A walk in a new neighbourhood or a weekend trip can give you a different outlook on your surroundings. Change your daily routine and look at the world through fresh eyes in order to think up new and exciting projects, Burrill lets his mind and his body wander in the world.
Document everything, take photographs, collect things, and keep mementos
Burrill believes that “soaking up new influences is an important part of forming your creative DNA”.
- Collect keepsakes from your travels and keep them as a reminder of places and people that inspire you
Remember that conformity is the enemy of creativity
Maintain your individuality as a creator
Be resourceful
Use what you have around you instead of spending lots of money producing something.
- It may seem counterintuitive, but limiting yourself may give your creativity more room to flourish. Find ways to make things with what you already have, and see the benefits in the restrictions you have.
Say ‘yes’ more than ‘no’
Look beyond the obvious and look for opportunities that you may not have previously considered
Keep your phone at arm’s length
Check your email just three times a day during planned, short answering sessions.
- Shutting your phone off for the majority of the working day can prevent you from wasting time and help you be more effective at your job.
Build your creative network
Working in isolation can be both difficult and dull. Create a network of like-minded people to draw inspiration and learn from
Optimism, energy and enthusiasm make everything happen
The impact of a positive approach to a project is severely underrated.
Give yourself deadlines
Deadlines can be a valuable incentive to get to work and activate your creative impulses
Forget what you’ve done in the past
It is important to face forward and keep innovating. Don’t get stuck in older ideas.
- Be more versatile – don’t limit yourself to your most common theme, or even your chosen medium – venture out and be more versatile.
