Everyone has something that inspires them. Cooking, gardening, art, music, building, sailing…something that you’re passionate about that also recharges you in a way that nothing else can. The things that when we do them, we aren’t just refreshed and recharged but also inspired with new and fresh ideas. So here’s the question then: when was the last time you brought that same feeling to work?
How can you foster inspiration at work with personal items?
You can foster inspiration at work with personal items by literally bringing reminders of your passions into your workspace. For example, if gardening inspires you, consider a small plant or bonsai for your desk. If music is your passion, invest in good headphones or speakers to surround yourself with inspiring sounds. Even small objects like a baseball, a rock, a toy, or a picture can serve as powerful reminders of what drives you outside the office, helping to maintain that inspired feeling while you work.
You can foster inspiration at work with personal items by literally bringing reminders of your passions into your workspace. For example, if gardening inspires you, consider a small plant or bonsai for your desk. If music is your passion, invest in good headphones or speakers to surround yourself with inspiring sounds. Even small objects like a baseball, a rock, a toy, or a picture can serve as powerful reminders of what drives you outside the office, helping to maintain that inspired feeling while you work.
How can rituals help you find inspiration and focus?
Creative people have rituals to get their minds in the right space to work. Some of them might seem odd—Stravinsky would stand on his head when he felt stuck and there are more interesting quirks of other famous folks you might find interesting—but others are pretty mundane (naps, walks, favorite chair, time of day to work) and if you develop a ritual to find inspiration nurture it! There is nothing wrong with having something that you can do to get your mind set, focused, and ready for heavy thinking work. Read a favorite author before writing? Start a playlist of songs that inspire you? Fresh pad and pencil for a strategy session or new project? Why not. Why not if it works. Ritual, ascribing a great meaning to a small thing or action, is a fantastic way to help you remember the times you’ve felt most inspired and recapture those moments.
Why does inspiration get lost at work?
Sometimes we lose sight of how to be inspired at work when we forget why we started doing the job in the first place. Maybe we feel like we have more important things to work on while at work than “just daydreaming”, but I’d say it’s actually more simple than that—we’ve had the inspiration drummed out of us.
It’s a new year (sure it’s January 6th, but let’s face it last week was just a warm up to the new year) so take a moment and see where work needs a kick in the pants to get going again. Maybe you need a puzzle at your desk to solve. Maybe you need to stand instead of sit to work more. Maybe you just need to remember those times you’ve been most inspired and learn to carry that feeling with you all the time.
You never know, it could be fun.
