To many times do I sit down with a dead line and try to charge into my work to push to get it done, only to find the final cuts never seem to be as good as they could be. Its because I spend to much time worrying about getting the job done that I forget to get inspired for the piece I am doing. Most of the time resulting in a client that isn’t as happy as they could be, which just makes more work for you in the long run.

So here’s a few simple tips I use to make sure that everything I do, I’m at my creative best.

1. Give yourself time

The first and best thing you can do for your creative self is to make sure you have time to relax when setting a deadline. Add a few extra hours to the time line dedicated to getting inspiration. Have a coffee in the sun, go for a walk, or just listen to some music, and while your doing that, just think about some ideas you could incorporate into your piece, let your mind wander a bit. My studio is set up with a timeless record collection that I always make sure I am updating. It all sounds better on vinyl.

2. Fresh eyes

So you have been sitting at your desk for the last 5 hours, churning out a design or piece. STOP! just stop for a minute, If you have been looking at the same bit of work for so long, you lose touch with it. Take some time out, go down the street and grab a coffee or play xbox or something. Just forget about what you are doing for 20 minute or so, it will do a world of good when you get back into it. Personally I’m all about car racing or snowboarding on the xbox to make me forget what I was doing. Ah, mindless games, I’m pretty sure it’s impossible to take your snowboard off mid air and play it like a guitar only to land it, but man is it rad!

3. Inspiration – Surround yourself with it.

My studio set up is made up of, my desk, my record player and records, a tv with xbox hooked up and some sweet games, and plenty of pop culture things (vinyl toys, comics and anything a little retro like NES). Having good surroundings while you work will greatly improve your productivity. I love to look around the studio and see crazy things other artists have done, helps keep me on track for making something to be proud of.

There are plenty of other things you can do to help keep the ideas flowing, but that’s just a few of my personal favorites.

Any thoughts? Leave a comment with your opinion or ways to get inspired.