Finding a Balance Between Creativity and Consistency

Author: Mahmud Bezalel

Carlo Ancelotti, the present football coach of Real Madrid, is known for taking sabbaticals once in a while, and he usually does this despite numerous offers from different clubs that want him to be their coach. The same approach has been applied by José Mourinho, Jürgen Klopp and some other great minds in football.

Normally, these sabbaticals are necessitated by the need to rest, especially after numerous seasons of constant brain-racking, formation arrangements, squad revamps and all the other perks that come with being a coach.

Profoundly, another good reason for this is a need to keep the creative juices flowing. Constant creativity without necessary measures being taken will eventually lead to inconsistent creativity. An artiste who is always releasing singles, and dropping albums will eventually go for a long break. Not because they have become fulfilled with their achievements, it is simply because of the need to maintain the creative elements in their brain.

From time immemorial, and in different fields, there has always been a need to apply certain measures in order not to run out of ideas completely. These measures may become difficult to apply as the pressure to deliver always comes in from clients and employers, but as it is said the pidgin parlance “soldier go, soldier come.”

You might be valuable, but not indispensable.

When the creative juices stop flowing, the same folks who have constantly been on your neck to deliver will find another neck to disturb and trouble. A sad reality, but it is what it is. Therefore, there is a need, a pressing need to take certain steps to ensure that the creative space in your mind does not go blank and that the creative field does not start having withered grass.

The following steps will be helpful and by integrating these practices into your routine, you can stay consistent with your creativity over a long period of time:

1. Diversify Inputs: Expose yourself to various sources of inspiration—books, art, music, nature, and different cultures. There is a reason for copyrights. It has been realized in the music industry that it is almost impossible to stop people from sampling other works of music, and this is because a composition can always be an inspiration for another composition. Rather than try to avoid it, they have simply found a way to ensure that every sampled work gets due credits.

2. Schedule Creativity Time: Different holy books and different philosophers have all emphasized the need to share one’s time effectively and not always engage in reactive or sporadic planning. Those lessons have not become archaic, rather they have become evergreen in this age where it is easy to lose oneself.  Allocate dedicated time for creative pursuits regularly. Treat it as an appointment and prioritize it amidst your other engagements.

3. Keep a Creative Journal: You will forget it, write it. Yes, your brain will disappoint you; write it. No, you will not remember it when you need it; write it! Capture ideas, sketches, quotes, and inspirations in a notebook or digitally.  Creativity to flow more freely. Gone are the days when you have to take a book or jotter with you to note ideas down. Your phone is a daily companion, it can also serve as a storage room for ideas that come in suddenly. You could be on a bus when something ignites sparks in your creative box. If you don’t write it down, that idea might be lost. Forever? Maybe.

5. Experiment and Play: Embrace experimentation without the pressure of immediate results. Playfulness can very well lead to breakthroughs and unexpected solutions. You know the task at hand, but the idea has not taken shape, You can always play around with the idea until the moment of Eureka arrives. No one is policing playfulness.

Bonus steps because you never know

Take Breaks and Rest: Sometimes, stepping away from your projects and allowing your mind to rest can rejuvenate creativity. Balance intense creative periods with relaxation. Deadlines will come and go, but an unstable mind is difficult to work with.

 Collaborate and Share:

Yet again, this is mentioned. Leave that space of yours and go out!  Engage with others in your fields of interest. Collaboration can bring fresh perspectives and ideas that you might not have considered alone.

Signing off for this week in the hopes that you apply these steps. And if you do, you’re welcome. That is what the blog is here for.