Apathy is the enemy of creativity. When the summer season begins, it’s all too easy to go on autopilot. Whether we’re racking our brains on the Northern Line or battling through the mental gymnastics of summer childcare logistics, summer can be hard to keep up the momentum. For creativity and curiosity to flourish, we need calm and inspiration. Whether it’s recommending a book, developing a breathing method or developing a craft, this summer BITE is asking leaders to share how they create the space to nurture their creativity and find their pace.
Alex Stolerman, Managing Partner for Growth at Forsman & Bodenfors London, explains the importance of taking time for yourself during the summer months to avoid a slump in form.
This time last year my daughter was 8 days old and I was looking forward to a summer of sleepless nights, gloomy days and bleary eyes. 12 months later… I’m living with a creeping threat, the agency I work for has just merged with a Swedish partner and we’ve left the hustle and bustle of Tottenham Court Road for the (quieter) shores of the Southbank. In short, it’s been a year of significant change. And so when I consider how to avoid the summer slump, I see it with different eyes.
When I became a father, I had to re-evaluate my priorities – and nurturing my creativity and curiosity definitely took a back seat. But after a year, I’ve realized that in order to be the best father/husband/version of myself, I need to find time for “my thing” (nurturing my creativity and curiosity sounds a bit boastful).
And it will come as no surprise to anyone who knows me that “my thing” is on (my wife claims I love it more than she does – insert weird emoji face here).
