Apathy is the enemy of creativity. As the summer season kicks in it is all too easy to find ourselves on autopilot. Whether boiling our brains on the Northern Line, or navigating the mental gymnastics of summer childcare logistics, summer can be a difficult time to maintain momentum. For creativity and curiosity to thrive we need rest and inspiration. Be it recommending a book, a breathing method or developing a craft, this summer BITE is asking leaders to share how they are making the space to nurture their creativity and find their pace.

Alex Stolerman, Managing Partner, Growth at Forsman & Bodenfors London, describes the importance of making time for yourself during the summer months to avoid a slump.

This time last year, my daughter was 8 days old and I was facing the prospect of a summer of sleepless nights, hazy days and bleary eyes. Fast forward 12 months… I live with a crawling hazard, the agency I work for is fresh out of a merger with a Swedish counterpart and we’ve left the hubbub of Tottenham Court Road for the quiet(er) shores of the Southbank. Or put more succinctly, it’s been a year of significant change. And so as I consider what avoiding the summer slump looks like, I do so through a different set of eyes.

Becoming a dad has meant a recalibration of priorities - and nurturing my creativity and curiosity has definitely slipped down the charts. But 1 year in, I’m realising that in order to be the best dad/husband/version of myself, I have to find time for ‘my thing’ (nurturing my creativity and curiosity sounds a little grand).

And for anyone that knows me, it will come as no surprise that ‘my thing’ is running (my wife argues I love it more than her - insert awkward emoji face).

Although she is categorically wrong, my passion for the act of left foot in front of right foot (and repeat) does play a pivotal role in my existence. In my late 20s, having just moved to the US, running was about finding stability and establishing discipline. In my late 30s, running is about community, friendship and understanding myself a little better. It isn’t necessarily what nurtures my creativity and curiosity, but it without doubt creates the conditions for me to want to exercise those muscles. It’s a moment where I can process my thoughts, breathe and take in my incredible surroundings - I don’t think I ever fully appreciated how iconic and inspiring London is until I ran it. It also provides me with a perspective on life and living, and makes me grateful for everything I have.

And so to anyone who is contemplating dabbling in ‘yogging’ this summer, I encourage you to go out and explore the streets, as it might just be the thing that helps you avoid the slump.