How to stay creative in lockdown
Mike Griggs shares some tips for content creators working from home
Mike Griggs offers tips for content creators working at home
There has not been a global event like the COVID-19 pandemic since World War II that has had such a profound impact on the way of life for billions of people across the globe. We have all had to adapt to the changes brought by government-imposed health lockdowns, and these have been accompanied by profound and radical changes to nearly every business sector, including our own creative industries.
These industries have been hit in a scattershot manner, with some sectors like live-action TV and film suffering from being shutdown overnight in many countries. This has had a massive impact on many freelance creatives whose projected incomes went from healthy to zero instantly. While some governments have offered help to supplement the income of freelancers, not all have. This means that many artists are having to cope with a serious health crisis while wondering why their work has disappeared.
So, with the world changing radically around us, how do we maintain our creative spark which brought us into the fantastic world of content creation? Thankfully, as content creation artists, we already have a lot of the skills needed to cope. We are good at adapting to change; as software and techniques improve in 3D, artists are continually adapting their workflows to make the most of the new opportunities these advances offer. Also, many artists are already used to home working and have done for years. Even for those artists who have been studio-based, it is highly likely that we will still have the ability to create at home.
As an industry, we also have some of the most globally adapted workflows on the planet. 3D artists work together internationally all the time on projects. They may never actually meet until an event like Siggraph, NAB or Vertex. We also have some of the most vibrant and friendly online communities that are there to enhance learning and sharing.
However, we should not underestimate this unique set of new challenges that COVID-19 brings. In fact, they can become overwhelming, and the desire to stick our head in the sand and hope this all goes away is understandable. Unfortunately, it looks like COVID-19 will be with us for the long haul. So, here are a series of tips that can hopefully help you meet the challenges, pitfalls and genuine opportunities that lockdown offers to content creators across the world.
01 DON’T PANIC
The first and most obvious tip to maintaining one's creativity is to not let the lockdown send you into a panic. First of all, that means, unless you or your immediate family or support group have an emergency medical situation that has to be dealt with immediately, don't rush into any major decisions. These decisions could include buying new kit or software or, potentially more damaging, selling existing equipment. COVID-19 came upon the world in a rush of confusion to which the best response is measured patience and fact-finding.
02 WHAT STATE AID IS AVAILABLE?
One of the keys to maintaining a good creative mindset is to have a secure financial basis upon which to build. While many in the creative industry work on a freelance or short-term contract, the lockdown has meant that a lot of this work has temporarily been suspended. Many governments are offering help to workers, either through furloughing schemes for company employees, or grants and extra benefits to those who work for themselves. In the UK this is offered at www. gov.uk/coronavirus. Find out what the government in your country is offering as it could provide an easy way to help you regain some financial security.
03 WHAT DO LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITIES OFFER?
Many countries have a good network of business communities and organisations which can offer a range of services to artists and studios. Remember, lockdown is affecting every business group, so everyone has to adapt to radical change. These services range from simple networking opportunities, to portfolio and business listing services, which for a (hopefully) minimal fee gets you and your work into the faces of potential clients. Most importantly, though, the message boards or Slack groups that these groups offer can help share the load in seeking out aid for businesses and freelancers.
04 CHECK IN WITH CLIENTS AND COLLEAGUES
If lockdown occurred when you were between work, that does not mean that clients have vanished from the face of the planet. Quick check-in emails that see if they are well and safe are great ways of maintaining and strengthening relationships in troubled times.
While it is not uncommon for artists to have periods in their career where times can be tough, what is unique about the COVID-19 pandemic is the fact that all artists are having one of these periods at the same time. Social media is a great way to stay in touch, as are Zoom and private Slack channels.
05 KEEP A REGULAR WORKDAY
One of the most natural things to do when presented with a drop-off of work is to not work. Try and keep a regular workday, even if there is nothing in your inbox. Get dressed in the clothes that you would for work, and try to start and more importantly finish your workday at the same time that you would if you were working on a project for a client. Doing this will mean that when the work does come in, the workday will not feel different.
06 EVERYTHING IS CREATIVE
If pushing pixels doesn’t appeal, use a camera, make a cake, do some sketching, make small sculptures out of pebbles in the park. Lockdown is a stressful time, and finding creative opportunities that are not CGI related is a great way to spark the mind.
07 GET MORE SLEEP
While keeping a regular workday is essential, trying to keep up with our sleep is even more critical. Many studies have shown that proper sleep of 7-8 hours or more has many health and cognitive benefits. Using computer screens near bedtime can impair our ability to get to sleep, so make sure to give yourself at least an hour of wind-down time before going to bed. Also, don't feel so tempted to set the alarm as this will help you wake up at the end of a sleep cycle and when your body feels it has recharged.
08 IF YOU CAN GET OUTSIDE… GET OUTSIDE!
If the prospect of spending all day inside 'trying to be creative' is getting you down, then it’s highly important, if the lockdown situation allows it, to get outside in the fresh air and take a break. Exercise is a great stimulant.
09 STAND INSTEAD OF SIT
If it is impossible to get outside, creating a standing desk can be a great energiser. Standing desks have been proven to help with concentration, and they are better for circulation and muscle tone as they can help with strengthening the body’s core.
10 TRY A DIFFERENT CHAIR
If a standing desk is not an option, there are a wide range of chairs that encourage better posture and body core development. These can be relatively affordable and can have a positive impact on both body and mind.
11 DON’T GET OVERLOADED BY SOCIAL MEDIA
While some of the previous tips have been about the benefit of online communication and social media, at the same time, these platforms can have a corrosive quality, either by participating with people who are handling the pandemic differently or just by creating an opportunity for procrastination. The pandemic has made people work at home who are more accustomed to the social interactions of an office environment, and therefore may try to up the tempo of online communications via online social media platforms. If this is not for you, do not feel that you have to join in, always do what works for you first.
12 SEEK OUT THERAPY
Many of us only have to face issues such as slow render times and complicated topology. Now there is a literal life and death situation outside of the front door presenting new challenges that many of us never expected to face in our lifetimes. So if it all seems too much, there are trained professional therapists who are there to help. They can be accessed via online calls, both audio and video. Find therapists through proper accredited bodies, for example, the BACP in the UK. Therapy can have a transformative effect on people in normal times, and the same is true, if not more so, in lockdown. •