Hey, I’m Sidney Timmer- Creative Media Manager and someone who’s always been a loved to create. Coming from a job where I did marketing and outreach 50/50, I was thought that coming over to Media Advantage would be a flawless transition. But there was one thing I hadn’t accounted for- how do I stretch my brain to be creative for 40 hours a week? Personally, I found that I normally lose steam near the early afternoon, brain fried from making numerous social media post. Others say they struggle to get their brains started in the morning and are most productive in the afternoons. Whatever your creative schedule is, we all deal with times that our creative juices are just not flowing. But here are some ideas and tips that have helped me find creativity again in the dry spells.
- Snacks! If you don’t have a full snack drawer or break room, then you’re already a step behind. Depending on what you eat, snacks can enhance your blood flow, send a surge of dopamine and serotonin to the brain, provide energy to the body, and improve your cognitive function!
- Abandon it- for now. I have found there are times where I have toyed around with a design for an hour and haven’t made any progress in finding what I want it to be. If you have the time frame to do so, take a step away from it. If I’m struggling with a particular client or project, sometimes moving to an easier or physical task helps give my brain a break. When I return to it, I have a little bit more clarity on what I like about what I did and what I need to change.
- Find some inspiration. Whether you prefer Tik Tok, Google, or Pinterest, taking a break to find a direction can help you spark some momentum. Look at things that other companies have done, is there a way to implement elements to your project? Is there a color pallet that inspires you?
- Rely on your team. As a person who’s done theater for a long time, I truly believe in the power of collaboration, pulling together everyone’s strengths for a united goal! If you’re stumped, tell them! Tell them if you’re having a hiccup with a particular project or maybe are beginning to feel the effects of burnout. They know and care about you and are sure to have some helpful advice for you.
I hope these things help you keep your creativity flowing. Let us know what helps you
get in the groove.
Sidney Timmer
