 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Work/Life Balance: Creative outlets are essential to a well-rounded and happy lifestyle. Lack of a creative outlet has been shown to trigger many psychological states such as depression, stress and apathy. Whether you find your creative outlet at work or at play, it's important to have your creativity expressed in your life in some form. Let me first define the word creative. A broad definition of creative means anything that we start from scratch – nothing to something. Using that definition, a creative outlet is anything that allows you to create something new. Business start-ups, drafting, sewing, cooking, gardening, painting, drawing, woodworking, sculpting drafting, song writing, acting, choreographing, gift wrapping, writing (poetry, reports, scripts, etc.), decorating, inventing, mud-pie making, lesson planning or course designing – any process that allows for the generation of something new – are all examples of creative outlets. Here's a technique that I have found effective when helping clients find a creative outlet. I discovered this technique when talking about creativity with a very talented animator. I asked him if the image he created on paper matched the image he had in his head. He said that he could make the translation from head to paper. This answer astonished me as I could never draw what I imagined. I decided to experiment with various media to find something that I could conceptualize and translate into a physical form. For me, the creative outlet that did this was writing. It's a challenge to find your creative outlet, and it's another challenge to find the room to freely practice it. To express creativity freely, some need it to be part of a hobby while others enjoy that freedom at work. For example, a graphic artist who feels creatively stifled working with client constraints may find painting in his home studio offers more freedom for creativity. A buzz word used in business is “innovation” which is simply a way to encourage “out of the box” thinking at work – or creative problem solving. Innovation requires grey thinking as opposed to a black and white approach. Employers are now looking at ways to reward employees for being innovative. They realize that to compete in today’s marketplace, they need to constantly try new approaches. “Having maximized gains from cost cutting
and improvements in operating efficiency, many companies are now
looking to promote top-line growth through innovation.”
Hay Insight Selections, April 2005,
Hay Group. Experiment with various media to find the best fit; the more media you explore, the better. If you have never cooked, take a cooking class or pick up a simple cookbook with good illustrations and instructions. Try to explore something you’ve always wanted to try. You may surprise yourself and find a hidden talent that makes your heart sing and your spirits soar! For more articles on creativity and business,
go to http://www.creativity-portal.com/articles/business/
|
