This post was originally published on Creative Market, the world’s marketplace for ready-to-use design assets.
As a creative professional, there’s a good chance that you spend a lot of time alone. Whether you freelance at home or work in an office full of other people, creative work requires you to delve down deep in the corners of your mind and mine it for new ideas, which can feel like a totally isolating process (especially if you’re not an introvert).
However, despite the fact that your alone time might not feel particularly enjoyable (studies have shown that humans hate having to be alone with their thoughts), it may just be one of the keys to unlocking some of your best ideas.
Row 1: Ana Jaks, Ashley Morris, 林沐夕.
The benefits of being alone…
Spending time alone has some particularly noticeable benefits - especially in terms of creativity and productivity: two key assets of any creative professional.
1. Better Focus on One Single Subject
Despite the fact you probably have a million things to get done at once, studies have shown that human brains are just not good at multitasking . By spending time alone, however, you can zero in on one project at once—meaning you can get it done more efficiently, and at a higher quality.
2. More Positive Emotions
Research scientist Reed Larson spent time studying the effect of being alone on the moods of teenagers and adolescents. He found that while, in general, people didn’t necessarily enjoy spending time completely alone at the time, they ended up in a better mood down the line.
3. Freedom from the Demands of Others
When we spend time with other people, psychologists explain that we are subject to their short-term demands . While these demands might be generally pretty low key, they can distract you from whatever work you’re focused on. Alone time allows people to refocus on their own priorities, without having to weigh them against the requests of others.
4. More Creativity
Collaboration can be a fun and stimulating process. But studies have shown that trying to come up with creative ideas with other people actually gets in the way of the idea generation process . There are many reasons that group brainstorming isn’t as effective as individual brainstorming: group-think, distraction, and fear of judgment (among others). So, spend time trying to come up with creative ideas alone, and you’ll probably come up with more (and better) ones.
5. Improved Memory
Spending time alone has been shown to boost your memory . So, during your solitary work time, you may just find that you better remember facts you’ve learned, ideas you’ve come up with, and helpful associations that you’ve made.
How to spend time alone
We live in a constantly connected world, which can make it difficult to carve out time to be alone with your creative work. If you want to ensure you get some quality solitude time in, check out the following tips:
1. Set a weekly date.
You set weekly dates with friends or partners—now try setting one with yourself. Designate a chunk of time each week that you will spend alone working on creative projects, then stick to it no matter what.
2. Create a designated workspace.
Find a workspace for yourself where you can close the door. Being able to physically separate yourself from other people while you work is a great way to unlock your creative ideas.
3. Request time to work from home.
If you work at an office, discuss the possibility of working from home with your boss. Even if you are only able to work from home once every week or two, you may see a distinct boost in your creative output.
While solitude often feels like loneliness, it’s important to recognize alone time as an important step in the creative process. Do you enjoy the time you spend alone? Have you experienced any productivity or creativity benefits from solitude?
About the author: Laura Busche is the author of the Lean Branding book. Her approach to branding is blended, combining insights from an undergraduate degree in business, master’s degree in design management, and Ph.D. in consumer psychology. Laura is a Brand Content Strategist at Creative Market.
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