Take a break. Relax. Get inspired.

Unleash your creative juices and find inspiration in the least likely places.

In today’s 24/7 work culture, it’s hard to get away from the office and recharge our batteries. John Donahoe, Chairman at PayPal, takes a "thinking day" every few months. "These are pre-scheduled, uninterrupted times to step away from the chaos, zero-base my time, and refocus on the issues that are most important." 

When we have a relaxed state of mind, we are more likely to turn attention inwards, able to make insightful connections. Do you notice moments of inspiration and problem solving appearing out of the blue? For me, it’s in the shower, taking a walk or driving my car.
 
According to Psychology Today, “The creative process springs as much from the subconscious as it does from a conscious thought process. Most often, creative solutions are not wrestled from your mind through sheer force of will. Eureka moments tend to occur spontaneously, almost always when the conscious mind is thinking of something else, or nothing at all.”
 
Design Director Damon Nakagawa was asked where he finds inspiration. “I’m inspired by architecture: both the process and the product. It’s that overlap of science and art and designing for human needs, comforts and aesthetics that really has fueled me as a designer. Other things that inspire me are unplugging from the electronic world—gardening, cooking and camping—creating music and spending time with my family.”
 
Of course, there’s no substitution for taking a legitimate vacation to help you feel fully relaxed, renewed and refreshed.  According to Mr. Donahoe, “Cutting off email and the Internet can be stressful in the beginning, but it can become a very liberating experience. Without a constant barrage of work issues to respond to, your mind can calm down and your intuition becomes alive. You are able to see things through a more creative lens and new ideas often emerge from taking time off.”
 
Whether you take a vacation or a “thinking day,” it’s important to take a break, relax, and get inspired. It’s time well spent.