Creativity & Well-Being: Fostering a Culture of Well-Being
Alice Katter for Working Not Working
Last year, our ways of living and working were turned upside down. More than ever before, we had to face a state of constant uncertainty, readjust our working and personal lives, and redefine the way we connect to ourselves and those around us. We have experienced a range of emotions: anger, loneliness, frustration, anxiety, and so many more.
To better understand the current state of mind and the well-being of the creative community, Working Not Working conducted a survey.
Visuals by Kayla Homenok, based on a survey to the Working Not Working community
The survey was sent to a community of over 100,000 creatives. And there was plenty to unpack… The results showed that “Current Events, Politics, and News” were the factors that had the highest impact on anxiety and depression—which, with all the events of 2020, doesn’t come as a surprise. Additionally, “Job Security” and “Money” were rated as the second and third highest factors impacting feelings of anxiety and depression.
What quickly became clear was that all these factors are related to our basic human needs, which came under severe attack during this challenging time. On top of that, and what stood out, was the fact that “Creative Fulfillment” had such a high impact on people’s anxiety or depression (73%).
Going Deeper
To get a sense of what these emotions are rooted in, we looked at how we can apply our results to one of the most popular psychological models and theories exploring what people need in order to live a fulfilled life: Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. This hierarchy, also referred to as Maslow’s theory of motivation, originally included five levels of human needs and still serves as a handy reference and framework for looking at what we need as human beings.
When looking at our survey results, we could see the different elements of the pyramid represented, so we rebuilt it, breaking it down into 3 tiers.
Visuals by Kayla Homenok
In a series of articles, we want to dive deeper into this concept, see where those emotions might stem from—culturally as well as individually—and build a set of resources to follow up on our initial survey that offers solutions and avenues of support moving forward.
Building a Culture of Well-Being
Starting with our basic human needs
The APA defines well-being as a state of happiness and contentment, with low levels of distress, overall good physical and mental health and outlook, or good quality of life. The CDC states that well-being integrates mental health (mind) and physical health (body), resulting in more holistic approaches to disease prevention and health promotion.
Well-being is often also defined as wellness, which the National Wellness Institute defines as: an active process through which people become aware of, and make choices toward, a more successful existence.
In times of change and crisis, we have to reprioritize our needs and start over with the basics. Being well, and taking care of ourselves is key to flourishing and thriving in work and life, as well as staying inspired, creative, and sane. Only when we are well—when we sleep well, eat well, feel safe and supported, and get time to rest—can we experience contentment, let our creativity flourish and do good work.
One of our primary needs is a feeling of safety, a steady income, which provides the safety of being able to support ourselves, as well as paying for somewhere to live, food, utilities, and other essentials. Another aspect of safety, which becomes increasingly important in the workspace, pertains to feeling emotionally safe and supported. That means creating an inclusive place, where people feel heard, seen, have a safe space to express themselves authentically, and can learn how to take on other people’s perspectives.
In an unpredictable year, these basic needs came under severe attack. But even if there are a lot of factors that we currently can’t influence, one thing we can do is focus on the things within our control.
A key element to withstanding the constant changes and heavy news is to take care of ourselves and be an active part in designing an environment for ourselves as well as a culture based on what is important to us.
Four Things You Can Do to Foster Well-Being
Your mental and physical health are critical to your ability to be well and feel inspired, creative and sane. As Benjamin Franklin said, “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”
1. Prioritize sleep
Sleep can have a huge effect on how you feel emotionally, physically, and creatively. Not getting enough can even cause major health issues. Deep sleep is the foundation of a long, healthy life, and one key to productivity, as your brain unfolds complex problems while you are sleeping. Also, when talking about sleep, this doesn't just have to be sleeping at night, which can be hard if you’re feeling stressed, have a lot going on in your life, or know yourself to be a creative night owl. You can also take time for a nap—ideally 10 to 20 minutes—during the day. The point is to figure out what works best for you and what you need in order to operate at the highest level.
Here is some advice for better sleep by Dr. Sebastian Kverneland:
Schedule in sleep time that is ideal for you: As hard as it might be to get sleep right now, try to set a firm sleep schedule.
