5 Ways to Boost Creativity and Stay Productive
The balance of creativity and productivity can be difficult to manage. However, they can work well together and I often find that productivity leads to creativity and vice versa. Provided my workplace environment allows the two to peacefully co-exist, that is.
Often, it can be difficult nurturing creativity in a busy office environment where phones are constantly ringing, meetings interrupt the flow of writing and general chatter becomes hard to drown out. Despite these things being good, it can dampen creativity and, therefore, affect productivity levels.
Read on to discover my top tips on how to balance creativity and productivity successfully. These tips are also a helpful reminder for me on days when I’ve forgotten how to do anything.
Creativity is Often Spontaneous
For those of us who are creative, we know that creativity can rear its head at any time. Its arrival is completely spontaneous, throwing everything into disarray. So, how do you foster an environment in which creativity can be nurtured, while productivity can be managed? Keep a notepad beside you at your desk. Keeping a notepad available at all time is helpful for those moments when inspiration strikes as it allows you to write down your thoughts and return to them later. This way, those spontaneous creative moments do not interrupt the rest of your day.
Work in the Right Office Space
Your place of work has a significant influence on your productivity and creativity. Being surrounded by like-minded colleagues can help boost productivity and is helpful in nurturing creativity as it can often help to discuss ideas with others.
Wherever you work, having access to high-speed Wi-Fi and functional workstations can help boost your productivity and allow for space to think creatively. Many freelancers are increasingly discovering the benefits of working with others in a professional space as opposed to working at home in isolation.
Take Mini-Boosts
A mini-boost is an activity that you do for a short amount of time that helps get you away from work screens. Mini-boosts give you a great shot of natural energy. It is highly encouraged that, to increase productivity and creativity, you take brief diversions from tasks to help increase the effectiveness of your work. If thoughts keep entering your mind about things you need to get done, write them down and put them aside, this time is just for you to recuperate and, trust me, it is an immense help during those particularly busy days.
Keep Your Desk Space Clean
To help encourage productivity you can keep your desk clean. It may not sound overly important but it is essential for fostering creativity and productivity. Working in a cluttered space leads to lower productivity and, as your mum might say, it’s the sign of a cluttered mind. Encourage productivity by tidying your work space and staying organised. Allow as much natural light in as possible and get to work on those creative ideas.
Enjoy What You Do
Passion is essential to fostering creativity. To cultivate it, learn as much as you can from prominent people in your field, keep up-to-date with the news in your industry and glean insight and advice from colleagues or superiors you admire. To continue improving, it is important to absorb as much information as you can. We should never stop learning.
Find Your Balance
Balancing the productive and the creative can be difficult but they really are opposite sides of the same coin. I don’t think one can exist without the other. I hope you have found this article useful and that the tips I have suggested have been helpful. If you would like further information, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us. Our team at Bamboo Nine would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Alternatively, spend some time browsing through the content on our company blog, you are sure to find plenty of informative, interesting and educating content.