Whether you write, paint, build, or plan, we’ve all had great ideas but no way to bring them to fruition. Maybe we’re lacking in skills. Maybe we don’t have the proper tools. Or maybe we don’t have anywhere to actually do what we need to do.
Here’s where a dedicated creative space comes in. It’s in this creative space that we can do our best work, get what we need done, and truly flourish as creatives.
This space can be something personal, in a spare room, or even just a nook in the corner of the living room. One of my favorite entrepreneurs, Pat Flynn of Smart Passive Income, grew his space from a desk in his kitchen to a custom designed room with whiteboards, numerous monitors, and a dedicated meditation space. (Check out his tour here.)
But why do you need a dedicated creative space?
First and foremost it’s where you can move your thoughts from the daily grind to the task at hand. If you’re just finding a seat on the couch, it’s probably in an uncomfortable position and you have a distracting TV directly in front of you.
Having a dedicated creative space will keep all of your tools of the trade at hand, gives you a quiet area to think, and allows for a complete removal from other distractions.
Going a step further, you can find a shared community space where other people in your field gather and share ideas. This can be an awesome place to be, as not only will you have your tools readily available, but you will have additional expertise on call. Thinking of your next novel? Find a space where you can bounce ideas off of writers. Trying to build a gadget? A makerspace will have a great array of special equipment and people who can guide you along the way.
Great post, Ryan. I love – “Having a dedicated space will keep all of your tools of the trade at hand, a quiet area to think, and a complete removal from other distractions.” It’s so important for what creatives do – to get away and fully think about ideas.
I also love Pat Flynn, but I’ve never seen that video series. Thank you for sharing that as it has sparked new creativity and inspiration for creating a new space.
Good thoughts, Ryan. My “trouble” is that my creativity comes out in different ways, requiring different spaces. For instance, when a new song hits me, the piano is its own creative space. But the piano is not such a great place for writing. So I have little “nooks” as you call them where my tools are at hand all the time. This does result in leaving some things out where I need to remove them when company comes and then put them back; but it’s worth it.
By the way, we aren’t always able to get to our creative space(s) when ideas hit. This is where your last post comes in handy.