Companies and people thrive on creative thinking, stepping outside the norm, and delivering big ideas. Each day, I try to find that creative spark, unlock the next idea, think big, and bring our creative team to the next level. Creative thought is one of the key elements of doing great work, but it often gets bumped down the to-do list. That’s why, this month, we’re bumping it back to the top because by prioritizing creative time, we can achieve more together.

Here are a couple of ways we’re bringing more creativity back to our days:

Make Time to Play.

Creativity is a muscle; like a muscle, it needs exercise and rest to grow. We need diverse “workouts” to grow our creative muscles. For some, this can be through reading, meditation, journaling, embracing your artistic side, and so on. For our creative team, this may look like brainstorming over boba or a game of pinball to give us space to connect and give our brains a break to think clearly. And, like exercise, we need to prioritize it. What about your team? Where might you bring more play into your work?

Embrace the Magic of Physical Space.

The power of our physical spaces can’t be overlooked; it can stimulate our minds, comfort us, and allow us to, you guessed it – find that creative spark. Stuck in a creative block? Change your physical space. Our team started embracing the “walk & talk meetings” to pull us away from our screens and enjoy the nature of the Fort Vancouver Historic site around our office. You’ll often find me working on a patio this season, listening to the sounds of nature and surrounded by greenery. What space do you need to think big?

Be Bored.

Okay, some of you may be like - is she joking? Ya’ll, I’m so serious. I am always thinking about what I can do to cross something off my list, plan an activity, organize my calendar, etc. But a few weeks ago, I sat in front of my fire, no phone, drinking my coffee, and the ideas wouldn’t stop. I had moments of creative spark I was dying for lately but couldn’t break through. I started writing down everything coming in: murals, video concepts, team connection ideas, etc. It’s the “shower idea” theory. My brother reminded me of a 30-rock quote relating to this principle “Moments of inspiration that occur when the brain is distracted from the problem at hand–for example, when you’re showering.” Boredom is proven to stimulate the mind for creativity and problem-solving; while we can be booked morning to night, it’s essential to build in time to allow our minds to wander to have successful creative moments. So while it might sound counterintuitive, can you try to create space for boredom?

So here’s my call to action – make space for creative thought, for collaboration, to play, to be bored, to think big. The to-do list will thank you for it.