How to Stay Creative in Front of a Screen ? Part 1

Introduction

Those of us who work in fields where creativity plays a central role—have you noticed that when you open your computer and look at the screen, something happens… and your creative inspiration suddenly gets interrupted or diminished?

And what exactly is creative inspiration? What does it feel like?

In this text, I don’t intend to offer an academic definition, but rather to speak from my own experience as an artist who has worked with a computer for many years. With that in mind, I define creative inspiration as a bodily sensation that signals an urgent need to create something: it might be a poem, a musical piece, or simply writing down an idea for a project. It feels like when an idea arrives and you need to write it down or act on it immediately.Have you ever felt something like that?

Image : Catching ideas for a future project

When I used to work without a computer, this happened to me often, especially with musical ideas: I would rush to the staff paper and the piano to transcribe them. Or, before writing a poem, I would feel as if it were already condensed—though not yet fully formed—above my head; then I would open my notebook and start writing. Now, what happens to creativity infront of a screen ?

Do you notice your creativity decreasing when you’re in front of a screen?

In front of a computer, my experience was very different. I noticed that when a screen was on, my creativity decreased, became interrupted, and sometimes even shut down.

There are many studies showing the negative impact of screens on the development and practice of creativity. As an artist, I often asked myself what techniques or strategies might allow me to express my creativity at its fullest while working on a computer.

Image. My Creativity was reduced infront of a screen. Image made with Midjourney

In the following chapters, I will share what has worked for me. I would also like to open up this conversation, because I find it deeply inspiring to share our experiences around this topic.

So I’ll leave a few questions here—I’d love to hear from you:

• What bodily sensations do you experience when you feel creative?

• Have you felt creative inspiration? What does it feel like for you?

• Do you notice your creativity decreasing when you’re in front of a screen?

In the next posts, I’ll explore how to stay creative in front of a screen.

More reflections and insights coming soon.