Play & Creative Innovation (Not just for kids)
This will take around 5 mins to read
TLDR: We don’t play enough anymore, which is sad. So here is my invitation to really play. Not because you have to or because your body wants to. You’ll be surprised how creative your brain is when you’re having fun.
Warning: I maaaaaaay have gotten GIF happy in this article.
When’s the last time you played? And I mean the way you want to, not the going out with friends doing something you don’t want to kind of play. The kind that brings out the giddiness - even if it’s not standard “fun.”
For example, I thought I liked going to parties but it turns out I’d actually rather dance around to pop music and sit in the middle of the yard and watch squirrels run around. So if the party involves those things, I’m down: That brings me so much joy, and whenever I do them regularly, my projects run extra smoothly, all because I’m having fun.
Prepping for fun
I spend a lot of time and energy managing my ADHD/Dyslexia, 2 children, 1 spouse, 1 multi-faceted business and 3 flower boxes (that are miraculously all still thriving!) and I’ve learned that these areas of my life all have something in common…
…I’m not actually in control of any of them.
They thrive when I step back, see what they are doing on their own and support them with an environment that allows them to do their thing well.
For those who like examples, here are a few:
My front windows are sunny. I found seeds for plants who love the sun. I planted those in the sunny spot. They grew happily. I didn’t try to make shade plants grow in the window box (which I have tried before and it doesn’t work).
My child flips constantly. I suggested gymnastics. She moved through 3 levels in one year because she’d be flipping anyway, even if she wasn’t in a gym. So, I didn’t sign her up for soccer (though we practice in the yard and may be going backwards in levels…)
My brain will not create anything innovative when I’m stressed. So when I’m up against a deadline and something stressful is happening in my life, I go sit in the woods for a while and then come back to my computer. Sounds counterintuitive but that is inspirational for me and it works. The controlling part of me wants to stay put and push harder to get the project done, but that never works. (I’d like to add here that this idea of resting when I feel like pushing, I learned from Audre Lorde, I did not come up with this).
This was a very hard lesson to learn (and I keep re-learning). I think most of us would much rather be in control. Most of my clients come to me wondering “why things aren’t going the way they want” or “how to find out what they are supposed to do next” and they want a process to follow.
The best thing we can do is pause, notice and adjust - PLAY!
After we sit and watch what’s happening around my client’s lives and businesses (not literally, more like mapping it out with pictures), the answer is always there, in the reflection.
Basically, the best things come when we enjoy what we currently have and look for opportunities that we love, rather than what we “should want.”
How to play through an idea.
Take it off the screen // Get out in nature, walk down your sidewalk, sit outside in a front step and think away from the screen. Using paper or chalk to get your ideas out may help your ideas flow freer too. Try a few different non-screen options and see what works best for you.
Get manipulatives // If you were lucky enough to have a math teacher that let you use beads or marshmallows to practice math concepts then you know how helpful using concrete elements can be for abstract ideas. I use legos to plan out my pricing so get creative finding ways to mimic what you’re thinking.
Create an analogy // When an idea is feeling sticky or complex it is probably time to step away and then think of an analogy that parallels with your idea. Whatever action verb you use to describe what you do will help you pick an analogy. — For example, I use an analogy of boat navigation for myself when thinking about how to parent without being codependent (something I have to work hard to notice). The boat helps me think through if I’m in “my boat aka: what’s in my control” or “their boat - what’s in their control.” That helps me know when to “board their boat” and when to “provide a map.”
Sing or Dance // Sing out your feelings or problems and add a hairbrush microphone as needed ;-) You’ll feel great after. Also the vulnerability of it puts us in a creative space.
Turn it into something new // Imagine the idea was for something totally different. How would you tweak it? What would you get rid of or add? If the idea isn’t going to work for your business or client then what could it work for? If anything it could turn into one beautiful journal or sketchbook prompt to keep those wheels turning. A good brain dump goes a long way!
Look in unlikely places // Creative people are always taking in diverse observations about the world by reading, traveling, meeting new people, paying attention to other industries, watching films and wandering around. This is what fuels our innovation because we take what we love from one thing and mash it with another to build a new creation.
Just for fun
I want to wrap up by sharing some fun links with you. Most of them are purely for joy. Because joy isn’t revered enough, and in my opinion that just leaves us all grumpy and gossipy.
So below is my bundle of fun for you, if you try them, feel free to reach out and let me know which one was your favorite!
Here are some supports available to you →
LINKS:
>> Salt and Cornstarch Dough recipes - great for kids and makes a great manipulative for our CEO-time
>> Benefits of talking to your neighborhood animals
>> Official Illustrative Playlist
>> One of my favorite You tubers to dance it out with: Fitness Marshall
>> Quick read about the purpose and benefit of doodling (my favorite way to gather observations)
Have questions about this article? Leave a comment below or email me at laura@illustrative.us.
author | Laura Matteson
Laura is a neurodivergent artist, mother, wife, founder of Illustrative with fancy drawing skills and a huge bucket-full of hope and love for humanity.
