Tapping Into Your Creative Clock: How to Integrate Creativity into Your 9-to-5

Have you ever noticed how your creative energy tends to go through ebbs and flows throughout the day, almost mirroring your physical energy patterns? We all have a unique circadian rhythm that influences our alertness and productivity and we also have an internal “creative clock” which has a personal rhythm. By tapping into your creative clock and integrating it effectively into your working hours, you can unlock a whole new level of innovation and expression in your professional life. Getting to know more about yourself will help you find your rhythm.

“Creativity doesn’t wait for that perfect moment. It fashions its own perfect moments out of ordinary ones.” —Bruce Garrabrandt

I'm such an early bird. My brain is alert and ready to catch the worm we've been told about growing up. I enjoy early mornings and that's when I am the most creative. I get tons of tasks checked off of my list and it's when I am the most productive. However, once noon creeps around, my creativity is almost non-existent. I think my brain settles down to prepare for my children to come home from school. Maybe. Maybe not. There are times when locking myself in my office at night has been productive, but that's been very rare. As I get older, I enjoy a hot shower, my bed, and a movie once the sun goes night night.

If you've never taken the time to discover your creative clock, let's walk through it together. Let’s talk about how you can operate your creativity from 9-to-5 because that's really important to know.

Understanding Your Creative Clock

Creativity is a combination of imagination, curiosity, and problem-solving. We all have periods of the day when ideas seem to flow more easily. Some people find their creative peak early in the morning like I do. However, others find late nights to contribute to their flow. Understanding your creative clock—figuring out when your creativity is at its peak—can be one of the greatest assets in having a productive and fulfilling day.

Try observing your creative energy levels and jotting down when you feel the most and least creative for a week or two. You might start to see a pattern emerge that could be described as your 'creative clock'. Resources like the Peak Analyzer app can further support you in exploring this new truth for you.

Integrating Your Creative Clock into Your Workday

Once you've discovered your own creative clock, it's time to integrate that understanding into your day-to-day professional life.

If you're an early bird, consider dedicating your morning hours to brainstorming sessions or creative problem-solving tasks. For example, if you're a writer, you might want to use your morning hours to craft story ideas or outlines. Tools like Evernote or Google Keep can provide a blank canvas to paint your morning ideas.

If you find your creative juices flowing during the afternoon, you can align this time with idea-generating meetings or innovation-focused projects. Free ideation platforms, such as MindMeister, could be your ally in churning out creative concepts.

For the night owls, your abilities to think outside the box will be heightened when the world gets quieter. Consider scheduling some time post-dinner to unwind and let your subconscious mind find novel solutions to problems that might have surfaced during the day. Tools like JournalFlow can offer a serene space to let it all go.

Respecting Your Creative Energy

Even as you strive to align your work routine with your creative clock, remember to respect the natural ebb and flow of your creative energy. Having respect for your creative energy means granting it the space it needs to replenish, too. Ample rest and experiences you enjoy can feed into maintaining a healthy creative rhythm.

Incorporating wellness practices—whether it's meditation with Headspace, nourishing body movement with NIKE Training Club, or artistic breaks with Colorfy for digital coloring—can contribute positively to your overall creative energy levels as well. Find what works for you and do it!

Discovering and respecting the power of your creative clock can revolutionize your professional life. It can add a little fun razzle dazzle to your personal life too. By understanding when your imagination hits its high note and aligning your work schedule to that personal rhythm, you can experience an enlightened, creative 9-to-5 workday.

“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” —Maya Angelou

Have you discovered the rhythm of your creative clock? When are you the most creative?