Over the last month, life has been anything but ‘normal’ over here at Camp Marion:
I moved back to Melbourne after a rather tumultuous digital nomad adventure
I quietly made a promise to myself to give up alcohol (if you’re curious about what pushed me over the edge, I blame Andrew Huberman)
I committed to eating as plant-based as I possible can
I decided to hunt for a part-time job to take some of the pressure off myself, and
I moved into a new apartment smack bang in Melbourne’s CBD after a nightmare-inducing house hunt (the market is COOKED).
Needless to say, the last thing I’ve had space for is my creativity – but that’s when I need it the MOST.
So here’s 25 creative interruptions to help you pull focus when life is pure chaos…
Look out of your window on a cloudy day. See what animals or objects you can see, just like you used to do as a kid. Take photos, share them on socials.
At your desk, draw what’s in front of you. Use a scrap piece of paper and your pen. Spend 5-15 minutes just drawing, nothing else. Don’t judge, don’t erase.
Write a poem about your day. Freestyle it or use Haiku rules (3 lines with a 5-7-5 syllable structure).
Go on a 30 minute walk around your neighbourhood, taking streets you wouldn’t normally take. Take 5 photos of things that grab your attention.
Take a 20-minute nap. Seriously. Game changer!
Chug a glass of water.
Draw your coffee/tea mug without lifting your pen off the page.
Cook a new recipe for one a meal day for an entire week.
Look at the horizon line for 30 seconds. Then, look at what’s in front of you for 30 seconds. Then, look at the horizon line again for another 30 seconds. Write down any thoughts popped into your mind.
Do 20 jumping jacks. Get that blood pumping.
Use The Expression Deck to kickstart your journaling practice.
Choose two opposite things – a table and spaghetti, for example – and write down 10 things that make them different to each other, and 10 things that they have in common.
Set a timer for 3 minutes. Choose an ordinary object, like a hair brush, and brainstorm as many alternative uses for it as you can.
Take two pens and put one in your left hand and one in your right hand. Write your full name simultaneously using both hands. This is great for syncing up the two sides of your brain.
Write down the plot of your favourite movie using only emojis.
Tell 5 people you know 5 things you love about them.
Reach out to 5 people you’ve been meaning to connect with and set up a time to catchup. How is this a creative interruption? It will give you something to look forward to (which is good for your mental health).
Put on your fave banger and clean up your workspace.
Choose a colour you love. Now write a short story (a few paragraphs) starting with that colour.
Meditate. I use free guided meditations on Insight Timer when I’m in a funk.
Watch an interview with someone you admire, one where they talk about their journey and experience (my fave resource at the moment is the Louisiana Channel).
Do nothing. Don’t write, don’t draw, don’t think. Just sit there for as long as you can and see what happens.
Do something just for you – take a bath, eat some ice cream or go get a massage. Self-care is real people and it could be the gateway to your biggest creative breakthrough.
Breathe. For real, take 5 deep belly breaths with your eyes closed – if you can change your energy, you’ll change your life!
Book in for a creativity coaching session with me – I’ll sort you out! 👊🏼
Now, repeat after me…
Creatively yours,
Dr Maz xo
PS: What are you procrastinating about at the moment? I’m curious because I’d love to dedicate some thinking and writing time to what you’re REALLY going through right now and how creativity can help. Hit reply and let me know x