Routine: How Structure can Enhance Creativity
As we wave goodbye to the first month of 2023, it's a great time to take stock of our goals for the new year and evaluate our progress; are we effectively keeping up with our resolutions? Or, now that the festive period is over and the daily grind has resumed, do some of our goals no longer fit?
Over on our New Year's Resolution Blog, I told Flora that one of my resolutions was to find my way back to the gym after a very extended period of time off. Going to the gym on a morning used to be the trigger action to a productive uni-day; it got me out of the house, and moving so when lectures rolled around, I was alert and ready to absorb. Fast-forward to post-pandemic life, and I've become an alarm snoozer, doom scroller and general bedroom recluse.
Removing the cornerstone of my day led to the collapse of my daily routine. The daily question of 'will I work out today' became an exhausting internal battle, only to be silenced by endless Instagram scrolling. But the biggest impact was on my creativity: with dopamine on tap through social media, our ability to find it ourselves through creative thinking turns to mush.
Why routines help
Though we might not realise it, humans are very ‘routine’ oriented animals. We work off circadian rhythm, triggered by external environmental factors like sunlight, to begin the 24-hour process of maintaining the human body. We function best when our sleeping and waking times are regular, helping our bodies to get an intuitive sense of when to carry out functions such as hormone regulation, having a direct effect on our moods and energy levels. Studies prove that regular sleep times help us manage stress more effectively and can even alleviate symptoms of bipolar disorder and ADHD. (Source: The Secret Benefit of Routines: Ellie Robins, Headspace)
Beyond our biological routines, routine has a crucial impact on our productivity and creativity. Many creative figures famously had routines. From Einstein’s 10 hours a night sleep to Maya Angelou’s 5 am start, there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach, but there is plenty of opportunity to tailor a routine to your needs. For the foundations of your routine, select those practices that make you feel the most invigorated, and take it from there. That might look like a 6 am gym session (if it does, lucky you!), or having you focus hours when everyone has gone to bed.
The idea is to repeat until they feel instinctive. As Murakami put it, when describing his daily routine, “The repetition itself becomes the important thing; it’s a form of mesmerism. I mesmerize myself to reach a deeper state of mind.” Routines, when properly incorporated, take out the decision fatigue of figuring out what to do with your day, leaving space and energy to turn your mind to finding creative solutions.
We can even go a step further, to the suggestion that a routine within your creative endeavours can help provide a framework. With one of our clients, who has a vigorous social schedule, we have a monthly ‘theme’, and a weekly framework to guide our posts. As well as making sure we cover all the bases for what we need to bring to attention, the framework also lessens the activation energy for coming up with a new idea; the question becomes ‘How can we look at this topic in a new light?’ instead of ‘how to begin?’.
How can I create a routine?
When building a routine, it’s widely suggested to start small, with one change you can easily adopt daily. When this begins to feel like a habit, that’s when to incorporate another. For me, this New Year it was a trip to the gym at least twice a week. I can already feel massive changes in my mindset when approaching tasks; knowing that I’ve accomplished this is a good motivational boost that bleeds into other tasks.
What works for one person isn’t guaranteed to work for another, however, so I recommend a process of trial and error to find your ideal routine. For a great resource to give you some ideas about what might work for you, I recommend the videos of MuchelleB, who gives great practicable tips (and doesn’t expect you to be a 4 am workout doing crypto bro). I also asked Evoke Team for some info on their daily routine to give an idea of the different forms this can take.
Lauren:
What Kickstarts my Routine: The night before. If I don't have a clear plan or have at least considered my next day, it falls apart before it's even begun!
My effective break looks like: I'll admit, I'm not very good at these. If I take a break on a weekday between 9-6, I have to leave my phone behind. My ideal break, is taking the dogs for a walk (whatever the weather)
If I need a motivation boost, I: make a date with Ally Love on the Peloton. She's good for the soul and my fitness
Devon:
What kickstarts my routine: I am not one for a ‘kickstart’ in the morning. I need a slow morning which always consists of watching my favourite YouTubers with a cup of tea before I check my to do list for the day.
My effective break looks like: getting outside! A walk in the fresh air really resets my mind for the day and I feel refreshed and ready to get back to it. Bonus points for a walk in the sunshine.
If I need a motivation boost, I: take a break! Even better if I do some exercise, climb or just get outside. It really helps get my focus back and just improves my mood in general. Regular screen breaks are the key to making the screen time efficient!
Flora:
What Kickstarts my Routine: My morning usually involves a morning walk in Battersea Park to dust off any cobwebs, and enjoying my flat white whilst the day is still.
My effective break looks like: Anytime I spend away from a screen - cooking, reading, walking, or exercise. I love taking time to prep a yummy dinner or read about new foodie places to try in London.
If I need a motivation boost, I: Listen to what I need to get me through in that instance. Walking/running really helps to clear my head, and having a goal in mind, big or small, keeps me going. I am currently training for a half marathon which has proven that the end result is well worth it both physically and mentally, and I am enjoying the process along the way!
Amelia:
What Kickstarts my Routine: Waking up to my smart bulb switching on at 7:30. It’s a lot harder to go back to sleep with the lights on!
My effective break looks like: Something that gets me up and moving around – like a quick apartment clean or nipping out to the shops for a coffee or groceries when the weather is promising.
If I need a motivation boost, I: romanticise my working environment. I take a moment to clear up the space around me, light a candle or some incense, and play some atmospheric focus music (such as this playlist here, taken from a Nintendo game so it’s designed to help you focus!)