5 Creativity Killers And How To Get Your Creative Juices Flowing Again
Posted October 15, 2008 in How-To, Inspiration, Productivity 90 Comments »
I get that question a lot from fellow freelancers, and unfortunately there’s no perfect answer because we’re all different and we all have a different working style.
But for those of you who have asked, here are my top 5 creativity killers and how I manage to stay focused, productive and creative.
#1 — Multi-Tasking And Distractions
I know some people have mastered the art of multi-tasking and working on tons of things at once. I tried and it’s not for me. There is no way I can focus on a project while trying to reply to emails, talk on the phone and chat on Skype. In order to get my creative juices flowing I absolutely need to focus all my attention and energy on one thing: work on that project.
Multi-tasking is not for me, but I can get just as much done in a day as someone who multi-tasks. It’s actually really easy and it’s nothing new, all you need is a schedule and you have to stick to it. When I need to work on a project and I find that I’m not inspired (say it’s a design for a client) I simply turn off my phone, close my emails get rid of all distractions and then get back to work. It works every single time.
I find I get much more done in 2 hours when I’m focussed than I do in 8 hours multi-tasking.
#2 — Lack Of Sleep
One of the cool things about freelancing is that you can work your own hours. That’s great! But for many of us it also means working evenings and week-ends and sometimes not sleeping much! There is always work that needs to be done, and clients that need our attention.
Lack of sleep can be a real creativity killer! How can you focus on something and be inspired when you’re dead tired? Work is still gonna be there tomorrow! Get a good night sleep and come back the next day with new ideas and a fresh perspective!
On a side note, our very own Dave Navarro has a program called ‘Becoming An Early Riser‘ and I have to say it helped me a lot in getting up earlier and getting more stuff done in a day. Try it and see if it works for you!
#3 — Fear Of Rejection
I’m sure it happened to all of us at some point, the fear of rejection. It’s not fun and it can definitely kill your creativity. There is no way you can please everyone and it’ll happen you will present something to a client and it’ll get rejected. It happens.
By all means, do not take it personally! Instead, try to use that (sometimes negative) energy and use it in a productive and creative way. Learn from that experience and go back to that drawing board and kick some ass. Always remember that if you got hired to do some work it’s because that person thinks you’re talented and remember that you’re probably not the first freelancer this person contacted for the project.
#4 — Financial Insecurity
It’s not easy to focus on a project when all you think about is your car payment, your credit cards and the mortgage. I used to always worry about money when I quit my day job a couple years ago because I was so used to the security of a paycheck every two weeks! The first year was very difficult and I was never sure I’d be able to make that car payment and then I realized I could just raise my prices a bit and I would then be able to put some money aside and voila!
I’m a web-designer and I have no idea what the average per hour rate is in Canada, nor do I care. There will always be someone willing to do the job for cheaper than me. And I’m fine with that! At the end of the day it all comes down to how much time you’re willing to trade for a certain amount of money. I prefer charging slightly more, focus on less projects and and have more time for other things like personal projects (which will bring me money in the long run).
#5 — Pressure And Deadlines
Some clients have very high expectations, and it’s understandable. Remember, they pay your bills! But can you really be creative when you’re under heavy pressure? Some people have no problem with stress but for those of us who do it’s fairly easy to make sure you’re never under pressure and still always deliver!
Always under-promise. Say you have a design gig and you know it’ll take you 3 weeks to complete it, well simply tell your client it’ll take 4 weeks! Works wonder, no stress and happy clients every time!
Your Turn To Talk
So, what are your creativity killers? And how do you manage to get those creative juices flowing? I’m sure we could all benefit from hearing your stories and tips & tricks! See ya in the comment section!
