{"id":172,"date":"2011-08-29T16:41:34","date_gmt":"2011-08-29T16:41:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/marniepehrson.com\/unplugged\/?p=172"},"modified":"2011-09-02T03:07:14","modified_gmt":"2011-09-02T03:07:14","slug":"rebooting-your-brain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marniekuhns.com\/unplugged\/2011\/08\/29\/rebooting-your-brain\/","title":{"rendered":"Rebooting Your Brain"},"content":{"rendered":"

Everybody needs a good rest periodically and for the Inspired Creative<\/a>, we often find the rest phase of the creative cycle annoying. We want to be in a constant state of flow with ideas and excitement about our projects, but it’s impossible to sustain that long term. Even nature has to rest — which is why we have winter.<\/p>\n

When your “winter” moments of life come along, sink into them and embrace them. Take a break, a vacation even. In July I was in a major rest phase of my creative cycle. I couldn’t come up with an idea if my life depended upon it. The thought of having to brainstorm or do anything business-related made me want to run screaming in the opposite direction. So I knew I was in the rest phase and decided to just embrace it. I did the bare minimum in my business and took time to read, watch movies, play the piano and veg around the house.<\/p>\n

But it didn’t really help because in the back of my mind I resented that my brain wasn’t working. At a gut level I felt unproductive and lazy. Then, the 3rd week of August, my family and I went to Seacrest Beach, Florida and spent a week building sand castles and playing lots of Go Fish. I got up early and took solitary walks along the beach and often took a walk in the evening alone as well. It was wonderful! The subconsious guilt program shut down. I felt no need to accomplish anything. I didn’t feel like I “should be working” or “should be coming up with ideas.”<\/p>\n

I relaxed into the ocean scenery and enjoyed my family and the gorgeous nature setting. I took lots of pictures and just had fun. The interesting thing was, the morning we were to leave to come home, I woke up from a business-related dream with several ideas popping to mind. It was as if my brain got a system reboot. Since I’ve been back, the ideas have begun to flow again. I’ve been working on a new project for Inspired Creatives<\/a> at an easy, natural pace.<\/p>\n

So, when you’re feeling that boredom and apathy with your projects and the idea channel has shut down for you, take a break! A real break! Step away from your environment so you can come back with clarity. I put together a video of one of my favorite piano pieces along with my photos of the beach. It’ll give you a feel for the kind of break I’m talking about.<\/p>\n


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