From the archives: How to make the world's greatest Christmas playlist

Few things are as satisfying as a well-curated playlist. A playlist can set the mood (or ruin it), and can also become your personal soundtrack for a while. And, best of all, you can return to it later and be transported back to the time when you made it. Dreamy!

But, let’s be honest – a lot of playlists suuuuck. Especially Christmas playlists. But, you are looking at (reading at?) the CHRISTMAS PLAYLIST CHAMP. When I was a teenager, I used Napster and a first-gen CD burner to make my friends a truly kick-ass, totally curated Christmas CD every year. And those bad boys LIVE ON because they were actually great playlists. How can you make an equally legendary Christmas playlist? Read on my friends.

Why do some playlists suck?

Why do they suck so hard? What makes them so sucktastic? A few things, usually. First, songs you hate that interrupt your flow. You know how it goes… you’re really feelin’ a playlist (obviously not made by you), then one of your most-hated songs of all time comes on. It… kind of throws things off. For me at Christmas, that song is “Last Christmas” by Wham. UGH! Get that garbage outta here. (Everyone’s got “that song” at Christmas, and when you use pre-made playlists, it sneaks in there!) To avoid this, make your own damn playlists that you truly love.

Another thing that ruins otherwise good playlists are song transitions that are too jarring. This one’s easy to fix in your own playlists by listening to the starts and ends of each piece back to back (no need to test the whole playlist at once – just test the transitions). Reshuffle the order of tracks where it feels yucky (it’s probably because the tempi – speeds – of the pieces are too dissimilar, and not in a pleasing way; or, because the keys of the pieces don’t jive well, and your ears will tell you that – no need to over-analyze). And don’t play your own playlists on Shuffle until you’re a little sick of them. You’re better than that.

Finally, and most importantly, the thing that makes a lot of pre-made Christmas playlists so bad is that there isn’t enough variety. You know what you like, and that’s great… but that can also mean playlists that are a real snooze. If you like the singer-songwriter/indie/alternative genre most of the time, super. But a whole Christmas playlist in that style can be… really boring. As well, even if you DO have variety, you’ve gotta put it all together and mix it up in terms of order, otherwise you’ll have unequal distribution of different genres. No sense in having two sappy ballads back to back when you’ve got a whole playlist to work with.

Great, so how do I make a better playlist?

Ok, so obviously you know I’m gonna tell you to put some classical and jazz on there. But don’t worry, I’ll show you how to do it in a decidedly non-sucky way so that you don’t hit a random, kind of crap classical piece and skip it every time.

So, my friends, FIRST I’m going to tell you how to build your base playlist.

THEN, I’ve put together a list of 10 classical pieces and 10 jazz tracks for you to slot in there to spruce it up and take it to the next level.

Are you ready?! Let’s do it!

How to make a LEGENDARY Christmas playlist

Oh, it’s about to get REAL up in here

Let’s make the best Christmas playlist of your whole damn life

1.     Obviously, create a blank playlist (in Apple Music or Spotify or on YouTube – you do you.) Give it a cute or hilarious name. Don’t you dare just call it “Christmas.” Have fun for once in your life, Gary.

2.     Pull up the pre-made Christmas playlist on that platform that MOST appeals to you. Maybe it’s “Christmas Pop” or “Traditional Christmas” – doesn’t matter. Just pick one where, when you open it, you generally like the vibe and know lots of songs.

3.     Go through and add songs from that playlist into your awesomely-named personal Christmas playlist. The trick here is to only add songs you already know you LOVE. No “well, that song is okay…” or “well, I think other people like that song.” It’s YOUR damn playlist, Linda.

4.     You get to make one more pass through the same playlist to see if there are any songs you DON’T know but that are by artists you already love. Have a quick listen to the beginning of the song. Are you instantly drawn to it? I usually know if I’ll love a song in about 15 seconds. Feeling wishy-washy? THANK U, NEXT.

5.     Do that same routine with no more than three pre-made playlists. Myself, I usually start with a pop Christmas playlist, an alternative or singer-songwriter Christmas playlist, and finally, a “100 best Christmas Songs of All-Time” or similar playlist. (And obviously this is BEFORE I launch into classical and jazz.)

6.     BONUS STEP! If you have a ballin’ playlist from last Christmas already, here’s where you cross-reference and do a quick scan through that one to see if there are any beloved favourites you missed. For example, this year I missed “Text Me Merry Christmas” by Straight No Chaser with Kristen Bell, which I ADORE, so it made this year’s playlist as well. 