******
Image in this post: Kazze
About the author: Jon Phillips is a full-time freelancer, designer and blogger, he loves WordPress and plays guitar in a heavy act. He's also the founder of Freelance Folder. Oh and he'd be pleased if you would follow him on Twitter. :)
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90 Comments
Brandon Cox
October 15th, 2008 at 10:39 amYou’re absolutely right about the lack of sleep. My wife and I have a rule that I’m in bed by midnight with only extremely rare exceptions (like cards night!). I’m only a freelancer part-time, so this is challenging, but necessary for good health. You can’t freelance if you’re dead, and rest helps prevent deadness!
Joanne
October 15th, 2008 at 10:40 amFor me, trying to multitask too much is the biggest creativity killer!
Related to getting enough sleep…a friend and I were just discussing yesterday whether taking a short afternoon nap (if one has the luxury, of course!) rejuvenates creativity. I’m curious to know whether any freelancers have tried that strategy and if it works for them.
Mason Hipp
October 15th, 2008 at 12:27 pmHi Joanne,
I sometimes use the afternoon nap strategy on days when I’m really burnt out or tired — and I can definitely vouch for it being effective.
When you find yourself staring at a computer monitor wondering what to do next on a client project, or see that you’re getting distracted easily and reading too many blogs (lol), I think taking a nap is a huge productivity boost. It may waste 20 minutes of your time, but you’ll be a lot more productive for the rest of the day.
– Mason
Jon Phillips
October 15th, 2008 at 4:00 pm@Brandon: hehe yes it does help prevent deadness! I used to think that my most creative time was at night, but I’m guessing that was only because I could actually focus on things and not be distracted, now I see it differently and try to get rid of distractions during the day (not always easy) and I find I’m much more creative in the morning.
@Joanne: Well, like you said if you can take a nap in the afternoon it’s great! You just really have to make sure you don’t sleep too much, too much sleep it just as worse as lack of sleep. :)
@Mason: Yup! That or just going for a walk, I find that helps a ton! :)
Kristen
October 15th, 2008 at 8:41 pmDing. Ding. Ding.
We have a winner with financial insecurity. I’m attempting to snap out of the funk.
Samuel
October 16th, 2008 at 2:15 amI find that monotony kills creativity.
If I have to create websites for 40+ hours a week, I began to adopt the mentality of “just tell me what to do, I’ll do it, and I’ll send you the invoice.” Nowadays, I’ll spend a good hour at random times reading or taking photos or practicing the piano or just driving/walking/biking around aimlessly. Of course, it’s easy for this behavior to turn into procrastination, but for me, uninspired boredom is worse…
Sean
October 16th, 2008 at 8:02 amMy creativity is often killed by Higher beings (aka Managers) sticking their nose in and ruining a perfectly good design. The more this happens the more I loose the will to live, let alone design!
Adam Donkus
October 16th, 2008 at 9:12 amI like to use brainstorming to get my creative juices flowing. I do this both alone and with others. When talking with other business/internet people, the conversation just naturally get ideas flowing.
Mitternacht
October 16th, 2008 at 9:19 amMulti-tasking drives me mad, it makes you loose your focus, creativity and productivity. I hate it when clients send me emails over emails to give one little piece of information at a time and I have to confirm receipt with a line or two.
Remember, most of emails can suffer some delay. Except when it’s *really* urgent, I only answer emails at specific times of the day, taking half an hour to read and answer them all. It’s my “email & coffee break”. I promise you nothing bad has happened to my business since I started applying this rule.
Jonathan
October 16th, 2008 at 9:35 amMultitasking: you hit the nail on the head with this one. I hate being interrupted when I’m trying to work. My productivity definitely decreases when I get distracted.
Kristina
October 16th, 2008 at 9:48 amI think most important is the “fear” of rejection or fearing of anything. One being afraid makes all the creativity die away. Anything else, like “lack of sleep” or “pressure, deadline” can be overcome, once you have an aim and are sure on success :).
Cristhian
October 16th, 2008 at 12:23 pmVery useful, Im currently in the middle of a creativity crisis because of lack of sleep, I hope this will help me :) thanks!
Joann Sondy
October 16th, 2008 at 1:21 pmLuv, Luv Luv the article. I’ve been in a ‘funk’ for most of this year and absolutely NEED to kick-start myself. I find financial stress is my #1 killer of just about everything. And, being the primary financial support for a family of four can be a daunting position.
