Creative Block? Try Sleep Deprivation.
As a designer and illustrator, I pay my bills by coming up with new ideas for displaying and communicating information, whether it is instructions, a story, or meaningless babble such as this. And from time to time, as any creative will tell you, I have to deal with the dreaded creative block, an invisible force field through which original, intriguing ideas cannot pass.
I have numerous tools for fighting off this fiend, ranging from strategic thought processes to alcohol, but with the arrival of my son, I am now able to add an additional weapon to my arsenal, sleep deprivation.
I’ve pulled all-nighters before, in college, when a paper was due, and even in the present, when a deadline for a project is dangerously close, but never have I gone so long on so little sleep. I’ve made notes and over the past 7 days, I have averaged about 4 hours of sleep a night. (Note: this does not include periods of slumber behind the wheel on my boring-as-all-hell drives to and from work).
To those of you curious enough to try my new tactic, I offer the following advice:
- Do not attempt to employ sleep deprivation as a creative tool at times when your productivity for other projects is required to be high. Sleep Deprivation reduces overall productivity.
- Do not directly address the issue for which you are experiencing the creative block while sleep deprived, your brain will shut down. Instead keep a notepad and pen with you; ideas will pop into your head at the most random of times.
- Do not mix sleep deprivation with any other creative block fighting techniques like idea mapping or alcohol, all you get is crap.
December 23rd, 2007 at 11:50 pm
[…] Creative Block : Try Sleep Deprivation […]
December 26th, 2007 at 9:45 am
I totally agree with this idea. I personally find that sleep deprivation combined with a good buzz from drinking works best for me when I’m in a creative slump.
July 5th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
[…] Creative Block : Try Sleep Deprivation […]