Comments on: Boost Creativity: Let Your Mind Lie Fallow

By: Joanna Penn

Joanna Penn — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:55:42 +0000

Hi Alexandra, that’s great! Taking advantage of downtime instead of filling it is an excellent idea. The seasons of creativity are also good – although a flipside to that is the discipline of writing i.e. don’t wait for inspiration, work at it as you would a job (who has seasons of the day job!?)
You’re also right – tech can be recharge – my husband loves computer games. I now read on the Kindle…does Twitter count?!

Thanks, Joanna

By: Alexandra Samuel

Alexandra Samuel — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:05:04 +0000

hi Joannna,

Just came across your post while looking for more resources on how people see the relationship between technology and creativity. And I love the fallow fields analogy! One thing I’ve discovered is I don’t necessarily have to make space/time for that downtime, but rather, accept it when it finds me.

I went through a bit writing/creative trough a couple of years ago, and a friend used a similar analogy about fields lying dormant in winter so they can blossom in spring. Once I embraced the slow time as an opportunity to recharge, rather than a sign I’d run out of creative steam, it ended up being a terrific and restorative period.

But one thing I’d note: tech can be what you recharge with as much as what you recharge from (or rather, sometimes you need to do one, sometimes the other.) That was part of what I was writing about when I came to your blog — how tech can refuel your creative practice instead of draining it (see http://bit.ly/9create).

By: Joanna Penn

Joanna Penn — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 20:45:17 +0000

Hi Sean – pencil that time in now to relax!

Cynthia – I know that it is hard to balance – just make sure you don’t burn out! I did that big push last year too, and this year I don’t want to lose momentum. I just needed that rest. I hope you can get it scheduled in with all your hard work.

Thanks, Joanna

By: cynthia bailey MD

cynthia bailey MD — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 20:16:04 +0000

This is a big area of soul searching for me right now. As a 51 year old physician with a full time dermatology practice, I just this year entered the continuously plugged in online world; in 12 months I wrote all the content on my web site, started a blog (committing to 2 meaty posts a week) and jumped in to social media. Wow, my psyche is continuously ‘on’. Contemplating re-balancing, and giving myself permission for it is the next big frontier. Thanks for the encouragement.

By: Sean Platt

Sean Platt — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:27:54 +0000

Here here, Joanna. I totally agree with every word, yet I’ve thus far failed to practice it. I need to unplug for a bit. Sigh… perhaps in a month or two.

By: Joanna

Joanna — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 08:07:40 +0000

Kristi – I worked pretty hard to schedule everything. It was a stretch but glad I did! Search engines like regular postings!

Artist – creativity definitely needs time – ideas compost and squidge together!

Icy – Knitting is something I have heard to be conducive to relaxing. Haven’t tried it myself!

By: Icy Sedgwick

Icy Sedgwick — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 22:50:15 +0000

I think there’s a lot to be said for switching off for a time! I find I can’t do it for too long (job hunting and mass eBay listings to be done) but I will give myself a few evenings off per week where I leave the laptop off, and simply sit and knit while I watch a film. The details of works in progress bubble over nicely in my subconscious while I get caught up in both plot and stitching, and when I come back to my writing, I feel like I know what I’m doing. That’s not to say I actually DO know what I’m doing, of course…

By: Artist

Artist — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 22:28:01 +0000

Creativity needs among others time and again time. This can free from daily worries and let creativity live.

By: HowDidYouGetThere

HowDidYouGetThere — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 21:25:37 +0000

I agree completely!!!! There’s something that happens when we not only turn everything off, but also get up and move around – physically. That’s when I get my best ideas. I understand Beethoven used to walk in the woods composing, too.

I am jealous of your being so efficient as to pre-post for your holidays! I heard “You’re ruining our vacation sitting at that computer!” so many times that I’ve learned my lesson.
All the best, Kristi