Have you read any of TED’s “How to Be a Better Human” series? They have a piece outlining the 7 types of rest that every person needs. Along with physical and mental rest, which most of us are normally acquainted with (however haphazardly), there are a few interesting ones included, like sensory rest (bye bye late night blue light!) and spiritual rest (hello deep inner connection!). But we’re really feeling ‘creative rest’ over here at the WritersBlok.
After the last couple years we’ve all had, between a pandemic, climate change, and growing cultural tension, spending some time to calm ourselves, especially amidst the chaos, has begun to feel like an enormous feat. Let’s be real. Some of us haven’t taken a legit vacation in quite some time. If you’re one of these people, try not to be ashamed to admit it; that’s the first step. The next step is actually making it happen. Which, in some cases, is so much easier said than done.
If you make a living off of your creativity, like so many of us here at WritersBlok, there’s not much room for stepping away from your craft. But we’ve learned that being intentional about the rest you take as a creative professional can mean the difference between cashing in on your passions and burning out before you ever produce anything worth sharing.
There’s really no better way to preserve your creative brilliance than to prioritize creative rest. There’s something special about the amount of time you take, either between projects, in the middle of each, or both, that allows for pointed reflection and rejuvenation of your mind. It’s definitely a sweet spot that you should lean into, if you’re working to meet the demands of your creative commitments and schedule.
Physical rest includes obtaining a normal amount of sleep, or binge watching your favorite show on the couch, but creative rest may very well include those actions, as well. The bottom line is, every individual is completely different in what their creative self requires to feel rejuvenated. However, quiet reflection and inaction are important pieces of the creative process. So, our team put together a short list of “to-do’s” you can consult on your next creative break to keep you from wasting precious time and energy.
Get Away
However collaborative, every creative process requires some bit of solitary production. Whether it’s coming up with the idea or putting a piece (or all) of the project together, there will be times when only one person can do the job. If this person is you, then you’ll need to make the extra effort to get away from it all.
Separating yourself from people is one thing, and we highly encourage you to do this while you create from time to time, but separating yourself from the work is what we’re really getting at here. In several instances, removing what you’ve made from your mind is like taking a much needed breath after you’ve been swimming underwater for an extended period. Let your thoughts breathe. Give yourself a break by forgetting all about what you’re doing and channel your focus on anything else.
Get Quiet
Listening to your inner self is most likely how you’ve made it to a lucrative creative career. So if you want to continue strongly moving forward, then give that voice some room, and an audience to speak to, by quieting your mind. Meditation is hands down the best way to go about doing this. But, with so many different types, you might be wondering which is best for your process.
Mindful.org quoted a 2012 study conducted by Dutch cognitive psychologist Lorenza Colzato that found open-monitoring meditation to be exceptionally effective in stimulating divergent thinking, which is key for creativity. Later, these findings were expanded to include an emphasis on observation and awareness that contribute to the openness in experience that most creatives possess. Some examples of open-monitoring meditation include mindfulness and body scan meditation, but the greatest thing to remember here is to observe and accept whatever comes into your awareness.
Get Some Sleep
If your body rebuilds itself while you sleep, then remember that your brain is included. When our brains rest, they solidify new structures and clear away useless information and habits we’ve taken on throughout the day. As a creative professional, this restructuring is a golden opportunity for us to refine our existing ideas and creations.
REM (rapid-eye movement) sleep has long been heralded as the magic pill for creative problem solving. But more recently, scientists have suggested that a little known stage of sleep called N1 gives one of the greatest boosts to creativity. Adopted by such iconic creators as Salvador Dalí and Thomas Edison, this semi lucid state can be achieved by waking up just before you drift off into a deep sleep. They did it by falling asleep with an object in hand and getting back to work when awoken by the sound of its fall.
Get Fit
Our founder and Chief Storyteller knows a thing or two about this category. For the last couple of years, she’s made a point of implementing a strict workout regimen that helps build her mental toughness. By spending at least 3 days out of her week training with a personal trainer, Pauleanna has seen an increase in her mental stamina and overall level of energy to keep fighting for what she loves.
The additional aspects of getting fit, like eating healthier foods, can also help spark our creativity. Making certain choices, like substituting specific ingredients to create lighter recipes in your meals, as well as making room for bright and colorful produce on your plate is definitely one way to feed your imagination and get your creative juices flowing. But the biggest benefit of each of these factors is that they act like iron sharpening iron — the healthier you get, the healthier you are, which means the more likely you’ll be able to avoid burnout, or other illnesses, and the time you’ll need to take off for healing.
Get Ready To Get Back To Work
If your plan is to continue creating, then there has to be some point where you shift your focus from one creative idea to the next. In Amanda Seales’ podcast Small Doses With Amanda Seales, she describes this period of time in her 2019 episode, Side Effects of the Creative Process. She calls it ‘The Re-Up’, where we take the time to engage in activities we enjoy that help us tap into the freeing feeling that sparks our imagination and once again, starts our creative journey.
For some of us, our Re-Up consists of spending time with children to be inspired by their unfettered imaginations. For others it could be simply listening to music or playing a fun game with friends. For some it might take working on other creative projects to stay productive. But whatever it is for you, be sure you’re making a point to set your intentions during this time by seriously asking yourself, “What else do I want to create?”