This week we discuss how to find contentment in your creative work. All too often, stress, worry and self-doubt cloud our basic enjoyment we should all be having – that we get to create for a living. We discuss how to find some of that joy again, have fun and find happiness in your creative process.

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Show Notes for This Episode:

[1:00] Tom opens up the show with one of his favourite Ferris Bueller quotes
[2:30] Lisa shares her secret to daily creative joy
[4:00] Daily frustrations can kill your creativity if you allow it
[4:30] Have a sense of humour and learn to laugh at what life throws at you
[5:20] Lisa’s vintage phone
[7:20] Ian walks us through how he navigates life
[8:30] Even with a family and loads of responsibility Ian still feels young at heart
[8:50] Ian shares how having kids give you an excuse to be silly
[9:00] Tom talks about how amazing and crucial Ian’s new studio space is
[10:40] Building your own happy workspace and why it’s so important
[12:04] Working on your space as you grow
[13:00] As Ian’s family has grown his workspace has changed
[14:30] Ian finds a studio in the most unexpected place
[15:30] The source of inspiration for Ian’s new studio space
[16:00] How creating a multipurpose creative space will help build your career
[17:00] Laying out your studio to fit all your design needs
[18:00] Helping others achieve their dreams fills Ian with joy
[18:40] Talking with other creatives helps boost your mood and creativity
[19:00] Lisa dishes on how community makes a world of difference
[20:00] Building friendships and community in real life are a must
[21:00] Searching and finding your own happiness
[21:30] Revisit why you decided to create for a living
[22:00] Get out of your daily grind and find what lights your fire
[22:30] Finding your passion is key
[23:30] How Ian noticed what he is passionate about
[24:30] Limited thinking limits your achievements
[25:00] Your mind is powerful – wield it
[26:00] Finding your passion is hard but only you can do it
[27:20] Everyone, including Ian, Lisa and Tom, are still chasing dreams
[28:00] Paying bills with your passion projects and ideas
[29:20] Finding time for work with family duties
[30:00] What it takes to make it
[31:30] Lisa has always played, experimented and had fun with her work
[32:20] You may have been working towards your dream longer than you think
[33:00] Attitude is everything when it comes to success
[34:00] Making changes to regain focus and contentment
[35:30] When you think you are trapped in your current situation
[36:30] Shifting your work routines to break out of the grind
[38:00] Battling self-sabotage with better organization
[39:00] Creating achievable deadlines and to-do lists
[40:00] Building work deadlines based on your attention span
[41:10] Discussing questions about Creative Block from Laura at @NiftyFoxCreative
[42:00] Get out of the day-to-day grind and get random, weird and wacky
[43:00] Recognizing ideas you shouldn’t over think
[44:40] Over thinking kills the magic
[45:40] Spontaneity will feed your creativity
[46:20] Exercising free flowing creativity
[47:18] Play is so important to your creative health
[48:00] The creative difference between kids and adults
[49:00] When you stop creating
[49:30] In all the variants of our industry there is a place you fit
[50:30] Creating to discover where you fit
[51:00] Focus on enjoying your own journey
[52:00] Stop comparing yourself to the world
[53:30] Compare less, consume less, create more and have more fun
[54:20] Stop watching and start doing
[55:00] Experiment your way into a new life chapter
[56:00] It’s a wrap and we hope you are fired up to get creating
[57:00] Find us on iTunes, Spotify and Instagram by searching for The Honest Designers Show


“A must for every creative freelancer (or those aspiring to freelance). Thank you for being so… honest! Such a wealth of information from people I admire who have ‘been there and done that’. Listening to the podcast every week feels like I’m among friends. Can’t wait for more episodes!”AG_GD