A few weeks ago, I sat down on the porch at Big Raven Farm with a cup of coffee and absolutely no plan.
No project.
No deadline.
No list.
No goal.
For a few minutes, I felt oddly uncomfortable.
My brain immediately started looking for something productive to do.
Maybe I should answer emails.
Maybe I should finish a project.
Maybe I should clean the studio.
Maybe I should work on next month's retreat plans.
Instead, I stayed put.
I watched a hummingbird visit the feeder.
I listened to the chickens wandering through the yard.
I watched the sunlight move across the valley.
And somewhere in that quiet, an idea arrived.
Not because I was searching for it.
Because I finally made enough space to hear it.
It turns out there is actual research suggesting that quiet moments like these may be far more important to creativity than we realize.
I think many creative people have forgotten how important that kind of space really is.
We've Become Very Good at Being Busy
Most of us spend our days moving from one responsibility to the next.
Work.
Family.
Appointments.
Errands.
Household tasks.
Emails.
Messages.
Deadlines.
Even our hobbies sometimes become another thing we're supposed to accomplish.
We sign up for classes.
We buy supplies.
We create goals.
We make plans for our creativity.
And while there is certainly a place for structure, something important often gets lost along the way.
Space.
Not physical space.
Mental space.
The kind of space where ideas can wander in without being invited.
The kind of space where curiosity has room to breathe.
The kind of space where creativity often does its best work.
Creativity Doesn't Like to Be Rushed
One of the things I see over and over again at Big Raven Farm retreats is how long it takes people to slow down.
Guests arrive carrying more than their luggage.
They bring schedules.
Responsibilities.
Stress.
To-do lists.
Sometimes they bring the feeling that they should be doing something more productive than spending a weekend making art.
The first evening is usually a transition.
The second day is often when people begin to settle in.
And by the third day, something shifts.
Last summer, I noticed a guest sitting on the porch after dinner with a sketchbook in her lap. She hadn't touched it all weekend.
Nobody was waiting for her to finish anything.
Nobody had assigned her a project.
She sat there drawing while the sun disappeared behind the hills and the evening settled in around her.
The next morning she told me it was the first time in months that she'd felt completely relaxed.
I think about that moment often because it perfectly captures what happens here. Sometimes creativity isn't about learning a new technique. Sometimes it's simply about finally having the space to hear yourself think.
The pace slows.
People stop checking their phones.
They linger over conversations.
They sit on the porch a little longer.
They take a walk without feeling guilty about it.
And suddenly, ideas start showing up.
Not because they're working harder.
Because they're finally giving themselves room to think.
Why Boredom Isn't the Enemy
We've become remarkably skilled at avoiding boredom.
The moment we find ourselves waiting in line, we reach for a phone.
The moment there's silence, we turn on a podcast.
The moment we have free time, we fill it.
But boredom isn't always a problem to solve.
Sometimes boredom is the doorway to creativity.
When we stop feeding our brains a constant stream of information, our minds begin making connections on their own.
We notice things.
We remember things.
We imagine things.
We become curious again.
Some of my favorite creative ideas have arrived while I was walking, gardening, driving, or sitting outside doing absolutely nothing.
Not because I was trying to come up with an idea.
Because I wasn't.
Interestingly, researchers have found that letting our minds wander can actually help with creative problem-solving. In one study, people performed better on creative tasks after spending time doing simple activities that allowed their thoughts to drift. It turns out those moments when we seem to be doing nothing may be exactly when our brains are making new connections.
Source: Baird, B. et al., Psychological Science, 2012.
The Difference Between Consuming and Creating
We live in a world that makes consuming incredibly easy.
We can scroll endlessly.
Watch videos.
Read articles.
Browse photos.
Shop for supplies.
Research techniques.
And while there's nothing wrong with any of those things, they aren't the same as creating.
Sometimes we convince ourselves we're being creative because we're thinking about creativity.
But thinking about making art isn't the same thing as making art.
Looking at beautiful projects online isn't the same thing as creating your own.
Research has its place.
Inspiration has its place.
But eventually, we have to put down the phone, pick up the paintbrush, and start.
It's also one of the reasons our retreat schedules include so much unstructured time. I wrote about this recently in my blog about our Pick Your Projects Retreat. While the projects themselves are important, what many guests remember most is having the freedom to follow their curiosity, work at their own pace, and spend a few days away from the constant pressure to be productive. The same thing happens whether you're creating art, learning a new skill, or simply sitting on the porch with a cup of coffee.
