Relocate

My mother had come to visit my husband and me during the holidays.  About two weeks after she returned to Fargo, ND she called and asked if she could move to be closer to us in Virginia.  This week she arrived, relocating 1,355 miles at 88 years young.  We are all thrilled!  She has a new perspective and a new outlook.  So excited about new friends to be made, experiences to be had and life to be lived.

You don’t have to move 1,355 miles to get a new perspective or ignite your creativity.  You can use relocation to your advantage without uprooting your life.  See the following thoughts.

Thought 1:  Sit someplace else.  We are creatures of habit, we sit in the same place to do the same things and it is of little surprise that we think similar thoughts.  When you need a little inspiration or creativity, sit someplace else.  This could be as simple as sitting in the lunch room with a lap top, or sitting at a coffee shop when you’re writing a report.

Thought 1a:  When you attend recurring meetings sit in a new chair – mix it up a bit.  Not only will you get noticed, but you may have new things to contribute.

Thought 2:  Change the altitude.  Instead of sitting on your usual chair, stand up at your desk to do your work.  Sit on the floor and strategize.  Give it some time to see what changes might occur.  It’s a simple way to change your environment.

Thought 2a:  Hold a stand up meeting or a sit on the floor meeting with your team.  See what new thoughts may occur.  Stand up meetings are usually much shorter.

Thought 3:  Change the view.  Move the location of your desk to look out on a new view.  Use a local park for brainstorming sessions with your team – pose the challenge to your team and then have everyone walk around.  When you gather after your walk, see what solutions everyone has come up with.

Thought 4:  Hang out with someone else.  Make a point to reach out to someone you don’t know or know very well each week.  Have a coffee, sit next to them in a meeting, take a walk together – asking lots of questions of them will spark new ideas and your creativity.

Thought 5:  Here are some relocation ideas:  the zoo, parks, libraries, coffee shops, walking around your building, bus bench, the mall, gardens, museums – the list is endless.

Where can you relocate to find your new ideas?  What do you regularly do to mix things up a bit?  Leave your comments below.

P.S.  Yes, Mom’s favorite breakfast is Fruit Loops, toast with crunchy peanut butter and coffee.

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