7. Have a look through what you’ve got and put it in an order you think works. The trick is to get as much variety as possible from song to song (i.e., a ballad then an up-tempo pop song, and you also want to try to mix genders of singers back-to-back, groups versus solo, old versus new music, etc.)

8.     Okay, y’all. You probably are dreading this next step if you aren’t already into classical and jazz, but OH JUST YOU WAIT FOR HOW AWESOME YOUR PLAYLIST GETS! Now we’re going to find a handful of classical pieces and a handful of jazz tracks to mix in. Like smarties in trail mix, they’re about to make this beast SO MUCH BETTER.

Classical & Jazz additions to uplevel your Christmas playlist

“Damn, Sandra – you are SO classy!”

CLASSICAL PIECES TO MIX IN TO YOUR ALREADY BALLIN’ PLAYLIST

1. “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah

Look, I could try to be cool and suggest a different movement from this choral spectacular, but – let’s be real – you want this on your playlist so it will FEEL LIKE CHRISTMAS, MAN! 

2. Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker: Waltz of the Flowers (Act II, No. 13)

As with Messiah, you’ve gotta have a couple “greatest hits of classical Christmas music” on your playlist, and what’s more quintessential Christmas than The Nutcracker. Obviously, it’s jam-packed with great music pretty much start to finish, but I love Waltz of the Flowers the best. Can’t beat those french horns.

3. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, BWV 248: “Jauchzet, frohlocket!” (Part I, No. 1)

Again, this is one of those classical essentials. I like this grand opening by Bach, because it captures that epic-feeling of excellent Christmas church music. Tuck it after a loud-ish, uptempo tune to smooth out your playlist… that intro will sneak up on you otherwise!

4. Anything by the Canadian Brass

Brass = Christmas for me, so you MUST include a brass quintet. I love their Carol of the Bells or God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.

5. “Lo How A Rose E’er Blooming”

Gotta pick a choir for this one – the harmonies are just incredible in human voices. This always makes me want to have a pot of tea, cuddle up by the fire, and pretend I’m in a little English cottage like in The Holiday. I found a lovely recording by The Cambridge Singers on Apple Music, if that’s your jam.

6. “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”

I sang in a very good children's choir through high school, and we did an epic, proper Christmas concert at the beginning of every December. For me, it’s not Christmas until the descant kicks in on this bad boy (that’s where the sopranos sing way up high above the melody and it’s WONDERFUL). Also, did you know this is actually by classical giant Felix Mendellsohn? You’ve GOT to pick a real choir for this one (aka, not Mormon Tabernacle, who I think are terrible for a variety of reasons). Choir of King’s College has a few quality recordings, but you know you’ve found a really good one if it starts with the brass fanfare.

7.  “Maria Wiegenlied” by Max Reger

I ADORE the recording from Carnegie Hall with Kathleen Battle & Frederica von Stade (André Previn conducting). It is UNREAL.

8. “Night of Silence”

There are lots of beautiful instrumental versions of Silent Night, but – pro choirnerd tip – there’s nothing like the arrangement for choir called “Night of Silence.” Oh my god. It’s so beautiful. I found a lovely recording by Canadian women’s choir Elektra. (Choir buddies – I bawled when I listened to the Elektra version. So many memories of children almost starting each other’s braids on fire with their candles…)

9. “Panis Angelicus” by César Franck

This is one that’s been recorded by a lot of “popera” or “crossover” singers (like Josh Groban, Sarah Brightman, people you’ve seen on America’s Got Talent etc.), so by all means go for someone you already like if you want. But, if I were you, I would pick the sublime opera legend Jessye Norman with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, if you can find it.

10. “O Come All Ye Faithful” (aka, “Adeste Fideles”)

There’s a wonderful version by the Three Tenors, and another with just Pavarotti. Like the descant in Hark the Herald Angels Sing, it’s not Christmas until I hear the chord change in this one at “Word of the Father now in flesh appearing.” SWOON.

JAZZ CHRISTMAS MUSIC TO REALLY LOCK THIS FUCKER DOWN

1. Mandatory Vince Guaraldi track(s)

Okay. So. I love Vince Guaraldi so much that the Charlie Brown Christmas album could form the backbone of my Christmas Playlist. I always include the instrumental version of “Christmas Time is Here,” plus “Skating” and “O Tannenbaum.” The other classic choice is “Linus & Lucy.”

