Give yourself the space to create

I've never thought it was practical to book a 1 hour meeting and immediately expect people to be creative. I'm not convinced it's possible to turn it on and off like it had a switch.

And, creating space to daydream, ponder and explore is essential for unlocking your imagination and coming up with new ideas and thoughts.

One way to do this is by setting aside dedicated time just be. Take yourself out for a walk, like Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple Inc, who was known to take walks on the grass to clear his mind and come up with new ideas.

Surround yourself with inspiration. This could include reading, visiting art galleries, or listening to music that resonates with you.

One of the toughest parts making space for creativity is to let go of perfectionism and embrace experimentation. Instead of striving for the perfect outcome, allow yourself the freedom to explore and make mistakes. This can be liberating and open up new possibilities.

Finally, creativity without a frame can be challenging. Even Einstein, when he did his famous thought experiments, considered them in context allowing him to exercise the freedom to ponder, explore, imagine and ideate without the constraints of physical experiments.

Here are some simple steps I recommend to give you both a frame and the space to create:

1. Define your objective, or the problem you are trying to solve.
2. Let your mind wander and generate ideas (now is a good time to go for a walk and sit in a park with a notebook).
3. Wait until you think you have exhausted all possible ideas and then evaluate what you are come up with. Warning: Do not evaluate as you go. Even if the ideas you have generated seem "stupid" keep going.
4. Pick a few to take to through a reality check.
5. Implement.

Good luck!

Donna McGeorge is a best-selling author and global authority on productivity. Her book series, It’s About time covers meetings, structuring your day, and doing more with less is available in bookstores around Australia or can be ordered online via Donna’s website. 

www.donnamcgeorge.com 

#productivity #worksmarter #creativity #capacity