We’ll I’ve taken action. New diet, new exercise program, new drug treatments for asthma and so much more. I’ll get back to you in six months about my progress. I refuse to become a victim!
Ryan
October 16th, 2008 at 2:43 pmHey, yeah, i’d say financial security does it. I noticed that when I did have a job, I was at home doing all of my freelance work no problem. Because I didn’t care about the money reward coming from that particular freelance project, I performed 110%. Now that I’m out of luck with income, I’m being very careful of how my time and effort are used, and searching for something worth it drains me much more than actually doing the video/music/editing work.
Michelle
October 16th, 2008 at 2:43 pmI agree that multitasking makes your project take even longer! As a freelance writer and editor, my main challenge is staying focused on the computer, which offers even more entertainment options than our televisions.
What has helped me tremendously is keeping track of my time and work activities on a daily log. As a mother, I do multi-task when my child is at home because she needs my attention. But having the daily log gives me a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day because I can see how the 10 hours between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. were spent.
Please see my article “Is Being a ‘Work-at-Home Mom’ One Job or Two?” right here on Digg!
Last but not least, I have a steadfast rule to never work past 9:00 p.m.! It’s so important to have time to unwind before hitting the sheets, or else you’ll start resenting your at-home job!
Michelle
October 16th, 2008 at 2:45 pmI agree that multitasking makes your project take even longer! As a freelance writer and editor, my main challenge is staying focused on the computer, which offers even more entertainment options than our televisions.
What has helped me tremendously is keeping track of my time and work activities on a daily log. As a mother, I do multi-task when my child is at home because she needs my attention. But having the daily log gives me a sense of accomplishment because I can see just what I do each day between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Please see my article “Is Being a ‘Work-at-Home Mom’ One Job or Two?” right here on Digg!
Last but not least, I have a steadfast rule to never work past 9:00 p.m.! It’s so important to have time to unwind before hitting the sheets, or else you’ll start resenting your at-home job!
Jarrad
October 16th, 2008 at 4:06 pmI have found that aside from a lack of sleep, too much sleep can do it as well. Also, health issues, even ones that you have dealt with for a long time, can really put a downer on creativity. Health has a bad habit of scaring up the ghosts of financial worry and pressure to make ends meet, not to mention the sheer exhaustion in dealing with all those loose ends.
Thats my two cents.
wewa
October 16th, 2008 at 4:14 pmYou needed to add exercise into your list somewhere.
Example – Sleep. Totally agree.
The best solution to good sleep is regular, vigorous activity.
Most people will think [Not Sleepy = Drugs] as the natural solution.
That is the worst solution. But the drug companies will thank you.
Exercise balances so much things much better.
Also gives you more energy to last the day longer and get more creativity done!
Matt
October 16th, 2008 at 4:27 pmI like to schedule in coffee breaks with friends throughout the week. It’s easy to go up the road and take 30 minutes out. I work freelance from my studio (writing music for film), and having a moment away is usually quite inspiring!
For me financial insecurity and fear of rejection are big. I find once I get momentum with a project everything is sweet. The tip on not multitasking is huge… I’ve made a point of turning internet off when I’m trying to get going.
Also, it helps to bring your project back to reality: sometimes you start to feel like you need a nobel-prize winning solution, and that big expectation can be overwhelming. Start with something that just plain works, and revise continually until it starts to become something special.
My 2c :)
Rosemary Ludlow
October 16th, 2008 at 4:39 pmSometimes, if I find it hard to get into a project it’s because I don’t know enough about the subject. I find, in that case, that more research, or talking to someone to gain more knowledge, will get the ideas flowing.
I agree 100% on the need for adequate sleep, but I’d also like to add adequate nutrition. I don’t just mean filling up on snack food, I mean eating nutricious food at regular intervals. Your brain needs fuel and nutrition is where you get it – not from Red Bull.
