Monday 5pm, a looming deadline, a blank page and a judgmental cat. Am I hungry? Is Andy Warhol (my fish) still alive? Got up to check. Oh yes! He passed the one year mark. I am proud of myself! Does this mean that I am finally ready to share my apartment with other living creatures? It might still be too early for a human but how about a cactus? Am I ready?
THREE hours later and an in-depth study about mentioned cat, fish and plant and what it takes to keep them all alive in the same space, the deadline got closer, the page seemed whiter and my cat resumed her judgement after waking up from her sweet nap.
Welcome to the uninspired land where despair, guilt and frustration come together for the sole purpose of making your life miserable. Why did I decide to become a strategist? Why an entrepreneur? What if my life mission was to walk the streets of Toronto with a big smile, a serene gaze holding a sign “All be well” and be content with that?
Closer deadline, whiter page, still judgmental cat...
Now, this is usually the time when I resort to one of my 4 weapons to snap out of dread mode and into beast mode. Before diving into these, let’s first acknowledge the true heroes behind every project submitted on time: Adrenaline and Cortisol. We see you and we thank you.
Back to the 4 inspiration boosters…
#1 ANY physical activity
Whenever I feel uninspired, I get up and dance. What I mean by dance is moving ANY or ALL parts of my body in random directions. The more erratic, fierce and frantic the movements are, the better it is. Music is also an important element in this formula. 90s Arabica, Reggaeton, Eminem (yes because he is his own music genre), you name it, I danced to it. All can unlock the magic. Also, feel free to mix and match. If the dread persists, then it is time for the ultimate solution. Get up and go outside! Sometimes, it is hard to leave cozy sweet home to cold sketchy streets especially if it is winter and you happen to live in Toronto (why did I do that to myself!) but, it truly is a fantastic cure to extreme moments of blank page.
#2 Doodle away
Grab the closest pen. Put it in contact with a physical paper and let it wander. 80% cats, 10% weird eyes and 10% of “others” is what I usually end up with but somehow it helps. I don’t know what about it but it makes me disconnect from the analytical mind for a moment, reconnect with my inner child (can’t miss the opportunity to use that term) and wake up to a slight panic that puts me right on track.
#3 Watch something really really reaaaaally brainless
Names of TV shows that are usually a good fit: “Love is blind”, “Too hot to handle” “16 and pregnant” The show has to strike a perfect drama/boredom ratio to carry on watching more than 5min but not exceed 30min watch time. Most importantly the show must not use ANY of your precious brain power. Not one neuron. Please contact me for a full library of these programs.
#4 Cook your way out
Contrary to the previous ones, this is a second-hand information as I didn’t apply it myself but the cultural legend praises cooking for creative inspiration. It looks like cutting onions, slicing tomatoes and throwing spices have some curative entities that simultaneously release stress and prompt creative juices. I love the concept but despite multiple attempts, the practice part is still obscure to me. That said, please feel free to try and let me know how that works for you. I also accept any delicious food generated by this process. I will be happy to try it for you.
In conclusion
Whatever you choose to do: Move, doodle, watch or cook, the key point is to redirect your attention from the blank page vs. obsessing about it. When you activate other parts of your brain somehow the “smart” part will get jealous and will be willing to work again after all. What a diva!
Do you have another inspiration booster? Let us know in the comments below so we can steal it.
** A combination of dance on 90s Arabic music and three pages of doodle were used in the making of this article.
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