2. “Sleigh Ride” – Diana Krall

Can’t go wrong with a Diana Krall piano+vocal version of a Christmas standard (her whole Christmas album from about a decade ago is really great). Personally, I like her “Sleigh Ride” with the Hamilton Jazz Orchestra the best. 

3. “The Christmas Song” – Chris Botti

Botti toured with Sting for a long time, so he’s basically Sting playing a trumpet – like, in a good way. He’s soulful, easy to listen to, and plays so beautifully it will simultaneously make you feel really sexy but also want to kick back with a puzzle. His Christmas album “December” is very good, and I particularly like this casually rhythmic version of the fireside classic.

4. “Sugar Rum Cherry” – Duke Ellington

This track is my secret weapon for making an incredible holiday playlist. Seriously. Game-changer. 

5. “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” – Ella Fitzgerald

Not exactly an obscure choice, but it’s just SO GOOD. The ending – oh man. I love how Ella’s lively, colourful tone can break up an otherwise Pop-y playlist in a way that feels natural.

6. “Cool Yule” – Louis Armstrong

Part of what I love about adding jazz to a Christmas playlist is that warm, nostalgic feeling from old recordings. This Louis Armstrong will make you feel like you’re laying on the shag carpet in your grandma’s livingroom, guaranteed.  

7. “The Hanukkah Waltz” – Bela Fleck & the Flecktones

First of all, you’ll feel like less of a jerk when your Jewish friends are over and you’re only blasting songs about the birth of Christ. Second, the clarinet on this track is just AWESOME.

8. “Frosty the Snowman” – Harry Connick, Jr.

The screaming horns at the beginning of this track always make me think of Christmas. (Can you tell my husband is a trumpet player?) This is a great way to spice up a slower playlist. So good.

9. Any version of “The Christmas Waltz”

For fans of Hamilton, Leslie Odom Jr. has a very good Christmas album with a delightful version of this song. I also really like the Dave Brubeck version, if you’re more into the instrumental vibe.

10. “Jingle Bells” – Frank Sinatra

Just like with the classical picks, I could try and be super obscure and cool, but frankly – what’s the point. Love Frank. Love this tunes. Fuck it.

And, here are a few BONUS TRACKS that are amazing and kind of related but don’t really fit anywhere:

1. “Nutcracker” by Straight No Chaser (it’s hilarious, even if the message is a bit… #offbrand)

2. “Waltz of the Flowers,” from the Nutcracker, as reimagined by Pentatonix

3. “Pennies from Heaven” by Louis Armstrong (because it’s in Elf and I love that part, even though it’s definitely not a Christmas song)

4. “Count Your Blessings” from White Christmas (clearly the best part of that movie, even though it’s not specifically Christmassy)

Hope that spruces up your holiday playlist! I know mine is now in the best shape it’s ever been.

I’ll also be sharing my other Christmas playlist secret weapon songs over on my Instagram, so check it out!

Now, to enjoy. Happy Holidays, everyone!

/k

How to Support an Artistic Child During Recital Season

It’s winter recital season for little musicians and dancers, and with our own first baby on the way, I’m thinking about artistic kids (with two musician parents, we might end up with a child resigned to never be a performing artist, but who knows!). Sometimes it can be difficult to know how best to support your budding violinist or ballerina if you were never in the performing arts yourself. So, from the perspective of someone who has been a little musician, taught little musicians, and been around a gazillion little musicians over the years, here are five ways you can support your artistic kid this holiday recital season:

1. SET UP A DRESS REHEARSAL (or a couple)

Whether you have a child in a group artistic activity (like choir or dance) or a solo one (like violin or piano), giving them a chance to do a “run-through” of their upcoming performance can go a long way toward soothing their nerves, and can be a great way to make them feel more confident (plus, it gives kids an earlier date to prepare for than the night before the performance). I remember playing pieces for my grandparents the week before my recitals, and it was a huge help. If you’ve got kids who are pretty new to performing, I would also recommend they try out their concert attire for this “dress rehearsal” for family or friends. It’s never a pleasant experience to find out something doesn’t fit (or pulls funny, or is itchy, or “just is totally wrong, mom!”) five minutes before you need to leave the house.

