We’ve all been there, and maybe more often than we care to admit. Whether it’s at the computer, in front of the classroom, or standing before a blank canvas, we’ve all had that feeling that we have absolutely nothing more to say. Worse, we may feel that we have nothing fresh or original to contribute, as though the well of inspiration has dried up, with nothing more to follow. And although we may have been in this place before—and successfully overcome it—it’s a disconcerting feeling. It’s a problem that can be easily overcome, however, with five simple techniques that will energize your life with fresh inspiration.
The first and most important technique is also the simplest: allocate time for inspiration in your calendar every day. If the workday is already wall-to-wall with commitments, be creative in keeping this appointment with your muse. Take a half-hour from your lunch break, or get up half-an-hour earlier in the morning. Making time for inspiration and fresh ideas makes the difference between an ordinary work day and one that brims with enthusiasm.
To keep that enthusiasm, read and collect information in your field. Subscribe to RSS feeds with articles about your field of interest, and develop an expertise on a current trend in your profession. Keep notes on books you have read, and lists of books you would like to read some day. Read widely, too: the more information you take in, the more connections you will be able to see from the fields of science, art, politics, and business: everything is a vehicle for inspiration, and everything is directly relevant to the world we live in now.
