How to Maintain a Creative Mindset
To sit, to stare, to find beauty in a blossom, fallen leaf, and barren bough ~
always searching for a better word to fill the vacant pages;
especially when caught up in a conundrum.
I like being creative and it gives me a great high to perceive my surroundings with a ‘different eye’; searching for the hidden meanings that are buried under the thought process, and finding connections, symbolism, and metaphors in my daily life. Amid a lucrative and flourishing business, family, friends, blog, and my SM channels ~ I always find myself fumbling when it comes to trying to find my space.
I feel that daily routines and other distractions are making me lose a bit of my focus when it comes to being aesthetic and creative. Especially since creativity and I share a symbiotic relationship, and I know that my existence will become mundane if I have to let go of the art of being creative. But yes, a few tugs and pulls here and there, and lo! I have my problems solved. So many of you have asked how I even have time to do everything, so I thought it imperative to share my techniques with all of you, on how I keep my creative faculties active. Read on for a guide on how to maintain a creative mindset.
1. Morning Call
I find being up at the break of dawn to be the quietest and most peaceful time to introspect, contemplate, and reflect without disturbance. I set my morning alarm to 6:30 AM so that I get some uninterrupted time to read the headlines, scroll through my emails, be updated with what’s the buzz word by flipping through Instagram posts, and of course, practice yoga and take a few minutes to connect with my inner self. This morning time of 60-90 minutes is revitalising and is what sets the tone for the rest of my day, keeping me on the quest for that better word and seeing my creative restlessness get manifested.
2. Exercise
Working out is just as good for my body as it is for my mind, and many a time, it is during these workout sessions and yoga practice that I get my motivation. Alternatively, a morning walk with my husband, Vikram, or even biking gives me that much-needed escape from the daily routine and helps me find beauty and inspiration in the enchantment and eroticism of nature.
3. Like-mindedness
I have observed my creative process taking flight when I am in the company of those with whom there is harmony and a great rapport. I am constantly made to cogitate when I am with my working team and I find that a blessing in disguise because they challenge me in many ways during our brainstorming sessions and weekly meetings to hone my creative self to the deepest.
4. Scheduling
The busy schedule of life can slow you down both consciously and unconsciously, and I have tried to get that spare time to think and listen by making that much-needed-creative-time for me. An hour a day jotting down fragments and thoughts, daydreaming, and pursuing art can be quite helpful as long as it does not stifle you. There is no need to be rigid about that one hour ‘my/me time’. You can always be flexible during days when there are limitations. The best is to take it easy during days when the tired spirit needs to be rested.
5. Podcasts
Actually, this should be at the top of the list as it ignites the images buried in the deepest realm of my mind and brings out the hidden creativity to the fore. For someone like me who is always in search of anything that will uplift my cognitive mind, podcasts help me think of things in a new light. I find it a necessity especially while travelling or commuting.
To conclude: The wisdom with art and life can be given longevity if you are consistent. With that comes the responsibility of maintaining a healthy mind which will be instrumental in keeping a consistent tempo, pace, and movement when it comes to your creative purpose.
Everyone’s got their own tricks for fostering creativity, but if you’ve got any favourites that didn’t make the list, tell me about them in the comments below.