Do you find that you are staying longer on the internet than ever before? When you need a Creative boost, an idea brainstorm, inspiration injection where is the 1st place you look? Was your answer the internet.
It is understandable, the internet offers a large steady stream of creative, inspiration which may I add are created by someone more than likely, like you. More sites like Pinterest, flicker is also offering even more creative inspiration.
So why do we need to venture anywhere else for the Creative enlightenment, when you have Pinterest, your daily, weekly blog list, online stores etc..,.
Well, what happened to the world outside of the square box.
There was a time when the internet wasn’t our first source.
There was a time when there was no internet at all, yet creative inspiration still flourished.
Does your creativeness become limited to what you express from yourself if your only source is based online? It’s a good resource but using it as your only resource isn’t that what we call being a little uncreative.
If your creative flourishes because of patterns and textures, wouldn’t it be more inspiring walking through a textile/fabric department store or a small bespoke boutique? So you can see, feel and be amongst the very substance that boosts your creative mojo. Talking to the owner about their passion for texture could easily inspire you in ways you couldn’t imagine.
You create with acrylics or water-color, then wouldn’t your local or even out of town Art Gallery be worthy of your presence for an inspiration recharge. What about exhibitions and museums that are founded on talented creative individuals like yourself. These places can energize your creative flow as good as the internet probably even better.
I love to walk through stores that sell greeting cards to look at new designs from new artists. Going through greeting card stores that offer designs unrelated to my style is defiantly an inspiration.
When was the last time you walked through your park, & used that moment to reflect on your day or weeks events? Sitting on a bench, while watching the fast-paced world pass by could be the stillness inspiration your body and mind needs. Inspiration does not only come from visual awareness, stillness, reflection, peace, listening to the birds can also provide great reignite your creative spark. Imagine what energizing creative insight you could receive all because you watched a sunrise one morning, that’s got to be better than the internet right? Let’s not leave the internet out complete record your inspiration boosts via your blog, by showing what a few hours can do away from the computer screen could encourage other creative to do the same.
Our world is flourishing and providing lots of inspiration in many different ways. Therefore why come to depend only on the internet for your inspiration, when it’s us who makes the internet have the inspiration in the first place.
Over to you:
When you have a break from your computer screen, what do you do to recharge your creative inspiration? Or What will you do to give your creative inspiration a boost?
6 Comments. Leave new
My thoughts exactly. I enjoy the internet especially pintrest, but find I loose track of time and end up spending too long in front of laptop screen and often feel I’ve not made best use if my free time!
Hi Haldis,
Thanks for stopping by and yes I totally agree. The internet can be a mind numbness drug. When you look at the time hours have passed so quickly. Using a timer or some type of computer alarm clock can stop you from losing time on the not so important activities online.
Your jewellery is really beautiful.
Many blessing Janet
I’m learning to get at least ONE craft task completed before I switch on my computer. Then to return to at least one project later in the day after a break doing something completely different. This gives shape and satisfaction to my day.
As someone at home with health problems, I need to vary things and ensure success rather than get sucked into the worthiness of ‘connecting’ with the virtual world.
I also need to schedule artist’s breaks (as in Julia Cameron’s iconic tome, The Artist’s Way) even if that is ‘only’ sitting quiet in the garden or by window or watching a DVD. Reading counts too, of course.
Hi Shirley
You have approached this internet syndrome pretty great. You know what should happen before you start your day and that allows you to control the outcome and your work activities. It can be hard, for many do believe that they are working, when they are simply browsing sites, which is not helping their business activities.
Your moments of silence in the garden or by the window are priceless. Watching a dvd or reading even though a different activities, yet great for stimulating the mind for those great new ideas and inspirations..
Many Blessings
Janet
I think it’s all about balance. I work with making websites and stuff like that, so I need to stay online pretty much. But on the other hand I also do stuff offline a lot. Take a run, make food, go for shopping, have a walk, photograph and so forth.
I think any one thing is mind numbing and will cause to lack of creativity after a while. If you keep avoiding Internet it can also cut off from your creativity: Then you’ll miss all the good stuff online.
Balance. That’s the thing.
Hi Mervi,
Thanks for visiting and joining the discussion. Avoiding the internet is something i wouldn’t advocate and couldn’t considering i’m one of the millions who reply on the internet for my business. Plus if i’m not on the internet i am working on designs on my computer so i understand the need of balance.
I have in the passed focused my effects on-line and working on my computer very heavily which did do a mind numbing episode. So that’s why i speak of going for that walk, enjoying the art gallery or like you stated going for that run. Its the release of the focus and the welcoming of something new into the mind, or even fresher perspectives on issues that were beating us at the computer screen.
It is about balance because at the end of the day, we do need a little time away from the computer, even if it is to have a cup of tea and a biscuit.