The world is full of people with dreams of achieving creative things – whether writing novels, painting portraits, drawing comics, or anything else you can think of.
This kind of creative work is often deeply fulfilling, and is the kind of stuff that gives life a deep sense of meaning. In fact, as opposed to just consuming entertainment second hand, actually creating things can be a truly redemptive and expressive experience that helps you to feel better about every aspect of your life as a whole.
Of course, over the course of the ordinary working week, we’re often very busy and preoccupied, and struggle to find the time and space needed to commit to following our dreams and making these projects a reality.
Taking your laptop, notebook, or easel with you on vacation can be a great way of getting your creative juices flowing and making things happen. But it takes a bit of focus, and a particular approach.
Here are some tips for getting some creative work done on vacation.
Set yourself up somewhere relatively comfortable, where you have a bit of privacy
If your vacation involves you staying in hostel dormitories with dozens of other people, and moving constantly from location to location, it’s very likely that you’re not going to have the mental or physical space, comfort, or privacy required to do any meaningful work.
Many great authors, for example, have written extensively about the need to tune the outside world out when writing.
Ideally, if you want to get some creative work done on vacation, you could set yourself up somewhere relatively comfortable, where you have a bit of privacy, too. Staying in a historic and luxurious hotel such as the Crowne Pointe Provincetown hotel may give you the kind of space, privacy, and comfort you need.
Work to a set schedule – don’t follow your inspiration
The thing about creative endeavors, is that people often believe that they need to “wait for inspiration,” and heed the call of the “muse” in order to get things done.
Contrary to that, however, many of the most prolific and successful artists of all time have argued the benefits of working to a set schedule, turning up, and grinding away, whether they feel like it or not.
Generally, you’ll find that even if you weren’t initially in the mood, a few minutes of work will get you where you need to be.
Of course, on vacation, you have a lot of distractions to deal with and things you want to get done. This makes it doubly important to work to a set schedule. Have a certain time of day where you do your creative work, and clock off and do other things when the time has elapsed.
When you’re not working, get out and have some fun
Creativity is fueled by all the other things you do in your life. So, when you’re on vacation, don’t just seclude yourself away in your hotel room and try and work 24-hours a day.
Instead, when you’re not working, get out there and have some fun. Explore new places, try new things, party a bit, check out some beautiful natural landmarks, and all the rest of it.
Not only will this ensure that you get the most out of your holiday in general, it will also go a long way towards optimizing your creativity and putting you in the best possible state of mind keep doing your best work.