Get Inspired by *Doing Nothing*

Despite being woken up at 6:15 by four paws and a wet nose whining for breakfast, I’m happily awake and sipping on my second (third? SOS) coffee of the day.  Outside my office window snow is beginning to stick, signaling a day spent indoors. This translates to wearing comfy clothes, enjoying some questionable Netflix reality shows, having an outdoor playdate with River and diving into an impromptu painting session (special thanks to my better half for being okay with my manic wall painting). Most importantly, for this blog, it allows an opportunity for reflection.

River's first big snow day in January 2022!

2024 Goal Achieved: Create for Myself

So far, I've successfully executed two passion projects through Instagram briefs organized by @briefclub. Provided only with a brand name, these projects allow complete creative autonomy from conception to the final rollout. My first submission ever, Devil’s Draught, not only acquired a spot in the top four but also served as validation for my design skills. Not to mention my work was showcased to their audience of over 130,000 followers! Me?? Hello?? Screaming, crying, throwing up. How exciting.

Devil's Draught Passion Project

To be recognized by the creative community is incredibly gratifying, but I have to say that the support and love I received from both friends and family were equally, if not more, significant.  From texts and website views to shared Instagram and LinkedIn posts, my people hit the ground running with encouraging gestures.  Even my parents gave me a buzz to talk about it, thanks to my dad’s newfound exposure to social media. My heart = full in all ways.

Doing Nothing = Success?

I saw a quote circling social media recently that I feel lends to my recent successes in creating for myself and teaches a valuable lesson:

Creative people need time to sit around and do nothing.

In a culture that glorifies productivity, the act of doing nothing is often easier said than done.  We’ve been conditioned — as designers and humans — that constant hustling yields the greatest rewards. While partly true, I also feel otherwise. Downtime is important. To be clear, that doesn’t mean taking a break from staring at your medium screen to scroll on your small screen or fixating on a large screen. It means engaging in activities (or rather, non-activities) that allow your mind to wander freely. It's in those moments devoid of a specific goal or intention that your imagination can take charge, giving rise to creativity and ideas that might remain undiscovered otherwise.

I urge everyone, not only designers, to take a break. I’ve been doing this recently and as a result, I’ve welcomed a flood of innovative, forward-thinking ideas (i.e. my passion projects). Visit a coffee shop without wifi or switch your phone to airplane mode. Tackle household chores without a podcast or TV in the background. Take a leisurely shower. Whatever you choose, let your mind wander freely. Unpredictable possibilities can be the most fulfilling.

XO