D
October 16th, 2008 at 4:48 pmNagging clients get to me and effect my creativity I’ve found. It seems like no matter how many times you tell them “only 2 revisions” they want one more….or they want tech advise…or a million other little tiny things. You try to offer good customer service and then pretty soon they’re walking all over you, constantly calling, emailing and so forth. Of course you charge them for this stuff, but it effects your schedule, requires multiple calls and emails and it’s usually for something very minor and ridiculous.
…I have one client who will call, get my voicemail then continue to call back all day until I pick the up the phone. Most of the time it’s to ask me just to add a new link or something minor.
When these things stack up it makes me frustrated and totally zaps my creativity.
JonnieC
October 16th, 2008 at 4:53 pmYou forgot TV and the Internet!!!
Jiff Wipper
October 16th, 2008 at 5:18 pmVery good pointers indeed. Nice!
JasonD
October 16th, 2008 at 5:42 pmI actually just dissolved all my side/private work. I work full time as a Creative Director, lead worship for our church’s youth group, and was doing side design work. The non-stop going, stress from clients who are never content, my not knowing how to say no, financial stress, and lack of TAKING time for my family life, has worn me down physically, emotionally, and creatively. I took the steps to eliminate certain things, and my creativity is coming back – to a point. I do find that taking the extra time to research the background of a project, makes the actual time of creating and designing more pleasurable.
MyDomains
October 16th, 2008 at 7:59 pmTaking a nice walk on the beach will get the creative juice going…more ideas..
must be the saltish clean cold air
Sergio
October 16th, 2008 at 8:55 pmGive me pressure, and i do my best, its a flow of creativity. With out pressure i cant work, i just fool around.
oded
October 17th, 2008 at 11:58 amthe worst for me is an attempt to throw in the kid(s) while trying to work.
i watch her (a year and 10 months old) three mornings a week. which is great on the one hand but taxing when it comes to performing even the smallest of tasks for work.
it can come to the point where i try to finish a 5 min task (well – nothing is 5 mins for me) and it turns into a 30+ mins nightmare with her crying for her mother. in the end i’m so exhausted so that when we get back from the playground, i usually crash along with her.
funny thing – i’ll probably miss those mornings when she’ll go to kindergarten in a week or so.
Fubiz
October 17th, 2008 at 12:19 pmExcellent article;
leo gajardo
October 18th, 2008 at 1:01 amexcellent article. i translated to spansih to my new blog. i hope you dont get angry for that.
thanks a lot.
Ronel
October 18th, 2008 at 6:39 pmFor me the #1 creativity killer is the lack of inspiring inputs. music, movies, art and good design resources are the real nourishment for creativity. No matter how little sleep I get and how many task I need to juggle – If I don’t find an opportunity to collect “inputs” my work will be a mere repetition of shallow trends.
Ben
October 21st, 2008 at 12:39 amReally appreciate this article. Thanks.
Jennifer
October 21st, 2008 at 7:00 pmFear of rejection stops me in my tracks a lot! This was a great post.
MargaretMontet
October 30th, 2008 at 10:23 amRejection: we’ve been talking about rejection this week at work because one of my colleagues’ conference presentation proposals was rejected by a national conference. Her now-famous quote was, “I’ve never BEEN rejected!” My response was, “WHAT?!?! Good thing you’re not a freelance writer–you’d get rejections everyday.” True? My latest rejection came from a photography exhibit. Two of my three photographs did not make it into a show for reasons I still don’t understand. Ouch. My coping mechanism is to adapt an I’ll-show-you attitude and I’m currently putting together a sampling of those photos with some writing and I’m going to pitch the photo essay idea to appropriate magazines. Rejection frequently fires me up that way.
Dess
November 9th, 2008 at 12:03 amI agree with Pressure and Deadlines. Lots of pressure in work, and family. Thanks for sharing. I agree with all of these.
Salwa
November 19th, 2008 at 12:28 pmLack of sleep is really a big problem for me, and a source of head ache and makes me feel really lazy. Thanks for these great tips, it surely helps a lot.
