#7 Sunday Studio: A Weekend Retreat
books/ideas/things to try/exploring/research insights
There are just over four weeks until the end of our university semester and the end of the school term for my kids. Almost without exception, my students are feeling overwhelmed and tired.
This week I spoke at the Future of Media Think Tank at Bond University about how to take a different approach to creativity if you are feeling stuck or just bored of your usual approach. There are a plethora of suggestions from the “conquer the morning” club including getting up before dawn, running 5 kilometres, doing cold plunges, micro-dosing on nootropics, drinking coffee with butter in it, and the list goes on.
These activities can all be very useful, and if they work for you, by all means, carry on.
But if doesn’t work for you, you haven’t failed at your day (or life) as proponents of hustle culture would have you believe.
Arriving at the office, “fully optimised” by a punishing morning routine will only go so far if you spend your day in one location, sitting at an uninteresting desk in an uninteresting space that is too noisy, has little natural light, and poor air quality. In fact, microdosing regimes pale next to the science that shows that improving indoor air quality can enhance your cognitive function by 20%.
If you are feeling stuck or would like to be more creative, my research highlights a much simpler (and more fun) approach. We need different spaces to support the different aspects of the work we are trying to create.
Aside from the noise of most modern offices, another reason we often struggle to maintain energy or inspiration is that the sameness is very boring to our senses. At a psychological level, we are biologically disposed to seek out locations where there is some complexity, some interest, and where messages are conveyed in different ways.
Such spaces evoke awe and a sense of beauty, fundamental human needs, and important precursors to positive mood, creativity, well-being, and trust formation in organisations.
Researchers have found that a preference for beautiful environments plays a role in attracting people to restorative environments and retaining them for a longer time than would otherwise be the case, allowing them to recover from attentional fatigue and stress. It’s no wonder we don’t feel good amongst acres of grey carpet, computer screens, and melamine.
When Jonas Salk was having trouble working through problems developing the polio vaccine, he would regularly leave his bland office and work from the Basilica in Assisi. He noted that the space created a state for him that helped him solve the issues he was struggling with.
It feels hard to do this right now. We are facing an onslaught of end-of-year work and social activities that seem particularly unpalatable this year.
And then we have the headlines telling us how to work from people who aren’t doing what they tell everyone else to do. Exhibit A on this is multiple New York Times bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell.
Speaking on the Diary of a CEO podcast, Gladwell offered “I know it’s a hassle to come into the office, but if you’re just sitting in your pajamas in your bedroom, is that the work-life you want to live, don’t you want to feel part of something?” He added: “I’m really getting very frustrated with the inability of people in positions of leadership to explain this effectively to their employees.”
A bit rich coming from a writer who has opined on his preference for remote work forever. Gladwell wrote an op-ed in 2020 for the Wall Street Journal talking about how he had used coffee shops to write from for “much of my adult life.”
And while he is assuming everyone working from home is in their bedrooms in pajamas, Gladwell starts his working day working from his couch as he “hates desks.”
And for those who like working from the couch or bed, you aren’t just in the company of Gladwell. Churchill regularly worked (and held cabinet meetings) from his bed. So if working from the couch or bed works for you, go for it.
The point is, where we work must enable experiences that match the state required for the work.
A library can provide a sense of order, structure, and focus by acting as a cognitive scaffold.
At other times, a lively cafe space may be the perfect backdrop for emotional contagion and collaboration amongst a team.
And walking in nature is helpful for just about everything that will make you more creative.
This fortnight, I’m going to document my experiences on this applying my own research to my work days. I refuse to call it a challenge because I am not a fan of challenges in general. A workspace adventure sounds more appealing.
I already have some spaces in mind. A stunning hotel lobby less than five minutes away that makes you feel as if you are in the Bahamas. A moody and dark New York-esque coffee shop. A botanical garden with covered pagodas that are perfect to pitch up with a cool drink and laptop.
If you’d like to join me, I’d love to hear about your work adventures over the next few weeks, what spaces you uncover, which ones work well for you, and what you discover.