2. ASK THEM ABOUT THEIR “GAME DAY” PREFERENCES AHEAD OF TIME

It’s good to talk through how performance day will go ahead of time so that you know (a) what the logistics are (ask your kid what their teacher has told them, if there are any handouts or emails about the recital, etc.), and also (b) what your little performer’s own preferences are about the day. For example, when I was a kid (okay, all the way through to when I was a professional performer), I always wanted to be really early for performances because I was nervous about being late. My parents would always want to leave the house at a perfectly reasonable time, but I wanted to be really early. Maybe your kid wants to sit up at the front of the church or recital hall with their friends and not with your family. Maybe parents aren’t allowed backstage, but they’d like you to walk them as far as you can go, then have your cell on hand in case they forget something. Talking through things ahead of time avoids accidentally hurt feelings and extra nerves (for both of you!).

3. TAKE CARE OF LOGISTICS

If you’re looking for a way to support your budding performer, one of the best ways is to let them know that you’ll handle all the logistics. I appreciated people doing this for me all the way up until I was a professional, and I still try to support my performer husband by offering assistance in this area. Way ahead of time, this includes making sure a little solo musician’s accompanist has a copy of their music (ask their teacher), ensuring their costume needs are taken care of (for little dancers and for holiday pageants), and making sure they know what they’re going to wear and having all the pieces of it ready to go. On the day of, let them know what time you need to leave the house and provide some warnings leading up to departure, have an easy-to-digest-but-protein-filled meal before leaving (eggs and toast is great, as is the classic PB&J if your child can have it – both reliable meals even professionals often eat before performing), pack a snack they can have backstage (a banana and crackers is great for a nervous tummy), and fill up a water bottle. Finally, help them do a last minute talk-through of everything they need to take with them when you leave the house (“Music?” “Check!” “Water bottle?” “Check!”). Once you get to the venue, help them find where they need to be, even though they might know better than you. For all logistics, nerves can really get in the way of clear thinking, so allow for extra time and provide a little extra assistance, even if you have a very self-reliant little performer.

4. GO TO THE PERFORMANCE!

Your kid might say they don’t want you to come. Or they might use the classic “you don’t have to come, it’ll be boring.” Obviously it’s going to be boring – it’s a performance entirely made up of children who are just starting to learn to do the thing they’re doing. Insist on coming (unless they really, truly freak out about you being there, in which case maybe offer to be backstage with them), and invite siblings and grandparents as well, if you can. Those early signs of support mean so much to a kid just starting out on a performing arts journey. Find out beforehand if you can take a picture or video, and ask your child if they would like their performance videotaped (some, especially older kids, often would prefer that you just watch, but some really want the video). Get a picture of them in their finery after the performance. Bring flowers! Go for a special meal afterward! Recitals are a big deal for kids – they’ve been working toward them for months, and they can be really nerve-wracking. Make the day feel special. (Critical tip: show respect and support for everyone else’s kids and your kid’s teacher by being a good audience member throughout the show. Stay for the whole performance, applaud, and stay off your phone. I KNOW it’s hard. You can do it.)

5. SHOW THEIR TEACHER(S) YOU APPRECIATE THEIR HARD WORK

Recital season is next-level crazy for music and dance instructors. Like, ca-ray-zee. This goes for private instructors and teachers at school. After the concert or recital or winter pageant, go let your child’s instructor(s) know two things: (1) how great you thought the whole performance was, and (2) how much you appreciated getting to see your child perform so beautifully. Your kid’s accomplishment that day is a reflection not only of your child’s hard work, but also of their teacher’s. And a small gift goes a long way. My personal favourite? A card from your kid with a modest gift card for a coffee chain. Easy to bring in your purse or pocket, easy for the teacher to actually use, much needed, and super appreciated. 

So those are my tips for supporting a tiny performer this holiday recital season. Whether it’s a violin recital or a solo in the choir on Christmas Eve, make your little artist feel special, supported, and celebrated!

Happy Holidays!

Five Ways to Add Creative Inspiration to Your Workday

Look, I’ve been there. You’re a super creative kid/teen/college student, then – somehow, someway – over time, the creative kind of gets… wrung out of you. Even if you technically work in a creative field, or in a job you absolutely LOVE, that little inspired genius kid in you can get awfully quiet over time.  

Maybe you’re like me, and you started out as a tiny human believing it was cool to be smart and to make up crazy craft projects and to perform the entirety of The Lion King as a one woman show in your living room. Maybe, like me, you also spent middle school wondering why people made fun of you for being kind of extra – going over the top on projects and being really keen and sparkly about everything. And maybe, just maybe, you relate to teenage Kayleigh, who made fancy, crafty dividers for her colour-coded binders at the start of every semester (they were laminated), sang along to musical theatre soundtracks in her Honda Civic so loudly people would later comment they heard her in traffic, and made secret contraband posters (which were offensive but very clever) for her and her friends for football games.

