TAKE A HIKE, HIT THE ROAD, GET WET!
Feeling creatively stuck? Faced with a problem you just can’t solve? Instead of hunkering down and focusing all your energies on finding the right solution, try getting away from it – mentally and physically. Experts tell us that people do their best thinking when they’re walking, driving or taking a shower.
As a green alternative, biking offers fast-paced scenery changes to stimulate your creativity. And if exercise doesn’t do it for you, meditation might. For some, even mowing the lawn, chopping wood, washing dishes or cleaning will do the trick.
All of these activities require just enough attention to allow your subconscious to wander freely while your conscious mind is otherwise occupied.
I know it works for me – the more I obsess over finding a solution, the harder it is to envision what’s possible and the less creative my thinking becomes. Personally, I seem to get my best ideas walking or driving. My Dad, though, swears by the shower (so THAT’s what he was doing in there…I always thought he was just trying to get away from us kids!)
It’s tough to do, especially when you’re under a deadline or with a client, but if you give yourself permission to get out of your head (and away from your computer), you’ll dramatically increase your chances of coming up with truly innovative and creative solutions.
12 Responses to 'TAKE A HIKE, HIT THE ROAD, GET WET!'
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First vid. wont play
I’m a big fan of bicycling for thinking time, as well as general fitness. While not every day’s ride produces new thoughts, there are enough occasions when I work things out or come to conclusions about projects (often related to marketing) that cycling has become part of my regular routine. Walking sometimes does it, too. But rarely do creative ideas arrive when I’m behind the wheel. I need the pulsing flow of blood to stimulate my brain.
Congratulations on your brand new Blog! This advice is spot on. One of the things I do to break up my day and get re-inspired is to take a walk in our neighborhood. I’m also walking the dog at the same time.
I return feeling refreshed and re-inspired, the dog is happy and I am more efficient with my time.
You’re so right. Sometimes when I’m stumped on something – or need to come up with an “approach” to a project – I’ll take a walk.
It is fixed now. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Avid biker – such a great way to focus and level-out after an intense day.
Taking the idea of “getting away from it (being creatively stuck)” one step further I have found shooting in new environs has helped my photogs immensely. Testing trip to Florida?! GREAT IDEA!
I got hooked on sea kayaking about 8 years ago and found it to be a great way to get a break from the computer and daily business. since i’ve found it difficult to shoot on a kayak, it’s a great separation from the camera as well. kayaking led into surfing which i do as well, offering me more opportunities (on many levels), even in our 45 degree water here in the NW. the new trend of stand up paddling is allowing folks inland of the ocean to get on the water, even rivers, in a creative way.
my surfing blog (another distraction).. http://stokemagazine.blogspot.com/
Hey Conor -
I totally agree! You might enjoy an article I wrote for the Olympus Visionage site on keeping yourself creatively inspired. You can find it at . Scroll down to Shaking Things Up parts 1 & 2 at the bottom of the page.
Love to ride, but here in NY the winter is a no no for biking. Luckily there is a gym two blocks away. There is something about aerobic exercise that just puts my brain in gear. Love it…
Oops – for some reason the link the article didn’t come through. This won’t be a live link but you should be able to cut and paste if interested:
http://www.pdnonline.com/pdn/cp/olympus/technology/index.jsp
Oh and about biking – I swear there’s something about biking and photography that attracts the same kinds of people. I meet so many ASMP members who are into biking that I’ve been talking to Maili Godwin, an avid mountain biker who’s on the ASMP Baltimore board about starting an ASMP photo-biking group here in the Mid-Atlantic.
We all use something to reboot the brain; I go canoeing. Sometimes I take cameras, sometimes a fishing pole. It’s drier than a kayak, but a Pelican case is a good idea. I’m lucky to have a river at the end if the street I live on, so it’s convenient.
Learned a new word today: bokeh. Thanks Judy.