After my stint in the entertainment industry, I've discovered just how crucial it is to maintain one's connection to the more abstract side of one's personality.
Unfortunately for many of us who live buzzing, metropolitan lives for which 'lunch breaks' are Seamless deliveries eaten on the desk (I admit that having a meal at home is one of the few upsides to being in-between jobs), it can be difficult to stay creative. Having a positive outlook with an out-of-the-box perspective can really influence not only the production value of your work, but in my experience, the attitude towards life in general, too. So, how do you do it?
1. Make time for hobbies
Hobbies are hard to keep consistently, and they're hard to find, if you're one of varying interests like I am. But if I'm feeling frazzled after a disappointing verdict on an interview I really believed I had in the bag, I turn to music for a pick-me-up. I played the flute religiously for eight years, and still enjoy the complexities that go into learning new music, so whenever I am able to carve out the time, I pick up the flute and practice away for half an hour. My magpie tendencies are also stymied with the presence of a gleaming, shiny woodwind in my hands.
2. Volunteer
Sometimes, we don't realize how good we've got it. Everybody has problems, but nobody seems to remember that the person next to them may have bigger problems. Volunteering is the perfect outlet to stay humble and remember that your perspective is just one in the few billion in this world, and figuring out a local opportunity is the first step to giving back to the community. Plus, leaving your house forces you to mingle with other dwellers of this earth, and one would hope this would influence your behavior!
3. Watch a film outside of your usual genre
Don't get stuck in a rut! Use sites like Rotten Tomatoes or IMDB to find a movie that is outside your normal viewing fare, but make sure through these sites that they're still of adequate quality. You wouldn't want to waste 120 minutes venturing outside of your usual rom-com only to find that Paranormal Activity isn't quite your cup of tea (also: may I recommend The Cabin in the Woods if you are looking for a horror/comedy?
I myself have a love/hate relationship with coming-of-age dramas, seeing as there are so few focusing on the female viewpoint. Stand By Me is a classic in my book, and I vowed to never watch another film in that sphere again, focusing lately on sci-fi/action of late. After awhile, I found myself feeling zapped out, and decided to watch something to reinvigorate my enjoyment of the film medium -- and I honestly did not believe that I could fall in love with Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom as much as I did. I actually couldn't even finish the movie out of fear that the ending would not pan out to how much I was loving it! It brought me back to reminiscing on a childhood I almost had
4. Read a book outside of your usual genre
5. Force yourself to try something new
1. Make time for hobbies
Hobbies are hard to keep consistently, and they're hard to find, if you're one of varying interests like I am. But if I'm feeling frazzled after a disappointing verdict on an interview I really believed I had in the bag, I turn to music for a pick-me-up. I played the flute religiously for eight years, and still enjoy the complexities that go into learning new music, so whenever I am able to carve out the time, I pick up the flute and practice away for half an hour. My magpie tendencies are also stymied with the presence of a gleaming, shiny woodwind in my hands.
2. Volunteer
Sometimes, we don't realize how good we've got it. Everybody has problems, but nobody seems to remember that the person next to them may have bigger problems. Volunteering is the perfect outlet to stay humble and remember that your perspective is just one in the few billion in this world, and figuring out a local opportunity is the first step to giving back to the community. Plus, leaving your house forces you to mingle with other dwellers of this earth, and one would hope this would influence your behavior!
3. Watch a film outside of your usual genre
Don't get stuck in a rut! Use sites like Rotten Tomatoes or IMDB to find a movie that is outside your normal viewing fare, but make sure through these sites that they're still of adequate quality. You wouldn't want to waste 120 minutes venturing outside of your usual rom-com only to find that Paranormal Activity isn't quite your cup of tea (also: may I recommend The Cabin in the Woods if you are looking for a horror/comedy?
I myself have a love/hate relationship with coming-of-age dramas, seeing as there are so few focusing on the female viewpoint. Stand By Me is a classic in my book, and I vowed to never watch another film in that sphere again, focusing lately on sci-fi/action of late. After awhile, I found myself feeling zapped out, and decided to watch something to reinvigorate my enjoyment of the film medium -- and I honestly did not believe that I could fall in love with Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom as much as I did. I actually couldn't even finish the movie out of fear that the ending would not pan out to how much I was loving it! It brought me back to reminiscing on a childhood I almost had
4. Read a book outside of your usual genre
5. Force yourself to try something new