Numero uno: it is not easy. Or rather it can be tricky because you either have too many ideas or no ideas. Then, time is not really relative anymore, if you are working from home. However, I think there are ways to get you back on track to your normal inspirational self. Here are 5 ways to keep you on track for finding inspiration in these troubling times:
1. Mix It Up
The worst thing to do when trying to find some new ideas or trying to find some fresh inventions to come up with for your blog or Instagram page is keep on doing what you are doing. The only way to get “new” ideas is to do “new” things. Change up your routine. Do you eat the same meal everyday, switch it up. Out with the same old blueberry oatmeal (yum!) and maybe try going for a colourful omelet today! It is arm day at the gym and you have a specific regimen, why not try adding in a new type of workout for arms?
Studies even back this concept up by saying that by taking on each day as a genuinely new day helps increase engagement on all levels: from work to spending time with family. It makes logical sense because if you are bored doing the same thing, despite being a specialist in it, you are just numb to the process and mindlessly accomplishing a task without much thought behind it.
2. Take A Trip
No, I am not encouraging you to go travel with all the restrictions and difficulties going on right now. Although, if you are taking a trip, I hope you are keeping safe and having a nice, relaxing time—or if it traveling for business, I hope you are safe and everything is running as smoothly as possible. As for me, I will not be traveling outside of Canada anytime soon. So, how do I find inspiration within my home country? I take a trip through nature.
Even though winter is practically here with the chilly, snowy weather, it is still a great time to visit some nice trails and see what those beautiful evergreens look like covered in all white. If you are in a warmer region in southern United States, then you still have lots of nature to take advantage of. The point of going for a trip in nature is to reset yourself and reconnect with the environment around you. It is also a nice change of scenery from staring at computer screens all day.
3. Start A Project
I am not saying to go build a house or go build a business empire in one day (unless you really want to, by all means). I mean start by completing projects you have been wanting to get around to doing. This could be tasks like shopping for a new sofa or mattress that has lost its comforting touch, or starting to build that new piece of furniture you purchased from IKEA at last year’s Black Friday sale event.
Making the time to do these small projects you have had in the back of your mind helps declutter your mind palace for more inspirational room. By bringing the tasks hidden in the backroom of your mind outside of the room and completing them, it frees up more space for other, maybe even more important, thoughts. This may even help create a safe, empty corner in your mind dimension. We could all use some silence and immersion in nothingness sometimes, especially when we are feeling stressed or bombarded in our physical spaces.
4. Create An Exercise Routine
It can be tough to break routines sometimes. I have been hesitant to change and straying away from my regular schedule, but adding in a little bit of exercise will not hurt anybody. Science has already proven countless times that an active body develops a strong, active mind. By increasing blood flow throughout the body, the brain should be able to get better blood flow and a better stream of thoughts as well. This is very true!
However, this does not mean you have to start exercising like crazy. Start small. Even 1-2 minutes of some kind of exercise daily can help jump start the blood stream and keep the whole body amped up. Of course, feel free to increase the minutes as you get stronger. Personally, I aim for 10 minutes a day when I have gone cold turkey from my regular workout regimen. But typically, my workout sessions could go from 20-60 minutes.
Since there are some restrictions on gyms and such, you may be thinking you are limited to equipment. Honestly, simple exercises like jumping jacks, (modified) push-ups and sit-ups are still quite helpful for staying active. With a steady blood flow, you can feel the inspirational thoughts come back and you may even find you look better after sticking to it.
5. Meditate & Breathe
I know a lot of people say they cannot meditate, yet they do it subconsciously without even realizing it. It is common to be skeptical and it may appear like a silly act for someone to dedicate time towards it, but I would argue the benefits are bountiful. Meditation is as simple as taking a minute or even five minutes to reset your mind and mood. It is a great opportunity to take either built-up or immediate negative thoughts and cast them aside for more logical decisions. Meditation is also linked with the importance of helping to find your breath.
It is common in our fast-paced world, even with the pandemic, to be consumed with so many tasks that you forget to even breathe. Yes, you are breathing if you are alive and running around—however, you should be able to perform your daily tasks without taking shallow breaths. It is scary to think that even when we are sleeping we can forget to breathe and our hearts can skip beats.
To pair with meditation, I would recommend that checking in with your breathing is just as important as checking in with your negative thoughts. Taking deeper breaths throughout the workday and creative time is important to ensure you are still breathing for one, but also, staying cognizant that everything will be okay and can help provide a moment of clarity before making rash choices.
Using all of these together will reap great benefits for you—as it has helped me get my creative juices flowing since I have begun working from home. It does not have to be big steps, you just have to take one step and you will be amazed at how far you can go. Just start the change, no matter how small.
I am curious to hear back what you all do to find inspiration in these tough times. Feel free to comment below and share your thoughts. I appreciate you taking the time to read this immensely!
Ridge Harripersad 