Is Routine Killing Your Creativity? - American Society of Employers - Heather Nezich

Is Routine Killing Your Creativity?

While routines are generally good, being a little too rigid with your work routine can reduce your creativity.  Making small changes to your daily routine can spark creativity and reduce the day to day drag.

Doing the same exact thing day in and day out can reduce your creative thinking and cut your competitive edge.  Here are some ways to change up your day and break the monotony:

Change your morning routine in some small way

Mornings can set the tone for the entire day.  When we start our day on auto-pilot we arrive to work on auto-pilot.  By changing even one small thing from time to time, we can arrive at work creatively energized.  Examples include, taking a different route to work, journaling in the morning, or calling a friend during your commute.  Your brain will shift from “business as usual” to “creatively engaged.”

Do your most creative or challenging work right away

Most people come in and immediately start checking emails and doing small to-dos for the day.  But creativity peaks in the morning hours for many, so you could be wasting this precious time focusing on minute tasks.  Try tackling some of your most challenging projects upon arrival and save email, etc. for the afternoon.

Change where you do your work

If possible, try working someplace other than your desk from time to time.  Maybe it’s just moving to a conference room or maybe it’s getting off campus and going to a coffee shop.  A change of scenery can do wonders for breaking up a monotonous routine.  Fresh surroundings can help you rethink difficult problems or find items previously overlooked.

Take breaks throughout the day

Give your brain rest time.  Now days we are linked to technology 24/7 so even when we have nothing to do, we find ourselves scrolling on our phones.  Our brains are not getting any rest during the day. Use downtime at work, to take a quick walk around the building or go get a cup of coffee.  Many people work through breaks, but it’s important to give yourself that time to get the blood flowing and allow your brain to decompress.  Often, these times are when you’ll have your best ideas.

Work at a different time of day

Sometime just adjusting your schedule slightly can be rejuvenating.  Can you come in earlier and leave earlier?  For morning people, this might be a great option.  But some people function better later in the day.  If this is the case, can you arrange a later schedule while still accommodating interoffice needs?

 

Making small changes to your routine can rejuvenate the brain and increase creativity.  When you find a change that works well, stick with it…but make sure to change it up periodically!

 

Sources:  blogs.dropbox.com, canva.com

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