A Creative Sabbatical

This is an intriguing practice. Particularly since I recently realized that — instead of adding three letters  to the end of my name via higher education — said practice during the past year yielded a much more {practical} learning experience. A learning experience that has equipped me to continue in the direction of dreams.

Discovery and decisions regarding my “big picture” remain in-process. However, I encourage you to consider the value of disengaging from your routine for a period of time. If only for days or weeks …

Journal Every Day

There can be no courage unless you’re scared.

~Eddie Rickenbacker

Being a creative, you must realize about the only two things I do on a daily basis is sleep and eat!

However, my intention is to journal every day — at least in some form. I have a pop-up reminder on my Google Calendar each day at 9:15 a.m. — {visual journal}.

When my mind is wandering, I just write in longhand — or type my runaway thoughts; print; cut and paste in my journal. Some days I tear words or images from the pile of mail that lives on the counter near my desk. This usually sparks some sort of creative process that leads to a collage or journal prompt.

But what about when {overwhelm} or just plain ‘ol real-life roars at us? And inspiration is no where to be found?

Tactile Plan of Attack

All who have accomplished great things have had a great aim, have fixed their gaze on a goal which was high, one which sometimes seemed impossible. ~ Orison Swett Marden

Perhaps the change of seasons … or the weather … or mere routine replacing scenic travel and being away from home. Whatever it is, I seemed locked in funk-mode. My desk is a pile of misplaced mail, To-Do lists and miscellany …

So … what to do?

Comments

Funny sometimes how simple the answer is when ya’ simply ask the question …

I am blessed with a inspiring friend {who also is my faithful accountability partner!} — who keeps my mental train running on track. This week I talked with her about the lack of comments on this blog.

Not due to some vain aspiration, but because I frequently receive e-mails from my right-brain friends and readers — but they don’t leave comments here. (I learn so much from their input as well as being inspired to view planning with fresh eyes!)

But still, I wondered why they didn’t post here …

So, my smart and savvy friend {aka faithful accountability partner!} discovered why: I didn’t have comment-friendly settings!

Said problem is now corrected … So, now … A from-the-heart ♥ invite to you, dear reader:

Time Management — Block by Block

Every day we are faced with a rollercoaster of ideas, activities and interruptions that takes us for a wild ride in our attempt to manage our time effectively. Being the creAtive I am … I have employed a wide variety of tools and methods to keep myself {on-task}. Well, as much as possible — on task …

One such tool is to view my priorities in a matrix — one box at a time!

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Fine Tune Your Brain, Declutter and Time Management

Ya’ know some days you simply strike oil! This morning I am busily managing the tasks of leaving on vacation … But totally enjoyed the following articles! So, I just had to share ‘em with you!

• How to Stay Organized With Google Calendar

“If you’re disorganized, you’re bound to lose paperwork, miss appointments, and just waste time; that’s why having a smart calendar program is essential.” (Uh, lost paperwork, missed appointments … sound familiar? ::raising my hand::) More …

• 5 Simple Steps to Clearing the Clutter (painlessly)

“Do you ever feel that life is getting on top of you? Do you get overwhelmed with everything that needs to be done? Do you waste hours searching frantically for important documents, lost keys, mobile phone chargers and other essential items?” (Oh! Yay! I am so-o not alone!) More …

• 11 Solid Ways to Improve Your Time Management Skills

“Your best bet is to try a variety of different approaches until something clicks in your brain and sticks in your routine.” (Concentrating on one thing is my latest mode of magic!) More …

• 47 Ways to Fine Tune Your Brain

“In this article we’ll look at dozens of tactics that will help you maintain your brain into old age and help to increase your mental agility and cognitive development.” (I have been utilizing Brain Age! And it is fabulous!) More …

Hope your days include unexpected blessings and spectacular surprises! Need a little inspiration? Crank up some music and dance it up! I just did — and it worked!

What is your “press and play” way to better day planning? to inspiration?? Let me know! ♥

Creative Overwhelm

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The most common “fade to black” moment I experience in a day? Creative overwhelm.

Ideas and plans race around my mind like screaming vehicles in the final lap of a Nascar race! Some wipe out, crashing at the curves; others finish only to get flat tires.

So … How to “keep my ducks in a row” … Er, my race cars?

How to be effective: Focus

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One word. Focus.

This is the one-word answer presented in The Key to Effectiveness? And it sums up my week-long experiment.

Not an original idea or event, but I set up the last seven days according to time and task. I did so by …

10 Steps to Declutter Your Office

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We all readily state countless reasons to be more organized, to declutter and stop piling any — and all!— available space with “stuff” … But there seem to be so many {reasons} to tidy-up our workspace. Including the fact that every lost piece of paper costs a business $120, according to a recent study Delphi Group.

Imagine what the actual cost is to a micro-business led by a creAtive who — despite being extremely talented, educated and capable — spends hours looking for “stuff” seemingly forever lost in various {stash and dash} piles around their workspace.

So, let’s save some time and cash and declutter our workspace. This is how I have been accomplishing this task …

Focused Kaleidoscope Views

Image Credit (and more kaleidoscope views …)

One of the reasons I have always enjoyed consulting, mentoring and teaching? Coming alongside another person to listen, provide input — and sometimes simply serve as a {dream-scribe} as inspirations flash into view … Well, said roles always produce both bloom (for the client) as well as new seeds to sow in my own garden!

Much like the connection between blooms and seed — when two or more people come together, there is always a {synergy} that would not exist otherwise.