In an earlier post, I mentioned how helpful a regular work schedule is to being creative, and related to that is the idea of getting away from everything on a regular basis. Part of the rut we get in is to do the same (non-creative) things over and over. This results in useless distractions that present themselves as “noise.” A good way to combat this is to spend long periods of time doing nothing: meditation, in a way.
I spent 11 hours in a car by myself twice in the last week and for much of that time, no music, no radio. The only conversation was the noise in my head. At some point, all that noise becomes boring, and then really interesting thoughts start bubbling up to the surface: “What is it about this landscape that is so compelling?” “What kind of narrative can be told through these views?” Without the chatter of the day-to-day stuff, quite a few ideas came up and led to other compelling trains of thought. I now have new directions to explore.
The point is to find long periods of time, I suggest a couple to three hours at least, where you are not doing anything. No TV, no newspapers, magazines, books. Just sit and be quiet. The first half hour or so might be very difficult. You’ll need to resist the temptation to get up and do something, but if you can get past that, I think you’ll be richly rewarded.
5 Comments
wow. what a great suggestion. And I must add, a challenge. Is this why I love to sit and stare? Only during rare moments do I let myself space out, so to speak.
Yes, it’s a challenge. I think having a room in the house given over to quiet is a good strategy. Our little studio apartment is so small that it’s difficult to keep an uncluttered space, free of distractions, but if there were a little sitting space, without a radio or t.v., or books and magazines, or a spot in a nearby park where you could sit and get quiet, that would be a good place to visit regularly.
Bruce,
thanks for the reminder. I find that the first period of time you talk about is critical for me. I don’t realize I am engaging in the “do something” when I want to be creative and find disappointment in what I produce. That having time to let it bubble up is important.
Quiet time is indeed precious. But for those of us who do not often have such luxuries, other techniques must be used to achieve the same, or similar results. I often use a kind of “active meditation.” Mindfulness of the present moment, even in the middle of chaos, lends its own calm.
Liz
A two-hour period of time where I have nothing to do but think is indeed rare, I agree, but if I can schedule them every once in a while and truly let them be unfocused, it always turns up something useful. I’d love to hear more about your “active meditation,” Liz.