NEW RESEARCH
New data from Kastle’s Back to Work Barometer shows some interesting insights that don’t follow the line of the sensational media headlines. Analysis from Stanford Economist Nick Bloom below.
A Halloween treat for WFH advocates. The 5-day return to the office is over.
The data just in today from Kastle showed occupancy falling back. The Census survey of 40k Americans and SWAA survey of 10k Americans all show similar trends. WFH levels are totally flat. Return to Office died in early 2023, and it's not rising from its grave for Halloween.
At this point the debate should move on to making the most of the new normal. For most European and Americans professionals WFH is here to stay, mostly hybrid but some fully remote. We should discuss how to make this work best for employees, firms and societies.
So why the fixation on the narrative of face time in the office and a return to the past?
Psychological research suggests that most of us are “medium maximizers” — we tend to focus on objective, easily quantifiable success metrics such as hours worked, rather than more qualitative metrics such as productivity or well-being. As a result, many companies use immediate responsiveness and time at the office as proxies for employees’ commitment levels, even when those measures seldom correspond to actual value added to the organization.
For more on this, read the Harvard Business Review article here.
EXPERIENCE
Ramit Sethi recently spent several weeks here on a writing retreat. The most beautiful place to retreat to write, get creative, or escape the noise.
It’s no small effort to get there, but if you are looking for the ultimate cozy creative escape with the inspiration of the northern lights, Funken Lodge is a dream.
LISTEN/WATCH
A new episode of my podcast The Floorplan with Matt Webber is out.
Is it enough to throw a group of people together, give them a name badge, and hope for the best? Research suggests it isn’t.
Forming and maintaining strong professional relationships is a key component of career success. These networks help individuals to access resources, information, and support. But people often hate networking.
🔺 Strong networks provide a range of benefits including learning, sources of information, salary growth, innovation, and a means of getting things done.
🔺 Research shows that people with diverse contacts are able to access information that helps them generate better ideas.
🔺 Building professional relationships improves both quality of work and job satisfaction.
🔺 As the landscape of work changes rapidly, employees are making more frequent career moves, which means that networking is a critical competency.
In Episode 6 of The Floorplan 🎙 I talk with Julia Palmer about RQ (Relational Intelligence), how to create a network in ways that don't feel icky, building relationships for career success, and simple skills to enhance your relationships.
Listen here on Apple or Spotify.
READ
We are obsessed with finding out what is new, and changing and the never-ending quest to outsmart or out-innovate the competition. But what if we spent more time looking at the things that don’t change? Another great read from Morgan Housel.
I also enjoyed his chat with Tim Ferriss about it here.
For a completely different experience, this book by Axel Vervoodt not only showcases beautiful spaces but also principles that office designers could use more of. Focussing on the imperfect wabi-sabi Japanese concept, it’s an escape into how different spaces might be if we started from a different place.
NEW EDITION OF REVISTA OUT NOW
How can we create change in ourselves and our organisations?
Even if we know what we should do, we often don’t for lots of complicated reasons. In most organisations, the prevailing ideology is entrenched, and shifting mindsets can be both difficult and frustrating.
And it’s not much easier necessarily at a personal level. The new business idea, career direction, personal interest, or just a less stressful workday can feel far out of reach.
This quarter’s edition of Revista is inspired by Richard Feynman’s philosophy of challenging assumptions and taking nothing for granted.
I cover evidence-based approaches to create successful change as well as insights and case studies that forge a path to possibility. I talk with trend researcher Chloe de Ruffray, visit places to explore, and curate uncommon pieces to bring more beauty, meaning, and curiosity into your day.
There are also prompts and activities throughout for you to take what is here and apply it back into your business and your life.
Access Revista here.
INSPIRATION/IDEAS TO TRY
I adore simple, beautiful ceramics and these will elevate the experience of the coffee break to another level. From one of my absolute favourite stores Shack Palace. Read more about them here.
A sneak peek into Revista, a list of things to try to create change.
Libby x