Jaws
November 24th, 2008 at 11:13 amGreat article!!!
For me it’s the fear of rejection. It’s just keep haunting me and I don’t have any solution for it right now. It’s probably i like to compare my work with other designer so that I just don’t like my design.
It’s hard as well to keep that creativity flowing when you have a full time job and then come home with another freelance job waiting. I feel so exhausted by that time.
Calvin Froedge
November 26th, 2008 at 11:59 amFor me, multi-tasking is the BIGGEST creativity killer for a professional website designer and developer. Clients are always calling on the phone, and it seems if I didn’t design while they were talking, I wouldn’t have time to design at all!
dmk
December 30th, 2008 at 7:23 pmlack of sleep
multi-tasking
those are my creative killers.
plus i need synthesis time to get my brain in order. usually walking around thinking about not much. very necessary to my creative process.
Ratnam Chandra
January 1st, 2009 at 2:21 pmmultitasking is really bad… trying to get rid of it
Don Hajicek
January 4th, 2009 at 5:59 pmI’ve been struggling with all of these.. ALL of them! I’m sure many of you have as well. I already know that leaving my email and skype and yahoo chat and maybe even closing my browser and turning the cell off will help. it’s funny how I’ll be working on something and the next thing you know I’ve been surfing for a half an hour or more… or I get caught up in a lot of bait-cutting with friends on skype. My main client LOVES to cut bait on skype, and i actually have to be very firm with him when I need to get back to work. Ironic!
I also recently found a great book called “The Now Habit” by Neil Fiore. I bought the audio version on emusic. I’ve tried so many book on procrastination, but where they each fail is by treating procrastination as the problem, instead of the symptom. Approaching it this way has helped a lot. I’m a hard-case when it comes to procrastination. I’m one of those people who has owned and tried all kinds of organizers and time management programs. I’m historically terrible at sticking with it. So far, this book is different.
Anyway, good luck to all of you with your creativity!
Ryan O
January 16th, 2009 at 10:14 amCreativity! The mother of subjectivity! So who’s to say what a great design is and what a crappy design isn’t. Theres a topic of conversation right there! Well to me its one simple word!…. “Inspiration”. We’ve all experienced this phenomanon! As soon as we find a little bit of this, the juices seem to flow. Its as simple as that. With a wealth of information on the www there is no need for a 200 page book to get into action! I’ve been designing for almost 8 years now and very seldom run outa design juice! I do agree on most of the annoyances that designers have including retardation emails and changes changes changes! But thats parta being a designer and besides i bill the client for nonsense. I also find that lotsa exercise and time away from the machine is where the mind subconsciously works behind the scenes and creates way for talent which we all presume we have!
I’ve just been inspired, gotta run! hehe
Phaoloo
February 28th, 2009 at 9:24 amI always see people complain about multi-tasks and I myself trying to do thing one by one. Make yourself focus on one subject and spend all effort to solve it, you will get the better result and faster. I learn this from Do less get more done book.
Sonal Panse
March 2nd, 2009 at 4:45 amWorst Creativity Killer?
Lack of Sleep…….. That’s what often unleashes the other demons. ;-)
An afternoon nap works for me.
Tolana
March 5th, 2009 at 4:32 amI think a lack of schedule or consistent workspace can cramp creativity. These are my problem areas.
If you don’t have some form of a schedule, you’re more likely to feel pressured. Taking time for creative activities can feel like you’re wasting time unless you have budgeted that time into the process.
If you don’t do work in the same place or in a creative space, that can also throw you off. I have a small condo and no real extra space to do my freelance work so that it is physically and mentally apart from my “hobby” stuff (jewelry making, personal email, etc.) This makes it harder for me to concentrate on work. Outside options are not really great either as I need an Internet connection a good portion of the time. Around here that means Panera or the library.
