As a landscape architect, you have the opportunity to shape the environment and create meaningful spaces for people and nature. But how do you keep your creative spark alive in a career that can be challenging, competitive, and demanding? Here are some tips to help you stay motivated and inspired in your work.
One of the most important factors for motivation is having a clear sense of why you do what you do. What is your vision for your projects and your profession? How do you contribute to the social, ecological, and aesthetic values of your field? How do you express your personal style and passion? By articulating your purpose, you can align your goals, actions, and outcomes with your core values and beliefs.
Yes, this is the most, actually foremost, to any career. For us landscape architects, believing in something bigger than yourself is sometimes the only thing that will keep you going in this challenging career that is marred but low pay, overstuffed egos and long hours. This profession has so much going for it but can’t seem to get out of its own way. Finding a meaning in the work is the only thing that has kept me going for the last 30 years.
You must always set realistic goals, be open to new ideas, seek feedback and be open-minded to collaboration learning different ways and sustainable ways. Always keep in mind passion drives.
Take notes of the ideas coming to your mind, for example, when you are taking a walk. Have deep conversations with other creative people. Respect and focus on your creative period of time. Read more, travel more, and enjoy it.
I agree the statement, I observe things in a deep manner, I start processing an idea to find a solution, it’s not a mandate to find solutions for all the problem been observed. But we can pitching ideas to think, brainstorm and then for discussion. Take actions for the most important in priority. Make note of all ideas flowing will help one another
I agree the statement, I observe things in a deep manner, I start processing an idea to find a solution, it’s not a mandate to find solutions for all the problem been observed. But we can pitching ideas to think, brainstorm and then for discussion. Take actions for the most important in priority. Make note of all ideas flowing will help one another
Another way to boost your motivation is to seek feedback and collaboration from others. Feedback can help you improve your skills, learn from your mistakes, and celebrate your achievements. Collaboration can help you expand your network, exchange ideas, and explore new perspectives. You can seek feedback and collaboration from your colleagues, clients, mentors, peers, or even online communities. Just make sure you are open-minded, respectful, and constructive in your interactions.
Back when i was in Architecture school. We had this thing we called "Studio Culture". The main idea was for students to work together in the studio, share ideas, inspire and teach themselves. I learnt more from Studio culture than i did from my professors. It can be really scary asking for feedback on your work. But what is always guaranteed is that someone will see something you missed.
I think this is best approach particularly as an architect, constructive criticism makes you a better architect and am delight in this. This motives me to do more in my task and try to make it better, however I understand the fact that you cannot incorporate all suggested criticisms to your design.
In my experience not matter how bad is the design idea , I don’t fear to display or have a discussion of ideas. When we are open for discussion, we make ourselves prepared for failures too. So that obviously a learning curve
In my experience not matter how bad is the design idea , I don’t fear to display or have a discussion of ideas. When we are open for discussion, we make ourselves prepared for failures too. So that obviously a learning curve
A third tip to stay motivated is to challenge yourself and learn new things. Creative work can become stale or boring if you repeat the same tasks or methods over and over. To avoid this, you can try new techniques, tools, or software, experiment with different materials, styles, or scales, or take on projects that are outside your comfort zone or expertise. Learning new things can help you grow as a professional, stimulate your curiosity, and spark your imagination.
Try to spend some time learning new things that you are passionate to know more (in case if your daily responsibility is quite repetitive). For example, I pursued MSc in Urban Planning cause I found myself enjoy site planning and I’d love to learn more. Some of my coworkers studied in project management/ BIM/ LEED GA as per their own interests. To me, learning new things that I am passionate about is one of the best way to stay motivated.
I believe sharing ideas increase the efficiency of our goals towards me whatever we want to achieve, try to create an environment that will make an impact the psychology behind every milestone lies in our hands
Progress promotes progress. Learning new things and tricks in your field always feels good and it lights a fire under you to learn more. It easy to fall into a rut creatively, especially if your workload has been a bit repetitive. A good way to combat this is to set time aside for personal projects. This gives you freedom to experiment freely.
50-50. Spark that imagination then challenge it with reality. That'll keep you on your toes. Keep the balance while you keep strolling. step by step (and sometimes on your toes.)
A fourth tip to stay motivated is to balance your work and life. Creative work can be rewarding, but also stressful, exhausting, or frustrating. To avoid burnout, you need to take care of your physical, mental, and emotional health. This means setting boundaries, prioritizing tasks, delegating responsibilities, and managing your time and energy. It also means finding time for rest, relaxation, hobbies, and fun. By balancing your work and life, you can recharge your batteries, reduce your stress, and enjoy your career.
In order to have good work life balance, we need to find a passion which inclines to our character, a profession which inclines towards your inner passion and also helps you to be financially independent
But when you experience huge emotional stress, you can still burn out. Take that time to get away, play a musical instrument, and reconnect with the world around you. No one’s going to miss you, and you’ll learn so much… hopefully
Work and life balance is something unique for everyone, especially solopreneurs. For many create solopreneurs, their work is their life, and their life is their work. As they have to wear many hats, their original creative pursuits can be muddied by other creative business development tasks like marketing material and social media posts. etc. or boring repetitive tasks like booking keep. Keeping a balance between business development tasks and the main line of work can help to keep a balance and motivation. Listening to your inner voice when you suck on something and move on to the next task so you do not waste time "spooling" waiting to get a task do before the next thing.
my mantra "everything in moderation, including moderation" testing boundaries yours and others is a good indicator of how in touch you are with an objective reality
A fifth tip to stay motivated is to celebrate your successes and failures. Creative work can be unpredictable, uncertain, and risky. Sometimes you may achieve your desired results, and sometimes you may face rejection, criticism, or failure. Instead of dwelling on the negative aspects, you can celebrate your successes and failures as opportunities for learning, growth, and improvement. You can also acknowledge your efforts, progress, and achievements, and reward yourself for your hard work and dedication.
A sixth tip to stay motivated is to find inspiration and gratitude in your work. Inspiration can come from many sources, such as nature, art, culture, history, or other disciplines. You can expose yourself to different stimuli, observe your surroundings, or seek new experiences to fuel your creativity. Gratitude can come from appreciating the benefits, opportunities, and joys of your work. You can express your gratitude to yourself, your clients, your collaborators, or your supporters, or reflect on the positive impact of your work on others and the environment.
A large majority of creative ideas are NOT created from nothing. They are a product of past experiences, previous projects, observing the world around etc. Leonardo Da Vinci spent countless hours observing birds fly and that convinced him that man could reach the skies. And we did. Finding your source of inspiration is a personal journey. I spend hours watching the works of talented people in my field. That always leave me inspired and fueled up.
Harness and delve into whatever gave you goosebumps. Explore these (series of) emotions. This could be that first spark that initiates an inspiration.
HealthCare Executive, Former Clinical Education Director American Hospital Dubai
Appreciation, when you feel appreciated and valued, it will ignite the flame within you to achieve more and more. Going the extra mile needs passion and compassion.
Look back at the starting point of your career , at your projects , recall how you overcame hurdles , pat yourself on the back and move forward with a sense of achievement and confidence
Exploring and immersing yourself in the real world and your surroundings, you can discover a deep well of motivation, can provide a wealth of inspiration and foster creativity.
Setting specific goals, finding inspiration from various sources, experimenting with new ideas, and embracing failure as part of the learning process can help keep your motivation high. Additionally, connecting with a supportive community and taking breaks to avoid burnout is crucial for long-term creative motivation.
Creative career is self fulfilling. It can advertise it self and you can earn accolades to keep you motivated. Creative careers are often visible and easy to market. Some creative project can often be applied to many future projects.