How to fall (back) in love with creative work

​Happy Valentine’s Day! It’s all about love. 
 
Today, fittingly, that’s what we’re going to talk about. But we’re not talking about another person. We’re talking about the heavy lifting of doing creative work. 
 
You—or the creative person you task with this—got into this business because they love it. That’s one thing that all creatives have in common. They have an intense relationship with their work. 
 
But like any relationship, this one can grow cold. 
 
Do your assignments simply feel like, well, assignments? If so, what do you do, on this day of chocolate and flowers, to re-kindle that old flame? 
 
Take hope. There are ways to do this. We’re here to help. 
 
Find new inspiration in old sources
 
As a creative professional, you’re required to keep up with the latest trends in design, advertising, music, pop culture, all of it. People depend on you to be dialed in. 
 
For the purposes of this article, we’ll assume that that’s the case. 
 
So take a break from what’s new, and indulge your senses in what’s eternal. 
 
We’re talking about nature. We’re talking about looking out the window. Or better yet, simply walking out the door. Take a breather. Take a nature break. Soak in the beauty, the tranquility, and the relaxation. 
 
This is more than mere therapy. It’s also hugely inspiring. Study the veins in a leaf, or the shapes of the clouds. We wrote an entire article on grabbing inspiration from nature; check it out.
 
We can dive down even deeper into this same category, with one sub-category of nature which we find extra inspirational: Birds. Yep, we wrote another good one on this topic, too; here it is for your enjoyment.
 
(And here’s one more: On other overlooked sources of creative inspiration.)
 
Update your retreat
 
You can picture an MBA’s office in your head. Not hard. 
 
Now picture, in your mind, the office of the ultimate creative director. 
 
Pretty neat, huh? 
 
Now ask yourself: How does that vision compare with your reality? 
 
It doesn’t matter if you have a corner office, a tiny cubicle, or work from home. Your space is your space. And it needs to be your safe, comfy, inspiring spot. 
 
So “spa it up.” You can indulge massively, on the cheap. Treat yourself to a new chair cushion. Get yourself a whole collection of fancy coffees or (as in our case) tea. A little aromatherapy goes a long way; there’s everything from candles to simple hand lotion that smells nice. Don’t forget music. Even as we’re writing this, we’ve got some beautiful, relaxing, spa-style music playing, and it’s sure helping. 
 
The point is, anything that puts you in a more relaxed state will help unclog those creative juices. It can also be tech: Something as simple as a new keyboard or pen tablet. Here’s one: We found an inexpensive seat heater on Amazon, and installed it on our desk chair. It’s heavenly in winter. Makes us write better. 
 
Dive into the details
 
Our last bit of advice is perhaps the simplest. Lots of times, creative work loses its luster simply because there’s so much of it. It’s overwhelming. It feels more like work, and less like fun. 
 
The way around this is via a subtle attitude adjustment. For every assignment on your desk, it has scores of details that you must knock out. 
 
Remember the days, earlier in your career, when you would enjoy every one of those details? Now’s the time to re-discover that passion. It’s not “I need to knock out this headline layout”; it’s “Let me enjoy the process of kerning these two letters so that they breathe perfectly together.” It’s not: “Let me slog through this video”; it’s “How can I have the most fun with this particular lapped edit?” 
 
It's not a change in the work. It’s a change in the way you approach it. 
 
If it helps, think of this, too: For every person—like you—who’s toiling, and earning a living, in creative services, there’s likely a hundred others who dream of doing it. Or talk about doing it. Or plan on doing it. 
 
But they don’t. You do. That’s quite an accomplishment in itself.
 
So pat yourself on the back. Show yourself—and your work—a little love. 
 
Why not? It’s Valentine’s Day. 
 
Have a story or tip to share? Contact us. We’d love to hear it. 

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