Katy Allgeyer
March 15th, 2009 at 10:54 pmThis so resonates for me–great post! But another creativity killer is when I share my work with someone before it’s ready to be shown (whether that’s a written piece or a painting or design idea). The negative criticism OR positive praise can be deadly. Especially if it’s in the idea/incubation stage.
Garry Neale
May 9th, 2009 at 11:35 amOver-research is my creativity killer. I can spend so long information gathering that I don’t leave myself enough time to use it all! Its as though you feel that there will be a gem of information just around the corner. If you fail to browse the next site or forum, you will miss it. So just one more….then just one more..
Frederick Pohl
May 23rd, 2009 at 10:48 amI would say this is one of the Best articles as I deal with the same issues.
#1 and #4 are some of the issues I have dealt with the most in my last year of Freelancing and the time to raise prices finally got here.
I liberating to finally do it after you offer good work. Right there will always be someone willing to do the job for less but will they deliver.
Lately I have been fixing lots of project to clients that hired other designers for cheaper. You usually get what you pay for.
Raise your prices if you offer a product above the rest.
Trudy
July 6th, 2009 at 1:38 pmA creativity killer for me is #4. Financial stress can get in the way of creative thinking and coming up with new ideas. What I try to do is focus all of that energy and stress into a new project, paid or unpaid. I mean…you cannot get blood from a turnip. Either times will be financial strong or they won’t. Either way I am an artist and I just try to work hard at something new and turn my attention to something positive. When I was younger, what I call “haterade” was a creativity killer. People would say negative things…and never really could quantify or provide constructive criticism on my work. They were simply people who did not like me and hoped I would fail at anything I do. However, a combat to this is to have strong, intelligent and positive people in your corner. Their words, praises and constructive criticisms added to my confidence and in the last few years, negative personal attacks mean nothing to me. I think most artists experience momentary creative block as writers experience writers’ block but just thinking of the positive and focusing on something new can be an emotional salve to this woe.
Kaplang
August 8th, 2009 at 3:43 pmfor me I fear rejection so much that I often avoid work, its a real problem at times. I have been told over and over again how good my work is but it still doesn’t seem to sink in. As for sleep…I get plenty of this because this is where all of my ideas come from :)
medyum
August 29th, 2009 at 8:19 amSometimes, if I find it hard to get into a project it’s because I don’t know enough about the subject. I find, in that case, that more research, or talking to someone to gain more knowledge, will get the ideas flowing.I agree 100% on the need for adequate sleep, but I’d also like to add adequate nutrition. I don’t just mean filling up on snack food, I mean eating nutricious food at regular intervals. Your brain needs fuel and nutrition is where you get it – not from Red Bull.
Brisbane Web Designer
September 14th, 2009 at 10:18 amLack of sleep is definitely a big one for me. I’ve found that going with my body’s natural sleep patterns rather than forcing myself to sleep at set times has improved my levels of productivity & creativity immensely.
Nic at CrossLingo
September 19th, 2009 at 7:26 pmI fear that every once in a while all of these affect me. I also find that mid afternoon my blood sugar is low and I need to have a snack and/or go for a walk. That’s just enough to keep me on track. Thanks again guys
Jan Middleton
October 19th, 2009 at 10:37 amSkyping is a big time consumer, therefore, I try not to turn it on until I can make room for that interaction in my day. Sometimes that works, sometimes is does not.
I always take this time-saving approach on answering the phone or the door: Just because someone is there does mean that I have to answer. You can get with the person later after your work is done.
medyum
November 10th, 2009 at 11:45 pmGive me pressure, and i do my best, its a flow of creativity. With out pressure i cant work, i just fool around.
