ve ever found yourself faced with a creative block, it is important to figure out how you can change your situation to overcome it.
What can you do?
- Change your Location—If you always work in the same spot or the same room, go to another area or, better yet, go outside. Hear the birds, feel the breeze, work in natural light. Breathe.
- Change your Routine—Take a break and do something you enjoy, engage in your hobby, take a walk outside, or go to the gym. Give your brain permission to be elsewhere for a while and it will come back refreshed.
- Try a new Project—Unless you have a looming deadline, take a break and work on something else for a while. Maybe another project will give you a good idea for this one.
True – not everyone works in a job where they can leave the office and sit in a park or on the beach and wait for inspiration to hit. As a freelancer, I love having the perk of being able to work anywhere I can concentrate. But I promise, if you give yourself the freedom to change something—anything—then your creativity will blossom, right alongside nature’s garden.
Wendy Stackhouse, for Artisan Creative