Most people experience creative blocks. If you’re like me, you do, too. You might procrastinate or shift your focus to get things done. You think this is the best way to bring inspiration back into your life. But in reality, it only leads to fatigue, missing deadlines, and, too often, unkind inner dialogue.
What if you tried a different approach the moment you felt flat creatively? Instead of pushing through and working harder, imagine work being an immersive game or adventure.
Trying out Adventure Working, an idea from Cal Newport, showed me how a small change in perspective and setting can have a big impact. When I looked at how I’ve been working on my personal passion project through a different lens, here’s what stood out:
✅ I was surprised by how much deep, creative thinking I could achieve on a 4-hour train ride. Something few people look forward to became my new pop-up office with more inspiration than I could have imagined!
✅ Making a plan to travel to a unique spot shifts our mindset. This happens because we have made a commitment. A kind of excitement builds as we anticipate the experience.
✅ This applies to the smallest of changes to our work environments as well. You don’t have to travel far. You can rearrange your home office furniture, or go to the coffee shop down the street.
Don’t take my word for it! Architects, academics, and business leaders all agree: location impacts mindset.
Step Into a Story
Lego stores are creating memorable, immersive experiences in their stores. Enter the doors, and you will find yourself in a flower shop with every arrangement made of Legos! Just as Lego creates immersive retail spaces, we can design our work environments to spark creativity and engagement.
Anchor to a Sense of Place
Gensler, a global design and architecture firm, believes the future of work blends digital and physical spaces in new ways. This approach meets our human need for a sense of place and inspires innovative ideas.
Be Adventurous
Cal Newport, the author of Deep Work, talks about the benefits of finding nearby places to work and enjoy your surroundings. Taking short walking breaks lets you experience a new environment. Short excursions allow your mind to wander restfully, creating fertile ground for insights and inspiration.
Try this simple shift next time you find yourself blocked, bored, and under a deadline to produce:
1️⃣ Get Up and Go – Instead of powering through, make a plan. Pick a location. Determine how long you’ll work there and how you’ll use your breaks to experience the world around you.
2️⃣ Immerse Yourself – What if work (ideating and producing high-quality output) was more like a game, and less like…well, work? What if you were the main character in an unfamiliar world experiencing all its texture—like the person walking into Lego’s flower shop?
3️⃣ Experiment and Track – You don’t have to leave your home or office. Rearrange your furniture for a week. Change the pictures on the wall. Put your desk in a different spot. Get a plant. As you explore these changes, keep a simple log:
- How many creative blocks did you experience and how long did they last?
- What was your energy level before and after making environmental changes?
- Did you complete tasks faster or with better quality?
- Which specific changes had the biggest impact on your work?
Review your notes after a week to identify patterns and adjust your approach accordingly.
Of course, adventure working isn’t always possible. Some jobs require being at a specific location. Other people might find changing environments more distracting than inspiring. If you’re in a fixed location, focus on the micro-changes you can control – even small adjustments to your immediate workspace can make a difference. And if you’re someone who thrives on consistency, try incorporating adventure in shorter bursts rather than making dramatic changes.
Whether you’re ready to hop on a train for a workday adventure or simply move your desk by the window, I’d love to hear your story. What level of adventure works best for your creativity? ✨