Steve Jobs said: “Creativity comes from spontaneous meetings, from random discussions. You run into someone, you ask what they’re doing, you say “Wow” and soon you’re cooking up all sorts of ideas.” From yoga, meditation and social media, people have been forced to think out of the box when it comes to searching for inspiration and keeping their creative juices flowing amidst Covid-19 and all that comes with it.
An office gives you a regimented schedule while coworkers give you social interaction and a physically present superior gives you accountability. Now let’s remove all 3 elements from the equation, how do we get any real work done?
There are a series of repeated tips that have been featured in many articles and used in our lives too that we have found, helped us get through more motivated and probably happier than we would have been without them.
Make yourself a home workspace
Many people enjoy sitting on their couch, trying to watch TV, and get work done. If you are trying to combine your home activities and your work, it's likely you won’t get much done. If you want to really sink your teeth into your work, you need a workspace free of distractions. To go along with this you need boundaries. Your family or anyone in your immediate circle needs to know when your work begins and ends and treat this like they would if you were to go into an office.
Wake up at the same time every day
Getting up early when you work from home is difficult, but studies show that morning people are more productive and identify with the idea of being in charge and making things happen. Set an occurring alarm for the same time every day, getting into a good morning habit and establishing a comfortable morning routine.
Regular routine
For most people this means deciding when you will set your alarm for, getting up and doing some exercise, eating a good breakfast, and then noting everything you need to do that day. It will be a lot easier to establish a routine and stay motivated this way.
Productivity software
A great digital tool will allow you to stay organised and motivated. Slack or Notion are really good options that are both very easy to use and you can access them from your phone too. You can share specific pages with different people so you can jointly stay on track together with your team. We make use of Notion which proves to be very efficient to keep track of personal tasks and to do's as well as status updates and joint projects.
Take regular breaks
Giving your brain a breather and allowing yourself to get fresh air is key. Plan a short walk around your home or garden every hour before sitting back at your desk. If this doesn't appeal to you, try a cup of tea outside. If you are creative, sitting for hours on end at your desk without a breather can stop you from doing truly great creative work. We find that taking regular breaks, looking at the world around you, and getting out there, helps to increase creativity, spark new thoughts, and calm/slow down the mind.
Change of scenery
A change of scenery can make all the difference. If you are feeling a lack of motivation change your scenery often. Go for a walk, do your emails from a coffee shop or a different part of your home. Create a mobile workstation for yourself with your favorite stationary and work items and move this to different parts of your home. You may find that working in a certain part of your home makes you feel happier and more motivated. We find sitting on the Verandah in the morning, looking at nature, is a happier, more serene space to work.
Make time for a call with loved ones/friends
Something that is really important while being isolated and less engaged with people, is making time to catch up and connect with the ones you love. A video call with a friend or family member daily, or even every second day can lift your mood and make you feel more connected, understood, and in touch with the world. We find this to really help give perspective too, realising you are not alone and what you are feeling is likely to be shared by other people too.
Implementing some or all of these rituals or ways of doing things will set you up to feel a little more productive, a little less angsty and frustrated and hopefully be able to access more creativity, as your mind should feel more organised.