Alexander Sandberg

The plant on my desk, which was a gift from my girlfriend. It really brings the workspace to life. It’s a Bird of Paradise and her name is Baby Brie—named after our 2-meter-tall one, Brie, in the living room. You will have to wait for our AD Magazine feature to see that one though!

I believe a great way to spark creativity is by being bored. Boredom activates your mind and it becomes creative. However, nowadays, there’s always something around to entertain you. If we’re always fleeing to social media and the like, there’s no space for creativity to flourish.

To spark creativity, I try to encourage boredom in my everyday life. For instance, instead of taking out my phone while waiting for the elevator, I try to let my mind wander. It's not always that easy though.

Funny you ask—I’m actually working on an app to help with that called Balance.

I’ve been working from home since the pandemic started, but struggled with finding a good balance. I often spent long, uninterrupted sessions at the computer where I forgot to take breaks—and eat even.

Balance recently launched after being in beta for a few months and I’m overwhelmed by the attention it has gotten. It seems like I’m not the only one needing an app like this!

I’ve also recently started with a computer-free day on the weekend, which has been really nice. It gives me time for other hobbies and things that I otherwise rarely make time for, like reading, building puzzles, and redecorating the home office.