I’m writing this from my makeshift quarantine headquarters, also known as my dining room, kitchen table, basement office and occasionally, my super comfy sofa where I sink into sadness.

I miss being in the same space as my creative team. Bouncing ideas around on the fly, helping them grow into creative influencers across many different facets, witnessing their adventurous journeys that open the mind and truly elevate everyone’s experience day in and day out.

This quote, from none other than Steve Jobs, is especially relevant today:

“There’s a temptation in our networked age to think that ideas can be developed by email and iChat. That’s crazy. Creativity comes from spontaneous meetings, from random discussions. You run into someone, you ask what they’re doing, you say ‘wow,’ and soon you’re cooking up all sorts of ideas.”

In-person interactions have always been central to the creative process. So now the question is, how can we stay creative while confined to our homes for the unforeseeable future?

‍Stay connected with your team

I start my day off with a routine. I pause, breathe deeply and think about how lucky I am to have good people around me that I still get to work with every day. There is tremendous pride and gratification in knowing that you are not alone in the struggle. That there are people out there going through the exact same thing.

It’s this strength in numbers and collective soul searching that will be key to helping people work better together and form stronger bonds. In the end, personal goals will end up being collective goals that everyone can take ownership of and rally behind.

Share ideas freely

Right now, it’s especially important to stay connected with your co-workers and find ways to inspire them. Try setting up impromptu meet-ups with no real agenda that let your team be free and mindful.

Create time and space where they can let their guard down and express themselves and their ideas without judgment.  

This is a lesson I learned many moons ago. When you simply let go, the ideas come fast and furious. The spit-balling begins. One idea becomes many. The snowball gets rolling and before you know it, a big idea is formed. Best of all, when everyone had a hand in creating it, you feel proud and even more connected as a team than you would have if you set off on your own.

Keep yourself inspired

It’s also important to go offline sometimes. Disconnect. I take time to look at the world from another lens, a simple one that lets me just be curious and explore without any goal or outcome in mind. I look at art, nature, architecture, music, interior design, film and anything really that reminds me there are so many talented people on this earth to learn from.

Most of the time I just let myself get lost in a feeling and go with it. Getting lost allows you to find a new place that you haven’t been before. It’s what helps you grow in leaps and bounds.

Finally, be kind to yourself and others because we’re in this together and humanity is the greatest inspiration of all. Stop thinking about achieving something spectacular with your time right now. Instead, just let yourself be curious and see where that takes you.

‍If your organization needs support or advice in these uncertain times, here’s where you can find the latest news, insights and resources related to COVID-19.‍