The Lost Art of Thinking: What Working From Home Took From Me
In the hustle of remote work, the time and space to think — once provided by daily commutes — seems to have vanished. Here’s why that matters and how you can get it back.
As we’re speeding towards the end of 2023, I’ve started to remember those lofty New Year’s resolutions, like reading a ton of books? This year, I aimed for 23 but hit a wall until a 12-week productivity hack reignited my reading habit.
The books I focused on reading revolved around work-life balance and the power of rest. These books led me to a recurring thought: “Why don’t I write anymore?” Back in university, I was an avid blogger. My transition to the working world saw me move to Medium for more polished articles. But then I stopped, particularly when the pandemic hit. With our lives in chaos, writing about Design seemed insignificant. But was there more to it?
The Commute Connection
After thinking it through, I realised my writing hiatus correlated with working from home.
Before the pandemic, I’d been commuting for almost a decade. My days included a good amount of walking and 40 minutes on a train — time I now see as fertile ground for ideas and motivation to write.
For years, I saw commuting as a time sink, something that stole moments from my personal life.
However, that ‘stolen’ time was actually a gift.
Commuting gave me the boredom and space to think. In this always-connected era, tweets and TikToks easily fill the gaps. I used to capture thoughts in a notes app during my commute, providing a springboard for later writing.
My mind isn’t wandering anymore because the digital world has filled that space.
The Solution to Lost Thinking Time
So, how do you replace that lost thinking time?
I’ve started to simulate a commute by walking each morning. I don’t force myself to write, but I typically that ‘boredom’ space seems to reignite my desire to do so.
I’ve also found starting my morning off with “Morning Pages” has helped me mull over thoughts and feelings about my work, career and the state of design, which end up becoming a fertile field of potential blog posts and articles.
What I’ve learned is that idle moments, like those during a commute, can be goldmines for creativity. While remote work offers benefits, the absence of these transitional moments might be stifling our innovative sparks. Keep that in mind the next time you wish away your commute, as you might be wishing away more than just time.
Do you miss your commute? How have you recreated thinking time? Let me know!
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Originally published at https://lizhamburger.substack.com.
