Rest & Creativity
The Essential Role of Rest in Creativity
As a designer, my role often involves immersing myself in diverse contexts, understanding various cultures, and grasping unique priorities and needs. This continuous influx of information necessitates deliberate time for processing, brainstorming, and design. To manage this, I schedule "focus time" on my calendar—periods reserved exclusively for deep thought and creative work. These slots automatically decline meeting requests, and while I occasionally bend this rule, I rarely allow meetings to intrude on this sacred space.
Rest is crucial for creativity. Designers, in particular, need mental space to think and recharge, breaking away from the constant act of "doing." Intentional downtime is vital for making connections and fostering new ideas. For me, this means spending time staring into space, letting my mind wander freely. I avoid evaluating or critiquing ideas during this phase; instead, I embrace the mental exploration. Whether through sketching, doodling, or simply being still, this period of unstructured thought allows my brain to gather and integrate information from various sources.
Julia Cameron aptly describes this need for downtime: “An artist must have downtime, time to do nothing. Defending our right to such time takes courage, conviction, and resiliency… An artist requires the upkeep of creative solitude. An artist requires the healing of time alone” (The Artist’s Way, 97).
We all benefit from this kind of time, each in our own way. Personally, I use it to ground myself, tune into my inner thoughts, and reflect on how I’m feeling. This meditative practice is crucial not only for personal well-being but also for professional growth as a designer. It allows me to rest and settle my mind, free from distractions, and focus on the challenges and ideas I’m working through.
Often, inspiration strikes while I’m reading. A single word or idea can spark a chain reaction of thoughts, linking various concepts into a moment of clarity or inspiration. When this happens, I pause my reading to fully explore the emerging idea, only returning to the text once I’ve completed my mental journey. If the inspiration is particularly powerful, I might dive into further research immediately.
Letting your mind wander is vital. It’s okay if it feels obsessive—that’s passion at work. If you can’t indulge in brainstorming at the moment, jot down key ideas and revisit them later. Not every idea will be groundbreaking, but every idea has potential. Even if it seems to lead nowhere, it’s worth exploring; you never know when a piece might resurface in a new context.
In summary, rest and mental space are not luxuries but necessities for creative work. Embrace downtime as an essential part of your creative process, allowing your mind the freedom to explore and innovate.