Limit phone time before bedtime: Try to not spend time on screens for at least one hour before going to bed.
Meditate.
2. Create routines and rituals
Rituals and habits can play a huge role in physical and mental well-being. They imply a simple framework that you can come back to again and again, no matter how your day goes, and help you set yourself up, focus, and be more present in the moment.
Start with setting up your day.
Getting caught up in the whirlwind of daily life has a strong effect on our productivity and personal well-being. Instead of taking on tasks inefficiently, it is important to schedule our days strategically, based on our personal energy levels and when we are most productive.It isn’t always possible to plan your entire day, but you can always make a choice about how to spend your morning. I, for instance, love to start my day with a 15-30 minute meditation, to find stillness and focus before a hectic day, and write down my stream of thoughts. It helps me sort my thoughts, makes me aware of the present, and enables me to start the day with the attitude that I choose to have, rather than jumping right into emails and letting them influence my state of mind.
Make a plan.
With everything going on, it’s no surprise that we’re feeling overwhelmed. In order to keep mentally sane, what helps is to break your day down into manageable tasks and goals. Each time you reach a goal, you will feel more accomplished and calm. This doesn’t just go for work, but can also apply to our private life. Plan in reading time, friends’ time, time to move your body, food time, and time to unwind just for yourself.
3. Phone detox – be mindful with your phone!
Being able to consume more information, learn more, and stay connected 24/7 is tempting, but this “always-on” attitude also challenges our overall well-being. And with constant news, interactions and new distractions, social media can be a huge stressor and contributor to feel anxious and overwhelmed.
So give yourself a social media break for a couple of days and when you’re back unfollow those accounts that don't reward your well-being.
Here are some tips to change your phone habits, recommended by the NYT.
If you are drawn to your phone, ask yourself:
Am I checking the phone for information I need?
To make a connection?
Out of boredom?
To escape the present moment?
Turn off notifications:
Consider silencing your notifications for periods of focus. Instagram, Slack and Gmail can get distracting and prevent you from getting into your zone. Try pausing/switching off your notifications until you’re ready to turn them back on again.
4. Set clear boundaries and communicate them!
We need to step away from feeling guilty of taking care of our needs and set aside time for ourselves and the things we need in order to stay productive, creative, and sane. Setting boundaries is about deciding what works for you and what doesn’t. It's important to actively define what your boundaries are and communicate them to others.
When you're working in a team, vocalize that it’s okay to take breaks, block time on your calendar, or propose meeting-free time periods; for example, no meetings from 12-1pm to respect people’s need for personal time for lunch or a break. It may even make sense to introduce meeting-free days.
These ideas can take time to implement, but by starting with even one or two of them, you’re taking a step towards building a culture for taking care of yourself and others. In this process, it’s key for leadership to be a role model, having people within a team or company who rally team members together and create a sense of accountability.
Additional Resources
Running River Collective - an organization centered around healing and joy for a guided meditation practice.
Wave Sleep - a sleep experience app to help you unwind before going to bed.
out of office network – a monthly newsletter and platform providing tools and resources for a more balanced work/life. Check out the “Dimensions of Wellbeing Wheel” and evaluate your corporate well-being. And here’s a brand new newsletter on vacation guilt.
Meeting Manifesto - Dropbox.Design created this guide to creating a meeting manifesto to set clear boundaries for yourself and those you are working with.
Dropbox Design Diversity & Inclusion Toolkit - Designing a diverse and inclusive work culture
Alice Katter is a curious optimist who uses strategic design to create culture, company, and community platforms centered around the art of slowing down, creativity, and well-being.
Throughout the past 10 years, Alice has developed strategies, designed programs and creative solutions, implemented her frameworks with organizations such as Dropbox, Working Not Working, Pattern Brands, and SubRosa, and shared her thinking on platforms and communities like SuperHi, 99u, General Assembly, Freelance Founders, and Ladies Wine & Design.
She is also the creator of out of office - a monthly newsletter and thought-platform, exploring ideas and offering tools and resources to reimagine our working lives and culture.
Visuals by Kayla Homenok