Creativity and being late.

I hate being late. This is an angst from childhood.

I used to remember my Father calling out to my Mother when they were going out to dinner. ‘Let’s leave before we have to arrive’…meaning it was now 7.30 and 7.30 is when were are were supposed to be there.

I publish this Newsletter every week on a Thursday at 7.30, this week it is late. Does it matter, no not really, but it kind of does to me…it’s not late late as it’s still Thursday after all.

Today’s newsletter crept up on me slowly, because the week has gone so fast. Here I am trying to think of a great subject under pressure and late already when the subject is a plain as a pike staff. Being late does drive creativity. Constraint is a powerful creative motivator. Ever found yourself racing against the clock? Deadlines looming, pressure mounting, and the ticking of the clock echoing in your mind? We've all been there, I’m there now! ?

When you're pressed for time, your brain can shift into higher gear. It starts to think outside the box, finding solutions you might not have considered.

You prioritise. You innovate. You find ways to make things work, often surprising yourself with the results.

But here's the catch: for creativity to come to the rescue when you’re under pressure, you need to give it space to flow. You have to trust your instincts and let go of perfectionism. Have the self-belief and confidence you can do it, embrace the thinking process and being open to unexpected ideas.

Creativity is like a river. When you allow it to flow freely, it can carve out new paths and reach places you never imagined. But if you try to control it too much, you place mental rocks in the river, you disrupt the flow, cause turbulence, splashes and disturbed water.t

Stress is the biggest rock in the creativity river.

When you're stressed, your mind tends to shut down. You become less flexible, less open to new ideas. Stress narrows your focus, making it harder to see the bigger picture.

In fight or fight mode you only have two options, the chances are neither are very good and there are so many others available to you.

Stress also affects your physical well-being. Stress affects my breathing. I know this as I must fight it especially before I do any public speaking. Breathing is a great stress buster.

Taking a few deep breaths can help calm the mind and body. It can reset your focus and open up your thinking.

Try this: when you feel stressed, pause for a moment. Close your eyes (if you can) and take a deep breath in. Hold it for a few seconds, then slowly exhale. Repeat this a few times. You'll notice a sense of calm washing over you, and your mind will feel clearer.

I did this when I sat down to start this Newsletter thinking what on earth was I going to write about.

Having said all the above it’s important to find a balance.

Embrace the pressure, but don't let it turn into stress.

Allow your creativity to flow, but don't force it.

Trust the process and be kind to yourself.

What on earth does trust the process mean!

Trusting the process means having confidence in your creative journey, even when the path isn't clear. It involves embracing uncertainty and being open to where your ideas might lead.

The process starts with brainstorming and gathering inspiration. My eyes closed moment.

Then, you move into experimenting and exploring different approaches without thinking too far ahead. (The bullet points for each paragraph).

Then iterating and refining your ideas, (Paragraph by paragraph and editing)

Trusting the process requires patience and a willingness to let your creative thinking unfold naturally, rather than forcing it. By doing so, you allow your best ideas to emerge organically.

Remember, creativity should be fun and enjoyable as well as for solving problems. It's a chance to explore, innovate, and finding new ways to do things. It's about seeing the world from different perspectives and daring to think differently.

Practical Tips for Creative Thinking Under Pressure

1. Set Clear Goals: Define what you need to achieve. Clear goals help you focus and prioritize. (I need to publish the Newsletter TODAY.)
2. Break Tasks into Smaller Steps: Tackle one step at a time. This makes the process less overwhelming. (Bullet points and paragraphs.)
3. Take Breaks: Short breaks can refresh your mind and boost creativity. (I’ll stop writing and then do a graphic later today)
4. Stay Positive: A positive mindset can enhance your creative thinking. (I think I’ve cracked it for this week’s edition) Phew and yippee.
5. Practice Mindful Breathing: Use breathing techniques to reduce stress and improve focus. (ooommm)

Conclusion

Being late or working under time constraints doesn't have to be a negative experience. It can be an opportunity to tap into your creative potential.

However, late is generally not a good look.

If you are late you need to pre-warn the recipient, so they are aware of the situation. You never know a minimum viable product alternative, might be an interim answer. You don’t know unless you ask.

Being late also involves you in unnecessary expectation management tasks that being on time avoid.

If you are late feel the pain of it so it is the exception not the rule because becoming known as unreliable is not where you want to position yourself. Once is unfortunate, twice is careless and more than that it is a habit.

??CTA - Next time you find yourself racing against the clock, remind yourself: creativity thrives under pressure. Embrace it, trust the process, and let your ideas flow. It may well save the day.

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This Newsletter was bought to you by Couler Ltd. Struggle with time or need help with your creativity, get in touch. www.couler.co.uk