And maybe you’re also like me in that, as you went along through high school and then university and then early career and family life, everything got a whole lot more obligation-y and a lot less inspiration-y. Maybe you, like me, found yourself analyzing how to be as successful as possible in your chosen field – even if that meant tamping down some creative aspects of yourself (I actually felt this way in both opera and law, so it’s definitely not just a “professional” professions issue).

Perhaps along that journey into early adulthood (for real adulthood – like, post-college adulthood) you also noticed something I started to notice: without enough creativity, every day starts to look and feel the same. Do you ever feel this way? All your clothes start to look and feel the same. Every day is just another series of the same tasks and obligations. Same drive, same coffee, same emails.

But it doesn’t have to be that way! And you don’t have to blow up your life to cultivate a little more creativity, personality, and inspiration in your standard day. That’s why I’ve put together this super easy list of five ways to add a little more oomph to your day. If you’re a few years into adulting and you’re feeling a little blah in your day-to-day, give one or all of these a try. You might be surprised at what a huge impact a seemingly silly little change makes in your level of joy, creativity, and confidence.

So with ALLL that being said, let’s get creative!  

(And, a wee caveat – as someone who is also getting close to a season of full-time parenting, you’re DAMN RIGHT “workday” includes the following: seasons spent caring for a child/children/loved one; in-between-y seasons, like between jobs, careers, or degrees; seasons of creativity or rest, like retirement; and, seasons spent healing/recovering. Or, honestly, anything YOU define it as. Workday away!)

Five Ways to Add Creative Inspiration to your Workday

1.     LISTEN TO BETTER MUSIC

I mean, c’mon. First of all, if you’re just listening to Top 40 radio/playlists, you’re missing a HUGE opportunity for customization in your day. Curating a personal soundtrack – whether it’s classical or classic rock – allows you to secretly infuse self-expression into your day (especially if you’re in a headphones-only situation like I used to be in the open-concept office I worked in).

Of COURSE I’m going to advocate for you to inspire-up your day with some classical or jazz, but this is definitely a “you do you, boo” situation. Myself, I like to listen to mostly instrumental jazz for writing and reading, classical for any high-focus non-writing tasks, and me-made playlists of a mixture of indie and pop (current and old favourites) for low-intensity tasks like bookkeeping, filing, etc. Absolutely NO SHADE to popular music (Apple A-List Pop is a favourite for me if I’m low on energy or feeling kind of mindless), but why pass up an opportunity to feel more like you, more in the zone, and a little more joyful? Take yourself back to the joy of making the perfect mix tape or burned CD and listen to music that either inspires you because it’s new and exciting (ahem! Let’s hear it for classical and jazz!), or takes you back to feeling like the you-est you possible (hellooo early-2000s indie pop!).

2.    CURATE YOUR SPACE

Whether you’re rocking a corner office, a desk in your living room, or a windowless grey cubicle, you deserve to feel like your desk is YOUR workspace. One of my favourite things about taking time to thoughtfully decorate your workspace is that desks come with build-in constraints that actually encourage creativity. Think your space is too small to do anything with? Customize your desktop wallpaper, frame a little photo, and gather your favourite pens. Have one of those unfathomably giant wooden lawyer desks? Get a really great plant, add a nice writing mat, and put out a mug from the sports team you’re obsessed with (a great ice breaker for when clients walk into your otherwise imposing office that also reminds you that you are a human being and not a drafting machine).

For example, the last office desk I had was very small, modern cubicle-style (aka, shoulder-to-shoulder with the colleague beside you), with a light wood top and a charcoal metal half wall behind my monitors. So I picked photos of Ryan and Molly hiking (a nice way to bring the outside in), as well as a beautiful handmade pencil cup and Rifle Paper Co. folders and notebooks and sticky notes and ALL THE THINGS that all looked great (to me!) with the given colours and materials around me (there was a lot of blush pink… #trendy). And I organized them in the way that would give me the most workspace, since I was often dealing with large printouts of project maps etc. Throw in a colour-coordinated wallpaper photo and you’ve got a chic little cubicle! Plus, you can constantly tweak your space, which means tiny bursts of creativity whenever you feel like it. Move things around. Change up that wallpaper. Make it actually yours.

