I don't work in a cubicle and I honestly never have. I guess I've been lucky. I work out of a home office now. The room was previously my daughter's room when she was a baby so I have pretty pink and green walls with a band of cute ladybugs, butterflies and fireflies. Then there are my piles of papers and wall of CDs and software, the box of cables. The closet is loaded with old clothes and unwrapped Christmas gifts. It's not a great office and it's in dire need of a good cleaning. I do have a really awesome cube shelving unit in black from IKEA that covers a full wall, and I also have terrific wood floors.

This morning I saw these cool offices. I like the bamboo one a lot. I may be redecorating soon. There are some paint color tips for home offices on the Behr website. I like the green. "Natural, restful, yet rejuvenating, the color green is perhaps one of the best colors to use in spaces where the main goals are thinking and creativity - one reason this color is often chosen for classrooms and study areas."

Do you have a cool office? I could use some tips! Feel free to post a link to a pic of your office.

Labels: Creativity, Environment

Frank Zappa had a great quote, "Without music to decorate it, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines or dates by which bills must be paid." He speaks the truth. The trick is not to be a passive listener.

Turn off your Fergie Ferg and try some Bach! The 'Mozart Effect' was the result of a study that revealed that classical music stimulates the right-brain and makes the listener more intellectual. We all want to be intellectual, don't we?

If you don't own any classical music, you can tune into one of the many classical music stations that stream online.

Music really stimulates my creativity. I love listening to something completely different - some sitar music or some gypsy guitar or something avant garde from the 80s.

One of my favorites is the song "Chocolate Cake" by Crowded House (You know I'm a Crowded House mega-fan, if you frequent our Inspirations blog). The song is filled with strange sound effects and has an incredible stereo mix. Once, I was at the dentist and they gave me some nitrous oxide, aka laughing gas. I had my headphones on with Chocolate Cake on my iPod and, boy, that makes the song sound really different! There's a whole other layer of the cake I never knew existed!

I digress, pop on some good quality headphones and sit back and really listen to the music. Focus on one single instrument or how the left and right channels play off each other. Listen for sounds you've never heard. Trust me, it's there.

Around here, there are lunchtime pops concerts at a music hall that are free. You just bring a sack lunch. If you can't leave your office, you can always close your office door and get up and dance. Moving your body will release some tension and get the blood flowing back to your brain. Plus, it's fun.

Or, how about making some noise? Get your office mates together for an impromptu drum circle. You can beat on your desks, laps, whatever you might have around. Beat out patterns and imitate each other. "This game strengthens your child audio memory, improves the brain connectivity and improves pattern recognition.", according to Parenting Ideas.org. Yeah, I'm a parent, I read that kind of stuff, but if it works for kids, why not try it out? You think I'm lying? Check out this Right Brain Tests for artists which is a live drum lecture. The rhythmical break is not only satisfying but will hopefully inspire you.

Or, take it to the extreme. I never knew the magic you can create with a leek.

Labels: Creativity

This is a series on cultivating creativity. Each part of the series will focus on one trick to kick your creativity into high gear.

You need a change of scene

Seeing the same room day in and day out, working with the same projects, seeing the same people.... well, it's enough to explain why your creative spark can feel all wet.

The Quick Fix

Get away from the office. Take a walk in the park or just lay on the grass and stare at the clouds while your mind wanders.

I'll go to the gym and ideas will come while I'm sweating on the elliptical. Go for a swim or go to the beach for a few hours and play in the sand, feel the breeze and smell the air. Sometimes all you need is a bit of visual and tactile refreshment. Any positive change of scenery can spark your right brain.

Interestingly, a poll in the UK showed that the people tend to come up with their best ideas in the most mundane places:

1. In bed
2. Outside
3. In the shower or bath
4. At work
5. In the car
6. On the toilet

I work from a home office and I'll go to a coffee shop to work once or twice a week. The smell of the coffee and comfy chairs and the idle chat with the barrista are a rich contrast to my sunny, cluttered office. The caffeine doesn't hurt the cause either.

Change your workspace

If you can't leave your office, try changing the atmosphere in your office because it could be what is stifling your creative mojo.

• Tidy up your space. A cluttered desk equals a cluttered mind. Put away those DVDs and tapes that are collecting dust. Clean your keyboard while you're at it. Not that it will help with your creativity, but do you know how many bacteria are camping out on your keyboard?
• Practice some feng shui by moving your office furniture. This will give you a new perspective in the room and hopefully a new perspective on your issues. I'd recommend getting a book on feng shui. It might be the fact that you have your back to the door and you're in a corner that is causing your problems. Gotta let that chi flow! Spaces for Ideas has some great tips on improving the feng shui in your office.
• Put some aromatic flowers or a plant on the desk. Research has shown that plants can increase ideas by 15%. The scent is a nice pick-me-up, just make sure you're not allergic or overwhelmed by the scent.
• Adjust the lighting Natural light is best for the body, but I know many video pros work in basements and windowless offices. Glare from the sun is bad on computer screens, but natural light can really change your mood and the sight of a squirrel or chipmunk outside the window is just really cute.
• Use color psychology to your advantage If you have some time and can paint your office, a different color, like purple or metallics, which are said to be colors that inspire creativity.

Have a couple of weeks?

If you can, REALLY get away from it all. How about India, Peru or Kenya! I found Oaxaca, Mexico, and the ruins of Monte Alban to be one of the most inspiring places I've ever visited. Just remember, everybody hates a tourist. Be a traveler and get to know the people of the country one-on-one.

Another instance of travel inspiration came to me in England in 1999 for the total eclipse. I met some seriously odd people, went to dinner with a bankrobber, and was basically trapped in Torquay for a week due to bad planning, but it was one of the best weeks of my life. I was completely inspired to write a screenplay. I'm still plan to do it after 8 years. Luckily this series is about inspiration, not procrastination.

Labels: Creativity, Tips