What Happens When I Don’t Take My Own Advice!

First Published 14 September 2024 (a day late!)

The following is an edited transcription of a very rambling voice note that I saved at 1am this morning…

I have recently taken on the role of co-host at Five55 Online, a business networking group.  The format of the meeting is a main ‘pitch section’ and then we head off into breakout rooms for the ‘Tuesday Team Task’,  This week I got the chance to set the question, which was along the lines of

‘what activities do you do that you find work for you to get your creativity flowing?’

Most of the feedback was to say some form of exercise and a lot of those focused around getting outside for the exercise. 

My preferred method is getting out and about with my camera as it helps me to refocus, pulls me back to the present and usually kickstarts my creativity too (so it’s more than just a mindfulness exercise!).

So, when it came to yesterday, which was Thursday, which is when my lovely little note to you is due to come out, I was struck with absolutely no inspiration.  Rather than forcing something, I decided I would leave it to tomorrow!

What I would have benefitted from doing more, would have been to take remember what we talked about on Tuesday, and gone for a wander with my camera.  

Now, perhaps to put into context why that wasn’t top of mind, I have spent the vast majority of the week or two editing images from a shoot, and I have still to take the photos from the Ayr Air Show off the camera (and a couple of other mindful photo wanders still to sort too),., perhaps subconsciously, the thought of adding more to that backlog may have not been appealing (although that doesn’t usually stop me!)

So, this is me , not having taken my own advice, ending up with no inspiration and then leaving myself a voice note at 1am when this popped into my head so that I didn’t forget and/or spend the whole night half awake so that I didn’t forget!

When you are stuck for inspiration, coming up with something creative to do, to shift the block or approach something from a different perspective can only help.  

My recommendation for you to do right now is to take 5 minutes to jot down as many different ways you can think of that would be really good for you, bearing in mind – this is just for you – to help get your creativity flowing. 

If you want to go down the path of exercise, by all means, do so (I’m not sure I’ll join you in adding that to my list though!) 

It could be a run, a walk, a cycle, a swim, or a walk with the dogs if you have any. 

Or it could be something completely different, it could be colouring in, having a conversation or a meal with a friend, doodling something simple or elaborate, play a game on your phone – there are so many different thoughts, options and possibilities when it comes to creativity – your imagination is the only real limit!

So what are you waiting for get your pen and paper out and take that 5 minutes – and then put the list somewhere handy that you can see or find easily – so that when you find yourself in a position where it feels like inspiration has totally dried up and left you cold, you can grab your list, pick something that you are drawn to, even if for only 5 minutes and get your creativity on!  

And then perhaps unlike me, you will have inspiration strike at a more socially acceptable time!

I’m off to write mine now!