 3.     GET CREATIVE IN YOUR EMAILS

So… this is one of those “with great power comes great responsibility” situations. I love email. I’m passionate about great email. And I positively detest bad email (especially hyper-corporate CYA email, which has its place, but is basically the definition of “joyless”). If you’re new to business email, or if you feel intimidated by it – skip ahead. Or, better yet, take a business writing workshop. Warm, professional, actionable workplace emails are something you develop over time, but they pay huge dividends. Even working on your inter-office communications can be a huge source of inspiration if you approach it like the craft it is.

But, let’s say you’re a super confident office emailer. Or, even easier, let’s say you work in a pretty relaxed workplace. Or, even if you’re in a really formal work setting, say your team exchanges more casual emails about less serious matters like where to have lunch. The workplace email can actually be a really fun place to zhuzh up your daily creativity. I’m not talking about insufferable quotations in your signature, or – GOD FORBID – changing the font or colour. I’m talking about talking like you in your emails. Try to write like you talk. Use expressions. Use punctuation! (Even the exclamation mark!) Curse if that’s on-brand for you and acceptable in your workplace! Try to cultivate the feeling of you-ness in your written communication as much as possible (where appropriate!). Email is a huge source of stress and frustration, so infusing your communication with a little more personality is a great way to regain your creative power and sanity.

 4.     CULTIVATE A PERSONAL WORK WARDROBE STYLE (even if you work from home)

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know I’m ridiculously obsessed with capsule wardrobes. While my obsession started in law school (for which the dress code is closer to “slovenly” than it is to “Elle Woods”), it really took hold in the corporate job I had straight out of school. The organization I went to work for was technically business casual, but I was in the client-facing consulting group, which was much more business formal. As a young woman working there, I wanted to be taken seriously, but I also wanted to express myself (at least a little). Thus, my work capsule was born – a set of clothes I had “pre-approved” for myself that all mixed and matched, all looked good and met the right level of formality, and that still had a little personality (florals and polkadots and dainty gold jewelry abounded).

Over the next few years, my work style evolved, but some aspects remained pretty much the same. Lots of classic pieces in black, cream, and navy – mostly blazers, pullover sweaters, and pencil skirts. Seasonal mix-ins in goldenrod, mossy green, and blush pink. Quirky jewelry (like my “fingers crossed” earrings I wore for presentations), floral scarves, and statement shoes. Plus, my signature glasses. Cultivating a personal work style is part armour, part rebellion – it helps you feel ready to take on your days, but it also makes you feel delightfully individual. Best of all, it can evolve over time, and be something you dabble in every day. And a boss outfit makes you feel creative and uplifted all damn day (even if you work from home – trust me!)

5.     DELIGHT IN BRAINSTORMING

This is my personal favourite, because I love a good visual representation of ideas, I love running meetings, and I obviously enjoy any chance to use as much stationery as possible. If you work in a collaborative workplace, this might already be second nature to you. Standing at a whiteboard together with colleagues and making a big mind map for a tricky problem or roughing out the project plan for a new endeavour is a WILDLY creative activity. The trick is to allow yourself to be free and as creative as possible while in a workplace setting (where you’re probably trying to advance your career, or, at the very least, not look stupid). This is where it’s key to remember that being creative is something you practice and get better at, and you only get better by trying. Throw things out there. Question assumptions. Be courteous and respectful of others’ ideas, and only defend your own based on logic or for the sake of argument, not to protect your ego. Use lots of coloured dry erase markers. Draw things! Even if they’re terrible! Laugh! Encourage your colleagues’ ideas! Then, sit back together and synthesize as a team to figure out what the heck you’ve just discovered.

If you work in a more formal/siloed/individual group or organization (I’m looking at you, lawyer friends), or if you work freelance/from home, take advantage of the ol’ “can I talk something through with you?” office drive-by (which I do to Ryan now that I work for myself… godbless him). The key to this working well, in my opinion, is to take a pad of paper with you. Draw/map out the problem. Put the paper in between you so your friend can also write on it. We used to do this at the firm I was at (which practiced primarily wills, estates, trusts, and family corporate, so the lawyers out there will know there were a LOT of family and corporate trees drawn out), and it’s such a useful way to open your brain up and actually figure a problem out. Plus, burst of collaborative creativity mid-day? Yes please!

Go forth and infuse your workday with creativity!

And let me know if you have other ideas for adding a little more creative inspiration to your standard workday! You can email me here, or DM me on Instagram. And stay tuned for more posts like this because – hot damn – I am so passionate about making everyone’s days a little less blah and a little more creative. Until next time!