| You hear "Beep, beep, beep" as your alarm clock | | | | yet unleash the creative side of your brain? The |
| belts out that annoying sound reminding you that | | | | secret lies in how well you establish a creative |
| it is time for another day. For most people, this | | | | routine. A creative routine leverages the |
| is the trigger that sets off a daily routine. | | | | benefits of a structured framework yet allows |
| Although the routine varies from person to | | | | for creativity and spontaneity within it. |
| person, there is common ground in that it means | | | | The old way of planning your day involves |
| that a familiar and repeat set of actions is about | | | | scheduling every minute of the day. Under this |
| to be set into motion. | | | | approach, you schedule a specific and fixed period |
| Think about it. Almost everyone (including | | | | of time to perform a certain task. For instance, |
| yourself) is guided by a routine. You have | | | | you plan from 10AM to 11AM to focus on product |
| routines that surround how you get ready in the | | | | design, book writing, or for reviewing a proposal. |
| morning, how you go about your workday, and | | | | But what if you are not in the right mindset to |
| the manner in which you end your day with a | | | | tackle that particular task at that specific time? |
| bedtime routine. | | | | This is where the creative routine takes over. |
| In many ways, routines are good. Routines | | | | You give yourself permission within your day to |
| provide a way in which you can assure that | | | | adjust and re-adjust. It might be that at 10AM |
| certain tasks get performed throughout the day. | | | | you need a break. If so, go take a walk, |
| For children, routines breed familiarity, comfort, | | | | complete your daily workout, sit out in the sun, or |
| and structure that they so crave. | | | | go work on your golf game. You'll come back |
| However, a routine is often the antithesis of | | | | rejuvenated, refreshed, and ready to tackle the |
| creativity. Routines help people to not have to | | | | specific task that you weren't ready to start |
| think. Routines are left-brained, step-by-step, | | | | immediately at 10AM. |
| logical actions that are often guided by the | | | | You should consider managing your day with a |
| subconscious mind. You do something so often | | | | creative routine. Your goal should be to design a |
| that you really do not even have to think about | | | | loose framework yet give yourself permission to |
| what you are doing. And unlike a routine, being | | | | be spontaneous and creative within it. Try it. |
| creative requires thought that occurs in the right | | | | There's a good chance that you'll find yourself |
| hemisphere of your mind. | | | | happier and more productive as you move away |
| So how do you leverage the benefits of a routine | | | | from your old boring routines. |