The Crave
Weekly tips and stories that will help you do your job and make you smile (or groan).
By Julie Alexander November 4, 2021
5 Tips for Staying Grounded and Harnessing your Creative Energy at Work
Around this time of year, I always find myself with extra energy. Something about all of the changes outside makes me want to shake things up inside. I start projects, go for more walks, take everything in and enjoy the last bits of sunshine while I still can. This creative energy — luckily — seeps into my work life as well. I get more ideas, have more room inside for writing, am excited to collaborate and think about new projects. However, sometime in October, there is an inevitable moment where I have to stop and ask myself if I’ve taken on too much — again. My Autumn Panic comes fully equipped with scarves, chai lattes, and a big side of imposter syndrome that whispers, “Can you really do all of this? Do you really want to do all of this?” And that brings me to the critical question that I am convinced every single person in content marketing wants a definitive answer to:
How much is too much?
This year, I realized the answer was easy, but it wasn’t one I was going to like:
It depends.
It depends on how I’m showing up. It depends on how I’m energizing myself. It depends on whether I believe in the projects I’m working on or if I’m just doing them because I think I should. In my career in B2B content marketing, I’ve had countless conversations on this topic. We content marketers are strong and creative — and we’re also over-achievers and perfectionists. Because we love creating things and being helpful, it’s too easy for us to burn the candle at both ends. We give a lot — and often, we don’t realize we’ve given more than we had until it’s too late and we’re exhausted. This year when my Autumn Panic came around, I was a little surprised. I took stock and realized that yes, I had signed up for a lot — and yes, it was totally doable. I have the energy for it, and I’m actually really excited to make it all happen.
What changed? I think it’s different this year because I’ve started doing a few simple things regularly that are helping me preserve my creative energy and recharge on a daily basis.
1. I give myself more time in the morning.
In other words — I’ve (mostly) stopped rolling right out of bed and sitting down in front of my computer to work. Taking care of myself and taking time to start my day before I jump into work helps me ground myself and show up fully.
2. 10-minute relaxation in the afternoon.
I picked this one up from all that yoga training I over-committed to 😆 and it’s working wonders. All you have to do is lie down on your back, take a few deep breaths, and relax there for 10 minutes. Don’t move. Don’t listen to music or podcasts or do anything else. If you think about work, just let it go and give yourself those 10 minutes to exist outside of your obligations. It’s better than a nap, I promise.
3. Spend time outside every day.
Lockdown had me living in lounge clothes and, well, not leaving the house so much. Lately, I’ve been making a point to get outside every day, and it’s made a big difference. It’s ok to listen to a podcast for this one 😉 In fact, when my schedule allows, I go for a longer walk and listen to one of my favorite marketing podcasts (links below) — fresh air and inspiration.
4. Cut yourself some #Slack.
This has been my most significant communication learning of 2021. When I have Slack (and email) notifications on, my schedule is not my own anymore. I end up dropping things in the middle to pick up any request. Nowadays, I keep Slack and email minimized and turn off notifications for large portions of the day. I check messages when I actually have time —and headspace — to respond. I also call people more often if there’s something to really discuss. It helps build the relationship, plus it’s usually faster and clearer than typing. My team knows to call me directly if there’s something urgent, so I have peace of mind that I’m not missing anything.
5. Shrug it off
Literally and figuratively. I’ve taken to doing some shoulder exercises a few times a day, and it’s really helping me reduce tension — and thus keep me relaxed (a lot of us carry the weight of the world on our shoulders). I shrug my shoulders up toward my ears for 5 seconds and drop them (three times), and then pull my shoulder blades back toward each other for 5 seconds and relax, also three times. Next time you want to check Instagram, try this instead and notice the difference. Some of these tips might not seem like they belong in a content marketing newsletter, but I’ve learned that building in moments to take care of my health throughout the day helps provide more mental clarity and focus in my work. Reducing stress and tension promotes happiness and creativity — and I believe that when we are functioning on a foundation of wellness, it shines through in the content and strategies we’re creating.
Let’s talk about it together!
Share your thoughts on LinkedIn using #thecravediscussion This week’s topic: How do you harness your creative energy?
Currently craving
- The Marketing Meetup Podcast is absolute gold. I really loved this episode on Imposter Syndrome and this one on finding purpose for you and your brand.
- The Four Forces of Bad Content over on the Animalz blog.
- Actually just my favorite explainer video of all time. It makes me laugh and has inspired me, so here you go.
Julie van der Weele
Head of Brand & Comms
About the author
When I’m not thinking up B2B marketing strategies and processes, you’ll find me in the kitchen, at the yoga studio, or in my favorite chair with a cat and a book.