Finding Your Voice Through Creativity

Have you been procrastinating more than usual during lockdown? 

Are you finding it more difficult to bridge the gap between work and downtime?

I have to admit that I am slightly guilty of both of the above. 

Following the theme of reading in the previous blogs, I am going to try to inspire you to put down the cell (or mobile) phone for a while and reflect on the things that bring you happiness and pride.

One book I have read recently is 80/20 by Richard Koch. It’s quite a controversial book that addresses the imbalance between the time and resources we put into things and the gains we make from those variables; the general rule of thumb is that a minority (20%) of causes, inputs or efforts usually lead to a majority (80%) of results, outputs or rewards, but it really depends on the particular situation. Some examples are:

• - 80 percent of the errors and crashes in Windows and Office are caused by 20 percent of the entire pool of bugs detected.

•  - Around 20% of the world’s population controls 80% of the world’s income (these figures could be more extreme today).

• - 20% of patients use 80% of healthcare resources.

• - And, 20% of the carpet in your office/home gets used 80% of the time!

• - 80% of happiness comes from 20% of activities.

Source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/3-real-world-examples-pareto-principle-gregory-warner

One would think that the gains would be equally proportional to the effort. When we look a little closer though, there are truths in this in theory that is also known as the Pareto principle. Let me make myself clear from the outset that I am not advocating that there are shortcuts to success. What I will say, though, is that time is something that should be optimised in our professional or academic lives; in our personal lives and relationships; and in our individual pursuits of happiness. 

The main takeaway, for me, is that we need to be more mindful about ourselves, especially when the distinction between school and home life has been blurred due to the pandemic.

Take moments out during the day to do some self reflection on the following:

• - Evaluate all of your tasks and assess your goals
• - Know when you're most productive
• - Eliminate the distractions that interrupt you most

How do all of the above have anything to do with finding your voice through creativity?

As students, you are navigating through uncertain and erratic times; developing an identity and a voice can be a challenge. 

Finding a common goal can be liberating and give you a chance to use your creativity and your voice (yes, your voice is important!) to confront global issues. This is why I am encouraging you to log on to the Nord Anglia global campus and get involved with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. This is a great opportunity to burst the bubble of the monotony  of isolation! In the ‘writers corner’ section of the site, you will find opportunities to look at global issues through different perspectives. From creative writing competitions to the ‘one world, one book’ activities.

According to common sense media, teens have an average of between 4-7 hours of screen time per day. Could a portion of this time be spent on something more meaningful? Something that will lead to a higher proportion of happiness?

What I am really asking is for you to deeply consider what brings you happiness. This is something you need to really think carefully about. One thing that brought me happiness recently is that David Attenbourough, a 94 year old man and environmental activist, ‘broke the world record for the fastest time to reach one million followers on Instagram, according to Guinness World Records. Attenborough did it in four hours and 44 minutes.’

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-54292947

Sir David Attenborough - four hours 44 minutes (September 2020)

Jennifer Aniston - five hours 16 minutes (October 2019)

Duke and Duchess of Sussex - five hours 45 minutes (April 2019)

Kang Daniel, K-Pop star - 11 hours 36 minutes (January 2019)

Pope Francis - 12 hours (March 2016)

David Beckham - 24 hours (May 2015)

This gave me hope that young people really do care about our planet and that everyone can have a global voice.

If you want to develop your creativity and are passionate about our planet, have a look at this excellent opportunity to connect with fellow students across the globe. See if this could be one of those opportunities that bring purpose and happiness to your life. See if you can use your creative voice and get heard by people across the world! See if this could be one of your 80/20 moments!

Log on to the Global Campus: https://globalcampus.nae.school/

Visit the Writers Corner section

Check out the activities related to the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

17 Sustainable Development Goals: https://sdgs.un.org/goals