All over the world, people are experiencing an intense period of self-isolation and working from home. How to be creative during the quarantine is a key question for many people. Staring at the same blank wall for weeks and wearing sweatpants all day can be real creativity killers. We want to make sure our creative thought process remains stimulated. As an intern focused on design and innovation, I want to share my top tips for dealing with creative block in today’s new reality.
Although quarantine can appear counter-productive, there’s a way to be creative in this unfamiliar scenario. It has been scientifically proven that our brains are greatly stimulated to solve problems efficiently when resources are lacking, or obstacles are present. The restrictive measures, delivered from higher up to contain Corona, should be viewed as a boost for our creativity. STAY AT HOME FOLKS, AND COME OUT OF YOUR BOX!
Our daily routine looks very different these days. Some of us are woken up not by a nice ringtone, but by a (cute) voice: ‘mommy, it’s time to wake up’. We drink our homemade coffee at our kitchen counter, instead of at the local coffee shop close to the office. When you finally get round to sitting at your desk, your six-year-old son appears, asking to play soccer outside. Working from home is not easy, let alone an optimal environment for creative thinking. What can we do is stimulate our creative thinking process and bring the storm under control.
Collaboration is an important factor in stimulating creativity. At an insanely fast pace, we are searching for a vaccine for the virus that is trying to take over the world. This task is not undertaken by just one company, but by several smart people pooling their knowledge. We too can work together from home, by communicating and building on each other’s ideas. How can we be creative without interaction?
When you plan a creative meeting with colleagues via platforms such as Zoom, it can lead to new insights and solutions. And who knows, with a fresh juice in your hand, you might come across creative discoveries during the video conversation (serendipity!). Accept that the first few ideas may seem pointless, but that by building on them using different brainstorming techniques, they can blossom into an excellent concept.
Let’s trade the amount of time you normally spend chatting around the coffee pot, or in hallways at work, for some quality time at home. You can use this time for creative exploration. Sight Unseen, for example, goes live at a fixed time each weekday and shares all its creative content on their Instagram page. Viewers can ask questions and even exchange ideas. Google offers virtual tours of galleries and museums all over the world. This means you can get inspired from Shanghai to New York. And all from the comfort of your office chair. Virtual talks and events will keep your creative brain busy. Is your creativity starting to awaken? Creating your own virtual mood board is a way to come out of your box! Free platforms like Go MoodBoard allow you and your team to create a physical mood board, customize it and even add comments.
We get lazy when we have more time! How can we be creative without pressure? The shorter the deadline, the faster and more efficiently you work. Scarcity stimulates our brain to work on alternatives, which is one of the hallmarks of creative thinking. Set tight deadlines! On top of that, get back to basics. Change your location from time to time and put the computer away. You can use pen and paper instead, and you might like working from your patio that much more.
In the beginning, we talked about embracing the positive aspects of today’s circumstances. What are two things you don’t have in the office? Embrace the quiet, and move at your own tempo! Try to live in your own unique world, because everything you think, say or do is free from fear and judgment. Take this opportunity to nurture your ideas on your own before you set them free in group chats.
How can you be creative if you don’t plan your workdays in a way that works best for you? It’s important that you maintain a routine that feels ‘normal’, despite the coronavirus.
During your lunch break, try to step away from your desk and take a walk outside. Or read a book to seek inspiration, exercise, eat breakfast with your kids. Also, set some clear rules before you start your working day at home.
For example, at what time will you leave your desk? At what time do you wake up? When do you stop working and start relaxing? These small goals will focus your approach, allowing you to be at your most creative and come out of your box.
And most of all, be kind to each other! As we said before: WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER! Now is the perfect time to put humanity first.
I hope these tips on how to be creative will help you clarify your thoughts and kickstart your stimulation during the quarantine. If you enjoy this content, please follow us on social media (@sherlockcomms) to be notified whenever we have new blog posts for you.
Binette Seck – Sherlock intern ‘2020
