3 Creative Reset Tips

Most fields and creative projects need consistent work. But when you’re trying to do it everyday, and the year passes you by, you also need a creative reset tips. Without a break, it’s likely that you will face a burnout or get no time to reflect. This is true for creatives, parents, and kids. We are big believers in limiting the number of after-school or extra activities a child is engaged in. Everyone needs time to unwind. So, in November, we are asking you to take time time out. And here are some tips that work for us. Tell us your favorite tips when you’re challenged too!

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3 Simple Creative Reset Tips That Work

1. Take timed breaks. Breaks increase productivity.

It’s all too easy to be submerged with too much to write, think and create for. But often some fascinating ideas come through when you’re am simply sipping chai or walking to your favorite cafe down the road. It’s not a joke. Check the most amazing scientific research shared by Buffer on the fact that breaks increase productivity. Here’s a quote that we particularly liked:

“When you’re focusing, you’re actually blocking your access to the diffuse mode. And the diffuse mode, it turns out, is what you often need to be able to solve a very difficult, new problem.” (Engineering Professor, Barbara Oakley)

Taking timed breaks is simple. Have it in your calendar or schedule. It gives you more incentives to finish whatever you need to do before the break too. This is even more important when you’re working remotely, like we do in our team. Remote working can sap your energy as you have no physical end to office days. You can continue slogging or delaying or not taking breaks. This actually feels like you’re working a lot, but may just be poor productivity. Just like you add meetings with clients or your critique group in your calendar, add break time too. And stick to it.

2. Do not multi-task. It’s not good for productivity or your brain.

Usually everyone is tempted to multi-task. Women are often told that they’re great multi-taskers. But there is a lot of research that shows that there’s nothing more detracting and energy sapping than that. Considering many of us use social media professionally, this can get hard.

Picture this: we’re working on the your new manuscript or art and suddenly you get notifications from all over. Immediately, you’re reminded of another task and off we go from one to another. This is really true.

Research seems to be even more serious about the issues that come with multi-tasking. Here’s what Forbes says:

Research conducted at Stanford University found that multitasking is less productive than doing a single thing at a time. The researchers also found that people who are regularly bombarded with several streams of electronic information cannot pay attention, recall information, or switch from one job to another as well as those who complete one task at a time.
via GIPHY

A good way to tackle this “syndrome” is to give each task a timeline. And schedule. Once you set deadlines in your calendar, your brain is less likely to get distracted. We react to deadlines, naturally.

3. Do not say yes to everything

It’s hard, but you have to respect the physical and emotional boundaries of how much you can deliver at a certain time. Having a ton of work with few resources or mental bandwidth to work with is not going to help. It’s always easy for anyone- parents, friends, children to add on more work to your plate. Even with the best intentions, every WhatsApp message can feel overwhelming.

Learning to say no can be a lifelong exercise but it is necessary for your own sanity. Define your boundaries. It’s a good exercise to have a stock of all kinds of activities that get added on. If you are taking your child to 5 classes through the week, you are driving back and forth in addition. How much is too much?

Here’s a great way on how to say no to a friend or someone close, if they’re insisting on something new on top of everything else. The only way to solve for this is communicate the reasons why you’re saying no and don’t linger on. Say it before you’re resented for it! And do NOT overpromise. We had a student earlier this year that we trained with for a story performance. On the day of the performance, they didn’t show up because the parent had taken them to a tennis tournament. And didn’t get them to choose one event. How crazy, exhausting and unprofessional is that? Isn’t it easier to say no in advance?

What Can You Do for a Creative Reset?

If you’re a writer, artist, engineer, or parent of a child who is super creative, all these tips are relevant. Here are some ways to actually engage your mind for a creative reset:

Take a Hike (literally): Go outside, find the trees, ponds, hills, waterfalls, museums, train stations, cafes. Give yourself a physical break from the usual.
Think about a retreat: It’s like a camp (less intense) for adults. You also get to form a community. This is also relevant to kids. Many retreats allow for families to join as well. It’s also wonderful to go solo. You do not need to go on a guilt trip for giving yourself a break.
Read: Whether or not you’re in a habit of reading, you can begin now. Read something outside of your comfort zone. Challenge your senses. With children, it’s like musical chairs, have them read something different before they can come back to what they love. It builds the muscle to do something different.
Use your hands: Chalking, knitting, sewing, cooking – take up something where you can use your hands instead of using the screen. It pushes you to slow down a bit.
Meditate or reflect: Listening to Shah Rukh Khan songs on a loop is also a sort of meditation. Don’t judge yourself for what you like. Unplug and meditate in ways that speak to you. Take stock of all the things and activities you have kept yourself or your child busy with. What do you think can be reduced? Sometimes the art is in knowing what to keep.

How do you manage breaks on your creative projects? What are some of your creative reset tips?