Creativity Breaks

I am a consultant in a professional training center. My job is to work with subject matter experts in nine different job specialties (one at a time, typically!) to capture what they know and pour that information and experience into instructor led training for new professionals coming into the company.

It is rewarding work. I get to pick the brains of scientists, engineers, and some of the most brilliant people in this corner of the world, in a new industry for me, and I'm like a kid with a new toy. Still, long hours sitting in a cubicle typing away and staring at a monitor take their toll.

Lots of people take breaks. They go for coffee, sit in the lobby and chat, or check their phones to see what's happening on Facebook. I'm surprised how few smoke, but the smoking areas are, thankfully, outside. I don't smoke, and I only drink a few cups of coffee a day (it's amazing how many people are addicted to the stuff, though).  When I take a break, I'm looking for something a little more clean and fresh.

I go outside for a creativity break. That should explain itself, but in case you don't understand, allow me to elucidate (there's my big word for the day!). Physiologically, it does you good to go outside. Rain, snow, sun, wind - whatever the condition, being outside in it is your natural habitat. It is good for your eyes, skin, lungs, heart, and brain. And weather is no excuse to not go out.

I'm in Saudi Arabia, and it gets hot and stays hot here. And that's ok - you can acclimate to hot, and I get out in it every day, year round. I take a walk at lunch almost every day. In the afternoons I go out and walk around the building. Walking stretches the muscles and increases blood flow and respiration (heart, lungs, brain, eyes). Getting away from artificial light, especially a computer monitor, even for a few minutes is great to relieve stress in your eyes and let them relax for a bit (which can also reduce headaches and muscle stress).

Vitamin D is created in your skin in response to sunlight - one more little benefit of getting away from the desk. But for me, the greatest benefit is to relax my mind. I can unfocus and let go for a few minutes, which gives my subconscious a chance to solve the nagging problem I've struggled with all morning, or resolve the difficult wording I was stuck on.

And I can just let my mind wander where it will for a bit, instead of focusing all my attention on a specific topic or course or document. It's amazing all the creative thoughts that pop up - story ideas, photos I'd like to take, machines I'd like to build, letters to write, things to do, and more.  And of course, I'm a pilot, so when I'm outside I can always count on having a few airplanes fly overhead, and that always makes me smile!

So take a creativity break! Make it whatever works for you, so long as it is away from your desk and out of your work environment. And if you can get some fresh air and raindrops or sunshine on your cheek, you will go back to work feeling better, more relaxed, and maybe with a fresh approach in mind to solve whatever you're working on.

Image copyright 2015 by Stone Ridge Photographers