I know you want to solve more problems at work, but the very first habit to build a creative mindset…

Habit #1 for a Creative Mindset: D for Daydreaming

demands that we take time to step back and smell the flowers.

Then, you might notice the bee, and watch their shenanigans as they feast on your salvia flowers, and roll around in the pollen like a dog in the mud.

Allow your mind to wander.

You wouldn’t think a bee would make a great pet.

As a conservationist and animal welfare advocate, I don’t promote keeping wildlife as pets.

But I was fascinated by the story of the rescued bee and the human-bee bond that developed.

When a woman discovered a bee in distress, she couldn’t stand back and watch.

She nursed the bee back to health and built an incredible bond. 

Or, have you heard the stories of the magpies and crows who bring offerings of seeds, sparkly things and even cash to people who are kind and feed them?

I threw a little piece of my sandwich at a magpie in my yard a few weeks ago, and so far (sadly) no dinero. 

Do you have a pet?

If you could have any animal as a pet, which would you choose? 

(Let’s say for this exercise you won’t REALLY keep this animal as a pet, and that in this imaginary world you could keep any animal you wanted and provide for its biological and behavioural needs. This is a daydreaming exercise).

What’s their name?

Where would it live?

How does your bond come to a conclusion?

Does it die, escape, find a mate and leave you waving a tearful goodbye?

(in this scenario I’m imagining a dragon, for some reason).

Does it seem frivolous or unimportant?

You’re actually building habits and pathways for creative problem solving for more “important” things.

Like how to do an expense report in under 5 minutes, how you might expand your customer base, or how to get out of that meeting that should have been an email.

If you have some time off this summer, use it wisely, and do nothing for a while.

You can blame me.

My creativity coach told me to do nothing, you can tell your boss with a confident smile like a Gen Alpha standing on business like a Sigma Himothy.

Considering fantastical possibilities, and allowing your mind to wander on a problem you are trying to solve are effective ways to solve problems. It will also make you feel happier, and set you up for success when you come back to work, refreshed and ready to find solutions. 

(Caveat: Don’t ruminate. Mind wandering can increase anxiety if it’s on a negative thought, like rehashing that conversation with the barista that ended poorly.)

If developing a new daydreaming habit is the only thing you accomplish this summer, consider that a win for your creative mindset.

Even though it might feel simple, sometimes doing nothing is doing everything.

For those Get it Done, Inbox Zero types, here’s how you can implement the 4 other habits to leap forward this fall with fresh ideas, renewed enthusiasm, and school supplies!

(Am I the only one who loves shopping for school supplies for myself?

Let me know your favourite things to shop for in those “back to school” aisles. Post-it notes, fancy erasers, and beautiful binder clips I never use because I’m “saving” them? Anyone else?).

Lean into the ambiguity (habit #2) of doing something in a new way and being open to the potential results. What’s the worst that could happen? What’s the best? 

If you’re feeling a bit stagnant and know you need to do something different for different results, here’s your key: a creative mindset

Don’t fear, these 5 habits are super easy, they’re like creativity kegels – nobody needs to know you’re doing them. And, you can even do a few of them at the same time!

Use Curiosity when you are daydreaming about that busy bee, to wonder where they go after your flowers. Do they come to the same flower each day? 

Pursue novelty by visiting an apiary (that’s a bee farm), or watch a video about bees, types of honey, or whatever floats your fancy.

Then add editing later, to compose an internal story (or outer, your choice) about the bee’s name, where he/she/they live, their family, are they aliens coming to research humanity or are they tiny drones sent by fairies to help pollinate the flowers that they need for their Fairy Festival…? 

Allow your mind to wander to fantastical and hilarious places, to practice for when you need that new idea to capture more market share or draft an SOP.

💡 Struggle With Sticking To New Habits? Try Habit Stacking

Sometimes it’s hard to remember new habits.

Some people say to add it to your calendar. 

That works for some. 

Doesn’t work for me. 

Maybe I’m a rebel but when I see something in my calendar that doesn’t involve accountability to another person, I just say ‘Nah, calendar, don’t feel like that today, Skibiti Ohio Rizz. Go touch grass”. I don’t need any L’s.

(Skibiti Ohio Rizz= bad, weird. Touch Grass = go away. L’s = Loss vs W’s which is for wins)

Can you relate, if you have Gen Alpha teens in your house?. Secretly, though, I love their slang. It’s so rich and creative and fun! I’m addicted, it’s Fire. For real, for real. I mostly love the cringe expression on my kids’ face when I try to use it. No cap. He says it throws off Pick Me vibes.

So, when I develop new habits, I tend to pair them with something instead of putting them in a schedule. For example, when I drink my tea in the morning, it reminds me to gaze out the window for a few minutes. Maybe that will work for you? 

Here’s a list of the 5 effortless habits to start this summer to build a creative mindset:

That is if you want different results or more confidence in all the changes coming this fall.  

And hey, no stress. 

You can just focus on one of them! Building a creative mindset is like breathing: it takes practice.

DAYDREAMING

• Gaze out the window with your morning coffee, or even gaze into your coffee. Put down the phone and let your mind wander.
  The most effective type of mind wandering is when you consider a problem you are trying to solve. You can also increase your problem solving potential by dreaming up fantastical situations, to get yourself out of the “curse of knowledge” into a divergent state like an adorably clueless kindergartener. Hence the zombie alien bees idea.

AMBIGUITY

• Just say yes! The next time someone asks you to go on a unique summer adventure (surfing, making your own gelato, a giant obstacle course) → say YES! 

NOVELTY

• Visit a new place this summer, whether it’s an ethnic restaurant in your local city or packing up your car to head to the mountains, lakes or streams. For extra oomph consider taking public transit! 

CURIOSITY

• Before you Google the answer to whether bees are aliens, ponder the answer first, or ask a friend what they think. Sit in the ambiguity of not knowing, and allow your brain to try to connect the dots to think of possibilities. This is an innocent workout for your brain that will come in handy when you’re trying to figure out why your HR initiative isn’t working.

EDIT LATER 

• Grab some sidewalk chalk and write an inspirational message, the first thing that comes to mind! Dream up a narrative about the people on the street, random strangers, or bees (aren’t they great!). Practice speaking your mind, like telling the barista that you love their hair clip, or helping someone who seems lost in your town. This is practice for sharing your thoughts in meetings, and feeling confident that your point of view is important. 

Set Yourself Up For An Innovative Autumn with a Creative Mindset

I’m off to Switzerland, where I’ll have plenty of Novelty, Curiosity, and FONDUE! If you have ever been, hit reply with your suggestions. 

When I’m back, we are going to do a deep dive into ambiguity – why we resist it and why the answer to uncertainty Isn’t actually finding certainty. The answer? Becoming more comfortable in the discomfort of feeling uncertain. 

P.S. If you were one of the people who purchased my book after my recent Kindle Cross Promotion, thank you! I made it to 37 on the Amazon Bestseller list!
I am so grateful if you are willing to leave a review, thank you.

(Oh and if you’re looking for more book recommendations, I have some here and here!)

With these tiny habits this summer, you’ll set yourself up for a successful fall and winter, with skills that will share your unique ingenuity and problem-solving. Yes, all this thanks to Bertie the Bee….or however your Bee Story ends.

For more hands-on ways to work on these habits, download my workbook with 10 exercises to deepen your creative practice, starting now.: