I am a massive proponent of routine and have spent years working to design my day exactly how I want. At the same time, I recognize that having so much structure can sometimes limit creative thinking; we can get stuck on auto-pilot.

We take the same route to the gym. We eat the same meals at the same time, from the same restaurants. Every day we talk to the same people and friends. Sometimes our routines can hinder our ability to develop new skills and think creatively.

Some structure is critical, but mixing up your work environment and daily movement–going for a mountain bike ride in a new trail system, for example– can increase your brain’s effectiveness, which will aid you in increasing information retention and becoming more successful.

Here are 3 actionable tips to help you mix up your routine and increase your ability to think creatively:

Take your work on the road: I love to travel. I love to experience new foods. I love to explore new places. I love to meet new people. Life is short; it’s meant to be lived. For me, travel is a critical component of living my life on my terms. I find travel to be like active recovery. Most times it is more exhausting than being at home in my controlled environment. But I will also come home refreshed and reenergized; I am excited to get back into the swing of things and full of new ideas. 

Pro-Tip: *If you are setting your out of office, give yourself an extra day after you return home to catch up on your inbox. People always appreciate when you get back to them sooner than they think. 

Move Your Desk. I used to meet someone every morning at 7 a.m. for a cup of coffee. This forced me to explore the cities where I lived and got me to constantly vary my office. Next time you’re stuck, take your work to a local coffee shop, or move around your office–from your desk to the kitchen, break room, etc. The change in venue could be the spark your brain needs to retrieve new information or process existing information in a new manner. 

Give Yourself a Break: My best ideas never come to me when I am actively working; it is the reason I incorporate so much training, conversation, and movement into my work days. The active “distractions” allow my subconscious to create new solutions. A lot of times, the reason we are unable to solve a problem is because we make assumptions that prevent us from seeing the full picture. In order to find a solution, we need to distract ourselves because it loosens up our brains and allows us to let go of the original assumptions that steered us in the wrong direction. The next time you are stuck, go for a run, take a sauna, or go share your problem with someone in a totally different industry. 

Chances are you are not going to find the solution to your problem sitting at your desk.