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.

Richard Dennison, Executive Creative Director at The Ninety-Niners, encourages stepping out of adland and changing perspective to renew creativity during summer downtime.

Our industry is always on and ever-more competitive. So it’s not a case of avoiding a summer slump, more a case of ensuring you spend some time in the real world. You know, the one the other 99% of the population lives in.

So lift your head up from your phone.

Take a break.

Play with your kids.

Read.

Listen.

Watch.

Walk.

I find getting out of the Adland bubble is the best way to make sure your ideas and executions cut through when you jump back in.