Sticking with the day job: how to find creativity in the mundane

Photo: Hanson Lu

If you’ve ever found yourself in a work situation where the monotony saps you of all energy and inspiration, you’re not alone. The boredom can feel like a persistent itch that needs to be scratched and you count the hours until you can go home again. The trouble with this, despite the fact that working in an unfulfilling job isn’t your life-long ambition, is that you can easily end up missing out on brilliant learning opportunities (albeit different to what you expected).

Jobs are temporary - you will not be in them forever, but while you’re there it seems a shame not to find some inspiration in the mundane. In fact, there is always a story to be told in the most unlikely of places.

There is always a story to be told in the most unlikely of places.

I’ve worked in lots of jobs that did not reflect my life long goal of doing something creative – from serving fish and chips to cold-calling. These jobs were solely about the money for me – or so I thought. Having this attitude to my work, however, meant that I was not invested in it and my time went slowly. It affected my mental wellbeing. On top of this, many relatives and friends had started to ask me what I was doing with my qualifications – where was I heading with my career? The pressure was on to make something of myself and all of this was focussing my mind on something that was not the present. It was a future hope I couldn’t quite grasp.

One lunch break, on a particularly challenging day working at a budget supermarket, I realised something had to shift. Was it possible to find creative inspiration in the mundane day-to-day? I started to be a bit more ‘switched on’ when I was at work and be observant of the people I met and the conversations I overheard. Each day I would meet some really interesting people – funny, kind, interesting and down-right rude. In a strange plot twist, the rude ones made the best stories. I started to benefit whenever anyone treated me unkindly – turning negative situations into a positive.

I started to write and draw when I got home each day, creating sketches from memory. It was my coping mechanism for an otherwise unfulfilling time. Instead of drawing as a form of escapism, I decided to draw based on my exact experiences and confront the characters by drawing them. This, of course, was therapeutic in many ways. If someone was particularly rude to me I would smile politely, safe in the knowledge they would turn into a grotesque drawing later that night. It brought about a sense of playfulness about my day – what could I turn into a drawing? What stories interest me? I looked at people differently – I noticed the shape of their noses, the wrinkles on their skin, the way they held themselves. And my job became bearable for the short time I was there.

I hear from a lot of aspiring illustrators who are incredibly frustrated that they have not ‘made it’ yet. The truth is, you’ve never really made it at all – it is always a journey and there will always be things you don’t like about your job. I have now swapped serving tricky customers in a supermarket for dealing with many via email! Instead of working out people’s change, I now work out how much tax I owe. There is never going to be the perfect job – yes, even when it is something you want to do. The bonus, of course, is that you’re working towards much more fulfilling work.

Acknowledge your work is temporary

You don’t have to do unfulfilling work forever and acknowledging this fact is helpful. You may want to set yourself goals for when you can realistically change roles. Give yourself career ‘check ups’ to see if you’re on the right path. If you’re working part time to pursue a creative path, what goals can you put in that align with this? Do you need to work on your portfolio? Send mailers out? Do a course? Don’t just expect to post work on instagram and get hired, be strategic about how you plan to evolve.

If you have other goals it’s easier to mentally cope with monotony and be present in the moment, not continuously hoping something great will come along for you. Success comes through hundreds of baby steps, not a lightning bolt moment. Stick with the hard times and the good times will come, but have a plan.

Opportunity knocks

Sometimes opportunities do not look how we expected. My ‘lucky break’ into the creative industry was another dull job operating print machinery, but it enabled me to learn how to use design software and understand print processes. In turn, this led me to another job that involved more design skills, artworking the most incredibly dull brochures. These jobs weren’t perfect but a step in the right direction, providing me with vital skills and inspiring me in ways I least expected. The point is, there may be people you meet within your current roles who can introduce you to other opportunities or who may give you ideas for other things. Remain open to possibilities where you’re at right now. Be present. You never know what’s around the corner. Other than a long supermarket queue…

Are you currently working a part time job to support your work or studies? What has helped you to find creativity in the mundane?

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