Take an Inspircation
It’s not work. But you’ll come back ready to work better.
It’s not work. But you’ll come back ready to work better.
When you take vacation from work, you really want to take a vacation for work. But if you’re passionate about what you (a-live-to-work rather than a work-to-live type) you might be off the grid, but your mind doesn’t stop. So is there a happy medium? Is there a vacation where you truly escape and re-charge but also come back better at your job?
We think there can be. Enter the Inspircation.
The idea is that you take a vacation that’s helps you unwind but also feeds your brain, generates new ideas, and even gets you excited to get back to work in new ways.
Try these tips for starters.
Choose a new destination. Sure it’s relaxing to go to the same place over and over. There’s none of that vacation “work” to be done orienting yourself. Or even leaving the pool. But that’s an escape. The inspiration comes with friction. Where your brain is twisted like a pretzel. When you’re hearing languages you don’t know. When you see unexpected things and interact with new surroundings. Allow for surprise.
Go to class. So “classroom” and “vacation” don’t exactly go together. But learning can be transformative (and yes, fun) while you’re away. Someone we know spent a day learning how to make biscotti in Sicily. (Not exactly Econ 1, amiright?) On a recent trip to Mexico City I took a learning tour of the old Jewish neighborhood. And another of Barragan architecture. Take the place where you’re going and add something unique that appeals to you. It doesn’t matter if the subject directly relates to work. The simple exercise of learning something new is like exercise for your brain.
Pick up a palette. After DNA, a lot of the work we do for brands starts with reconsideration of the palette. Coming up with a new, unexpected combination of colors somehow stirs things up and offers a fresh perspective. Look around your new surroundings and see the colors. Take pictures. Use them literally (as inspiration to share with designers) or just let them open the door to new thinking.
Curate your experience. Yes, of course, go to a museum or two (preferably something off the beaten path like this recent favorite). But look at them in a different way. Look at how they’re curated. The curation of exhibits is a window into new ways of storytelling and presenting information. These are all insights that can spark new thinking for brands on social and in other media where storytelling is involved.
Revert to childhood. Trips change your habits. You dress differently. Eat different foods. Alter your schedule. Allow it. And also allow yourself some of the simpler pleasures you’ve left behind. Detach from tech. Buy a journal. Write, draw. See what bubbles up. If you left a work problem behind, try freewriting about it in the journal in a beautiful place without editing yourself.
And here’s one more tip. If you dread returning from vacation, you don’t love your job enough. Take your fresh perspective, and consider what might make non-vacation days more satisfying, too.