Presence changes everything.
There may also be a reason our best ideas often show up during a walk, while gardening, or while sitting quietly on the porch. Researchers have found that parts of the brain associated with creativity become more active during periods of rest and reflection.
Source: Beaty, R. et al., Neuropsychologia.
Nature Has a Way of Slowing Us Down
One of my favorite things about living in the Driftless Region is that nature operates on its own schedule.
The birds don't care about deadlines.
The flowers don't rush.
The trees aren't trying to optimize their productivity.
Everything unfolds in its own time.
When guests arrive at Big Raven Farm, many of them tell me how quickly they start noticing things they normally overlook.
The sound of coyotes after sunset.
The way the light changes throughout the day.
The colors in a field.
The shape of a leaf.
The patterns in tree bark.
These small observations may seem insignificant, but they are often the beginning of creative inspiration.
Creativity isn't always about generating something new.
Sometimes it's simply about paying attention.
Why Unstructured Time Feels Uncomfortable
If you're someone who struggles to sit still, you're not alone.
Many of us have learned to measure our worth by our productivity.
If we're busy, we feel useful.
If we're resting, we feel guilty.
If we're creating something that won't make money, solve a problem, or check a box on a to-do list, we sometimes wonder if it's a waste of time.
I understand that feeling.
I still catch myself doing it.
But I've also learned that some of the most valuable things in life don't look productive from the outside.
A conversation on the porch.
A long walk.
An afternoon spent making art.
Watching the stars come out.
None of those things will appear on a productivity report.
Yet they often leave us feeling more refreshed, inspired, and connected than anything else we did that week.
Making Space for Creativity at Home
You don't need a retreat to create unstructured time.
You can start right where you are.
Leave your phone in another room for an hour.
Sit outside with a notebook.
Take a walk without listening to anything.
Spend twenty minutes creating without worrying about the outcome.
Allow yourself to experiment.
Allow yourself to be bad at something.
Allow yourself to make something that serves no purpose other than bringing you joy.
The goal isn't perfection.
The goal is presence.
The more often we create space for those moments, the easier it becomes for creativity to find us.
Creativity doesn't just produce artwork. Research has found that people who regularly engage in creative activities often report greater optimism, higher self-esteem, and more positive emotions in their daily lives.
Source: Conner, T. et al., Journal of Positive Psychology.
Why We Build Retreats the Way We Do
People sometimes ask why our retreat schedules include free time.
Why not fill every hour with instruction?
Why not maximize every moment?
The answer is simple.
Because creativity needs room.
Some of the most meaningful moments at a retreat don't happen during a demonstration.
They happen while sitting around the table after dinner.
While watching a sunset.
While chatting on the porch.
While taking a walk.
While quietly working on a project with no pressure and no deadline.
Those moments matter.
In fact, they are often the reason people return.
The projects are wonderful.
The techniques are valuable.
But the feeling of having time to breathe is what people remember most.
What If You Gave Yourself Permission?
If it's been a while since you've given yourself permission to slow down, consider this your reminder.
You don't need to earn rest.
You don't need to justify creativity.
You don't need to be productive every moment of every day.
Sometimes the most important thing you can do is sit quietly for a while and see what happens.
You might be surprised by what shows up.
And if you're craving a few days away from your routines, responsibilities, and endless to-do lists, I'd love to welcome you to one of our retreats at Big Raven Farm.
Whether you're making art, exploring nature, practicing a new skill, or simply sitting on the porch with a cup of coffee, you'll find plenty of space to slow down and reconnect with yourself.
Because sometimes the thing we need most isn't another project.
It's room to breathe.
Ready for Some Room to Breathe?
If the idea of a few days without deadlines, a place to create at your own pace, and a porch waiting for you at the end of the day sounds appealing, we'd love to welcome you to the farm.
Our retreats aren't about filling every minute of the day.
They're about making space.
Space to create.
Space to rest.
Space to connect with other creative people.
Space to remember what it feels like to slow down.
Whether you join us for a creative retreat, a nature-inspired workshop, or a weekend of simply stepping away from the noise, you'll find the same thing waiting here:
Good food.
Good company.
A little more quiet.
And a little more room to breathe.
I'd love to see you here.