You Can Still Be Creative During Telework — Here’s How

Telework can be a breeding ground for creativity, but it can also get a bit old walking from your bedroom to your office and back each day. The good news is that even if you’re feeling a little burnt out, tapping into your creative abilities is easy, no matter how long you’ve been teleworking. Check out these tips from Hussain Almossawi, product designer and author of The Innovator’s Handbook: A Short Guide to Unleashing Your Creative Mindset.

Creativity in the teleworking world

While the pandemic was tragic, Almossawi says, it granted many the opportunity to think outside the box at work and in their lives at large.

“The sudden shift in the way we lived our day-to-day or operated our businesses was something that led to new ways of working remotely or from home, chasing new passions, and exploring things that had a higher sense of value in life,” he tells Hive.

“Brands started to change their product lineups and services to adapt to the new lifestyle – from highly fashionable masks to better webcams and curbside pickup services, every kind of business was innovating and adapting in their own spaces.”

And now that the pandemic is winding down, Almossawi notes that there is a mindset change in innovation – the playing field has been leveled between small and large brands, and industry leaders are emerging everywhere.

“It gives everyone a quick reset button to see how fast and well they could create something to better people’s lives within their given circumstances.”

However, there are also downsides to the era of new work. It’s hard enough to keep up with the rapid pace of innovation; now, many have to find new ways to stay focused no matter where they’re working. Often employees engaging in telework (working from home or hybrid work) can feel like seeing the same surroundings day in and day out can zap their creativity.

Top creative hindrances

1. Excess innovation

Innovation is the way of the future – but too much innovation can be the downfall of creatives.

“Being overwhelmed by trying to come up with the next big idea or reinvent the wheel is the biggest trap to fall in,” Almossawi said. “Not everything needs to be brand new and never seen before. Most great ideas are an evolution of what already exists out there and remix existing ideas.” Consequently, Almossawi recommends finding something you’re passionate about (or a feature of your project you can find passion in) and finding ways to improve it rather than starting fresh.

2. Rigidity

Another mistake is to be inflexible, as Almossawi says that pivoting is the key to creativity.

“We sometimes have a vision of going from point A to B,” he begins. “But in reality, when we land on point C, that’s where the real innovation is. It’s good to have a vision and idea of where you are headed, but let the process and journey push you in different directions and give you new ideas.”

3. Being closed off from learning

Lifelong learning leads to a creative mind, and even if you fail, Almossawi says that the only mistake you can really make is to give up on ingenuity.

“Don’t let it discourage you. Look at each failure as a lesson, as a new piece of knowledge that helps you understand what not to do. It took all great innovators and entrepreneurs failure after failure to reach success. It never happens overnight.”

4. Feeling trapped

In the era of telework especially, distractions are ripe. Almossawi says he knows people who prefer working from home and those who prefer the office. But no matter what, he recommends avoiding the feeling of being trapped by your surroundings, as it hinders your creativity. Having a boss looking over your shoulder or a home that distracts you makes you feel more like a grunt worker and less like your own boss – which Almossawi says is the key to creative autonomy.

“The employer/employee dynamics shifts with a remote working situation,” he says. “It feels more like your employer is your client, just as if you were running your own studio or freelancing. I think that power, freedom, and flexibility with time lead to better creative thinking and less pressure and stress overall.”

5. Excess negativity

Finally, the last thing that hinders creative processes is brainstorming sessions that emphasize negativity and rejection, no matter how silly or idealistic the ideas might seem.

“Imagine brainstorming with a negative group that shoots down every idea and leaves no room for blue-sky futuristic ideas,” Almossawi says. “That’s an instant failure.”

“When coming up with ideas, it’s good to think as far out in the future as possible and keep your imagination wild. Eventually, you will always bring your favorite ideas back to reality and see what is feasible and doable. So, keep it positive and build on each other’s ideas. There is no right or wrong in the initial ideation phases.”

Tips for tapping into creativity during telework

1. Do other things

“Whenever I am stuck on something, I jump on to a very different task,” Almossawi says. “Cooking, playing sports, or just going out for a walk. It’s important to let the brain relax and let go, enjoy the process, and have fun.”

In the creative process, Almossawi says, let your ideas flow. Forcing them will only cause you to feel blocked and stuck. So pick your favorite activity and let it fuel your creative process.

“We sometimes try too hard,” he adds. “Your subconscious will do wonders.”

2. Go outside

Additionally, telework gives us the opportunity to socialize, as we have more control over our schedules. And sometimes, talking out a problem can craft the best solutions.

“Find some activities outside of the home, work out, stay healthy, meet friends for lunch or coffee, and work from wherever. Also, working remotely doesn’t mean you should be stuck at home. Find a coffee shop or park that keeps you inspired and creates your magic from anywhere.”

If you’re new to the area or just have a bit of decision fatigue, listicles abound that inform readers of the best coffee shops in their area to use for working.

3. Indulge in your setup

Finally, a great setup is an excellent way to ensure that your home office motivates you daily. Almossawi tells Hive that his favorite part about working from home is seeing fellow teleworkers’ desk setups.

“It’s like mini world-class design studios, and extremely inspiring to have a cool desk/studio setup from home.”

Additionally, your setup isn’t just about the houseplants you prefer or the color of your keyboard – the software you use to conduct your work is just as essential to foster flexibility and creativity. An Echo Dot can answer questions for you, send texts, give you reminders, and more. Other more focused projects like Ultatel’s cloud-based phone systems can help you conduct conference calls from your computer or home office.