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Creativity in the Digital Age

Fast Company recently published a series of articles entitled #Unplug.

The irony of the first article, “How to Unplug in 6 Steps,” is that it’s interactive. Ha! But don’t worry, there’s a printable version, as well.

The gist of the series is that digital technology doesn’t allow us to get away from work and focus on life’s most simple pleasures or develop hobbies outside of the office.

This series got me thinking about something I saw on Pinterest one time about how to be more creative, and one of the top things on the list was “Turn off your computer.” This led me to wonder why getting away from the computer would boost creativity. In this instance, unplugging could actually improve your ability at work.

The key points from the article were illustrated in this infographic, “29 Ways to Stay Creative.”

Aside from #unplugging, there are five other tips from the article that stood out to me:

  1. Carry a Notebook – One of my friends did this in college and wrote down funny things she observed throughout the day or things she wanted to research or draw later. You could also do this with your cell phone, but sometimes writing something by hand ingrains a thought into your memory in a way typing doesn’t.
  2. Try Free Writing – This is something most of us don’t do often enough as writers. So many times, writing at work is just about getting something produced as quickly as possible. Writing in such a way can become rote. Free writing allows the writer to put all his or her thoughts on paper without worrying about a format or task.
  3. Collaborate – Luckily, this is easy with our supportive team at T/K. Have you ever looked at the inside of CD jacket at the writers of a particular song? Nine times out of 10, the song title will have more than one name beside it.
  4. Have Fun! – Self-explanatory. Again, how many super serious artists or musicians have you seen in interviews?
  5. Break the Rules – When it comes to work, we can translate this into switching up your routine and trying something new. Be open to new methods of doing things. And as the old adage goes, “Better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission.”

Let us know if you have any additional tips on the subject of creativity or if you decide to #unplug.

 

-Savannah Weeks - @savannahweeks

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