Is your computer killing your creativity?

With the distraction of email and social media, the mind numbing automatic formatting of Word and the need to sit at the screen, maybe it's time to look at how you can be more creative, and productive, if you step away from the computer.

If you're sitting in front of a computer, right now, take a real look around you, further than your screen, way past the desk with its files and touches of your personality thanks to your nick-knacks and beyond your cubicle or office.  Now really see where you're at and ask yourself if that inability to get motivated or get out of the procrastination funk is because you're expecting miracles looking at a screen.

Here's 10 ways you can reinvigorate your creativity away from the screen

  1. Change your environment - go somewhere else besides the desk. Talk a walk, grab a coffee, go and have a conversation.

  2. Put your thoughts down with pen and paper. This is a very simple but amazing gear shifter for creativity.

  3. Draw your thoughts - dump everything, in any order, into pictures. Yes, your own.

  4. Get a new perspective - read, watch or hear  how others are doing things.

  5. Clear away your crap - get rid of your mess. Everywhere. Particularly in your workspace or leisure spaces.

  6. Take yourself on an excursion - go somewhere you really want to go, to do whatever it is you want to do, just because you made it ok to do it.

  7. Take the routine out of your day - clear your schedule, go fluid, kill the meetings, take a different route to work.

  8. Reframe what you're doing - break out of the template or slidedeck. Let your creativity dictate how your great work will presented.

  9. Get yourself in a room with people who create - make time for conversations with people like to discuss, share and bring life to new things.

  10. If you hate your job, get a new one.

Some other rules

  • Get off social or be more regulated about how you can get the most from it.

  • Check your email less and let others know you don't worship at the altar of your inbox - you check it periodically because you're busy doing your stuff.

  • Spend less time making yourself available for the stuff you don't really need to be involved in. Learn to delegate and share.

 

Libby Fordham