Nicolas Miranda
November 14th, 2009 at 2:43 amalthough multitasking seems like the route to go sometimes, it is not always a good thing. i have found that if i am working on a big project and i start focusing on another project, i just end up losing site of everything. i have gotten into the habit of putting my phone on silent and shutting off the email program while i work. distractions are all over my house. i have a 2 year old daughter and having her run around all over the place is really distracting, this is a great example of why schedules are very important. i spend a few hours in the morning having my coffee answering emails and phone calls, then i feed my daughter and play with her for an hour or 2, then i get to cracking on some work while she plays and watches her shows. after a few hours of working you always need a little break, so i take my daughter outside and play for a few hours then come back and work. by then my fiancee is home so i get to work more without stopping. its a process, and it can be frustrating, but we knew what we were getting into when we went freelance right. keep your head up and keep your head clear, everything always works out.
medyumlar
November 30th, 2009 at 12:21 amit is very god blog ,thanks
medyum
December 1st, 2009 at 4:21 pmthis is very nice blog,thank you for all
designfollow
December 6th, 2009 at 9:33 amgreat info. thank you very much.
Kristin Maija Peterson / Grand Ciel Design
December 17th, 2009 at 12:18 pmA big creativity zapper is a client who doesn’t know what they want nor can they give direction (as in the case where the client was also a creative director). Clients like that can have you jumping through endless revisions (I learned to pull in the reigns by letting clients know how much X amount of revisions is going to cost). All the revisions doesn’t make the design better — it usually goes from bad to worse — and you begin to feel like a big loser of a designer. I’ve had this type of client a couple times when I first launch Grand Ciel Design. But since then, I’ve learned how to handle or avoid them all together.
Thanks for a great post and looking out for your fellow creatives!
Niels
December 19th, 2009 at 3:53 pmWeek plans, task follow up on week level.
If my work always shall be reflected on the plan, I spend too much negative energy on these stupid tasks (rescheduling), and it kills my creativity and reduce my job satisfaction / motivation.
I work best under freedom, given a certain task and a given time eg. a month.
The a manager can ask me just as often as he want, how far I’m.
So all kind of external pressure kills my creativity.
I though have to adapt to some external pressure.
The more free environment I get, the better solutions I can deliver, it’s that simple.
KR – Niels Chr. Olsen – Denmark
Shabbir Hussain
January 2nd, 2010 at 2:44 amAbout Sleep. Uh. Well. I don’t know if it has worked for some. But high on caffeine and extended hours has helped me at times. Not always though.
Shelton Davis
January 8th, 2010 at 3:37 pmHours in front of the computer KILL the flow (even if I am productive)
Because I am a consumer product developer/designer/researcher (think physical products that you can touch, feel, see, play with, throw…etc.) my creativity killer is time spent in front of the computer. Whether it is in some CAD 3D, creating a task analysis, or reading user experience data I lose creative contact with the physical world and this eventually just makes me dull, uncreative, and dead meat for the client vultures.
How do I combat this…
- Make paper airplanes (just got a 2010 paper airplane calendar)
- Have ongoing projects that require absolutely no computer interaction
- Start rapid prototyping a current project (sketching, building, pulling a MacGyver for the greater good).
- Go to a store (Target, Office Depot, Lowe’s local Guitar Store) and look around at things I don’t normally come in contact with
- Have a constantly updated TO DO list in pencil on this stuff called paper (not iCal or any online scheduler)
Eru
January 10th, 2010 at 6:32 amGreat article. “Inspiration” from reading posts like this lets me stay focused and give my best shot than just fooling around most of the day. Now, I must get back to work to utilize this enthusiasm the right way, asap. Cya :)
kyocera
January 17th, 2010 at 1:47 amthank you everybody .This very important blog
saleem awan
February 7th, 2010 at 9:32 amSleepless nights are my major problem. I feel these really hurt my memory as well. Thanks for your article. It opened my eyes and reminded me of the fact that I am destroying my creativity.
smackdown
February 24th, 2010 at 5:05 amThanks a lot for the wonderful information
Daniel Whelan
March 16th, 2010 at 2:59 amThis is a fantastic article. I suffer from each and every one of these five things, sometimes all at once. The multitasking thing kills me every single day, I find myself working into the early morning just to catch up on the stuff I was supposed to be doing when I got up. Financial insecurity is the other real killer, sometimes all I think about is the rent.
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