5 tips for creatives to stay inspired during lockdown
Staying motivated and positive during a public health crisis is no easy feat. ‘Creative block’ is real even on the best of days, but during a pandemic it takes on a whole other level on mental complexity. Finding sources of ‘inspiration’ during quarantine and lockdown are few and far in between.
We all want to still be in operation on the other side of the Covid-19 ‘lockdown’. In the uncertain and changing world that we find ourselves navigating today, professional collaboration is the need of the hour to tackle the monumental challenge of ‘recovery’ that lies ahead of us.
Collaboration looks like building community, mutual support, affinity and solidarity. It’s what we like to think we thrive at doing as creatives, connecting with clients and forging stronger relationships whilst serving an industry like the built environment sector which is reliant on teamwork and inter-disciplinary collaboration. A single discipline alone cannot build a city.
"Great things in business are never done by one person; they're done by a team of people."
– Steve Jobs
So when we found ourselves asking, what can we do with our skills to help ourselves- and help the built environment creative community- the answer was clear. We decided to share our top tips on remote working in a bid to help fellow creatives navigate working in isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic. As a ‘remote-first’ agency, we are used to collaborating digitally and working from home, cafes, libraries or wherever inspiration takes us on our travels. Lack of face to face contact with colleagues, water cooler chats, optimum working equipment, and staying inspried are some of the issues that the first time remote-worker is likely to face.
Here are five of our top tips for staying inspired during isolation; they’ve certainly helped us a bunch along the way. We’ve pooled together links to industry resources, insights, creative support and even the top viral videos to inspire and see you through our current situation to the other side of the ‘new normal’.
We are all in this together, and we will get out of it together.
1. Hone your skills via virtual learning
It is a difficult time to stay motivated. One way to combat this is by staying inspired and indulging in new activities that fuel the mind as well as by honing existing skills via virtual learning.
Here are a few digital resources that we’ve compiled including webinars, design documentaries and a wealth of free learning material to get you started if you find yourself in a slump.
Get stuck into this comprehensive list of CPDs, podcasts and webinars around the built environment kindly brought to you by Kisshouse and the Building People
Become even more digitally-literate with Arts Council England’s Digital Culture resources
Be inspired by Dezeen’s list of architecture documentaries or wind down with their top picks of films for architecture fans
Access UK Green Building Council’s extensive new Virtual Learning Portfolio
Watch Zoomed In Virtual Photography and Architecture Festival talks on demand on YouTube
Engage in Dezeen’s Virtual Design Festival until 30 June or LFA Digital throughout the month of June.
2. Stay connected with the industry and share knowledge
We’re thankful that ‘lockdown’ doesn’t quite equate to ‘locked up’ but it's easy to feel alone whilst remote-working during times of physical distancing. Luckily, the digital realm provides us with ample opportunity to stay connected with our creative communities. You can also skill share, engage in online mentoring sessions and portfolio crits.
Join the Architecture Foundation’s 100 Day studio, an insightful initiative featuring a weekday diet of online lectures, panel discussions and interviews hosted on a free live-stream on their YouTube channel
The Dots, self-described as a professional network for teams that don’t wear suits to work, have created an Ask the Community feed providing design support such as collaboration call-outs
Lots of knowledge available to watch and listen on demand from Creative Review’s the Lowdown, the Business of Architecture UK’s Covid-19 podcast resources and Archinet’s Covid-19 Guide.
Stay informed with these useful industry updates and resources taken from the RIBA, Architects’ Journal, RICS and CIBSE pages.
3. Optimise your home workspace
If you’re working from home for the first time, you may have had to carve out a space in your ‘living space’ for your ‘workspace’. As tempting as working from your bed may seem, making a habit of it could make it hard to separate ‘work’ from ‘life’, a fine balance to achieve at the best of times.
Use a sturdy surface for a desk, get a comfortable chair and give yourself as much room as you can to spread out any paperwork and you’re coffee cup! Being close to a window helps to connect you with natural light and fresh air. Add plants to your workspace, not only does this have health benifits, but it is also a huge mood uplifter. Nothing like a bit of nature to spark those creative juices.
And if you want to go ‘all the way’ in your home office endeavour- invest in multiple screens (the larger, the better!), an ergonomic keyboard and mouse and noise-cancelling headphones- essential when you’re in the ‘zone’. This may sound old-school, but it will do wonders to improve your focus, workflow and productivity. Archinet has some more tips for you.
4. Exercise mindfulness
In the midst of uncertainty with anxiety levels at their peak, we should be cultivating mindfulness more than ever. From being completely present and in the moment to intentionally tuning into your body, mindfulness, as a practice, can look different to everyone.
Why not follow some guided mindfulness exercises to reduce any stress or anxiety that you may be experiencing? You could try some mindful observation exercises from this extensive list or practice mindful breathing using an app like Headspace or Calm. Read up on the countless scientifically-proven benefits that practicing mindfulness brings and experiment to find out what works for you. We found these pointers particularly helpful and might we suggest a few more from Creative Boom to stay motivated and sane.
The Architects' Mental Wellbeing Forum created a mental wellbeing toolkit last year, a valuable resource, relevant even more so today and available to download for free.
5. Find joy in the little things
With travel, leisure, entertainment, retail and events off the table for the time being, we are compelled to find inspiration in our immediate and limited surroundings. Life, for the most part, has not been cancelled- there is plenty to be grateful and joyful for.
While this is a period in history we are never going to forget, what are the things that brought you joy during lockdown, even for a fleeting moment? Daily walks, food, zooms with friends and family, reading a book you’ve been meaning to for months or perhaps dusting off an old sketchbook could provide you with some unbridled joy.
And if all else fails, here are a couple of viral music videos for posterity to make you smile, chuckle or roll over the floor laughing:
Coronavirus Rhapsody (based on Bohemian Rhapsody)
Post Corona (Coronavirus Parody)
"U can’t touch this" - Covid 19 Edition - Made Entirely With Healthcare Products
Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay inspired.
So go forth and spark your creative thinking by keeping inspired, staying connected and by boosting mindfulness in your workspace. And although this isn’t an exhaustive list, we hope you’ve found our suggested resources useful.
While these resources are compiled with good intentions, we are all in the same boat trying to figure out how best to navigate a situation none of us have ever been in. Channel what you’re feeling to create your best work, binge on Netflix or eat your weight in chocolate- whatever works for you.
As long as you stay safe and healthy.
Enjoy the slower pace of life for now- soon enough we might be busy again and living life at 200%.
Let’s meet again on the other side!
Know of any more initiatives or resources that creatives should be aware of? Send us a tweet.
And if you’re in need of any assistance in your communications during this crisis, reach out to us for a free 30-minute virtual consultation. We’d love to support you in any way we can.