I have this saying drawn up in a little framed print, hanging on the wall of our camper. I put it there to remind me that – although I love my work and I’m constantly writing or planning or reading even while at our little ‘retreat’ – it’s critical to step away and enjoy some fun times in life. And with summer now here and holidays planned, it’s a good time to mention this topic.
I have on occasion found myself drooling over the latest laptops and wireless network ‘sticks’ that permit the remote worker the flexibility to get online anywhere… at the coffee shop, out on the deck, by the lake…
But therein lies the problem. We don’t get the ‘downtime’ we need to rejuvenate and refresh our mental faculties. Our brains are constantly processing data, feeding in more information, dealing with more decisions. We’re subjected to a perpetual bombardment of instant messaging, “tweets”, emails, SMS texts – and we’re burning out.
Instead of surfing the Internet at the coffee shop, why have a face-to-face visit with a friend over that cup of latte? Instead of writing emails on the deck, why not pot some flowers for some aroma and colour? Instead of preparing proposals at the lake, why not rent a boat or a canoe and take the kids out for a ride? Those are the moments that make up our lives. These are the activities that spur creative thinking.
As I head off to the camper again this weekend, I will be bringing some notes and sketches and a book or two to peruse. I’ll likely jot down lots of ideas… the camper is one sacred creative place for me. Because I do stay unplugged, I find I’m more connected with the Source of ideas, and they come to me much more easily.
I do not have a wireless notebook. The notebooks I take with me are of the old-fashioned paper variety. Scribbling and scratching my thoughts gets the creative juices flowing. And creative thinking begins when the mind is clear, rested and open to new experiences.
Believe me, it has taken a great deal of restraint to not go get one of those nifty laptops with the wireless connectivity so I can tippety-tap online while I’m at the camper. My husband helps in that regard though. He said that if I’m going to do that, then we might as well get rid of the camper since I’m just going to be working even more out there when I’m supposed to be spending time with the family and resting…
Job done. Thanks dear.
Have a good summer.
Tags: business, Creative Thinking, creativity, laptops, notebooks, rest and relaxation, summer, technology
