Everyday Creativity
Creativity is a tricky thing. It’s not like you can just grab it and shake it out of a bottle, and often we feel that we’re at the mercy of our creative impulses.
But did you know that creativity is actually something that you can practice? It’s true! In this post, we’ll explore ways to get your creative juices flowing on a regular basis —no more running out of ideas or feeling stuck in an endless cycle of boring thoughts.
So why is creativity so important? We’ve seen that it can make you happier, healthier, and more productive (see this post for more on the benefits of being creative). But there’s another reason that creativity is vital: our world needs it. Creativity has been shown to positively impact your ability to problem-solve, and it can help people feel more engaged with the world around them. So whether we realize it or not, we’re all in this together.
It doesn’t really matter what you want to create—the methods below will help you get started. And remember, it’s always worth the effort to put your ideas down on paper—even if they’re “bad.” Some of my worst ideas have turned into some of my best projects.
Get in the right mindset
You might think that you don’t have time for creativity, but this is just an excuse. Even small changes in your schedule and environment can help you experience a mental shift that will help you get in a more creative state of mind. Here are some easy ways to see if you can make some room for creative thinking:
Turn off your phone/computer . I know it sounds simple, but this one little trick can help you free up your attention. Your phone/computer are so easy to turn to when you’re looking for something to do or if you’re bored. But if you take that away, suddenly there’s just a little more room in your mind for creativity. Try it!
. I know it sounds simple, but this one little trick can help you free up your attention. Your phone/computer are so easy to turn to when you’re looking for something to do or if you’re bored. But if you take that away, suddenly there’s just a little more room in your mind for creativity. Try it! Go outside . It doesn’t matter where you go; the important thing is that you get away from your normal environment. It might be a change as small as sitting in your backyard instead of on your couch, or going to a new coffee shop, or even just taking a short walk in an area that you’re not used to.
. It doesn’t matter where you go; the important thing is that you get away from your normal environment. It might be a change as small as sitting in your backyard instead of on your couch, or going to a new coffee shop, or even just taking a short walk in an area that you’re not used to. Take a walk . Sometimes, you just need to get out and exercise. It doesn’t matter where you go—just set aside some time just to take a walk in the sunshine. Exercise helps “reset” your brain and body, and it makes us feel better about what we can accomplish that day.
. Sometimes, you just need to get out and exercise. It doesn’t matter where you go—just set aside some time just to take a walk in the sunshine. Exercise helps “reset” your brain and body, and it makes us feel better about what we can accomplish that day. Meditate . Meditation helps bring your focus inward, so that you can turn your attention to finer details in your life. It might be hard to get started, but once you’re at it, it’s a great tool that you can use pretty much anywhere.
. Meditation helps bring your focus inward, so that you can turn your attention to finer details in your life. It might be hard to get started, but once you’re at it, it’s a great tool that you can use pretty much anywhere. Sleep . This one is another biggie, since getting enough sleep is good for just about everything—including your creativity. You can read more about how sleep affects your brain in the recent study on how sleep impacts creativity.
. This one is another biggie, since getting enough sleep is good for just about everything—including your creativity. You can read more about how sleep affects your brain in the recent study on how sleep impacts creativity. Have a few hours free. One of the reasons that it’s hard to be creative is that we often feel like we don’t have enough time. And so, our creativity goes in the backburner. So set aside some time just for yourself and see what you can accomplish.
Set a goal
One of the most powerful ways to be more creative is to set a goal—it makes you think about the end-result of your project, which forces you to think outside of the box and come up with big ideas that you might not have thought of otherwise. Even if your goal is something simple, like coming up with a new design for business cards, setting this type of goal helps keep you motivated and focused on your project.
Here are some ways you can set a goal:
Create something , even if it’s just a little doodle. If you give yourself some of your free time to just play around and make quick sketches, you’ll probably come up with something interesting that eventually turns into something less creative-but-not-boring. Draw a little picture of your house or your dog on a napkin, or write down a description of your day in progress because you suddenly realized that what’s going on in your life right now is actually pretty interesting.
, even if it’s just a little doodle. If you give yourself some of your free time to just play around and make quick sketches, you’ll probably come up with something interesting that eventually turns into something less creative-but-not-boring. Draw a little picture of your house or your dog on a napkin, or write down a description of your day in progress because you suddenly realized that what’s going on in your life right now is actually pretty interesting. Brainstorm .
cONCLUSION
Get in the right mindset by turning off your phone/computer and getting outside. Set a goal that keeps you motivated to reach it. And, if you come up with an idea that you want to act on, try to put it in writing. Documenting your ideas is a great way to get more done and make sure that you’ll definitely have something to show for it!
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Photo by Yoav Dudkevitch on Unsplash
What are some ways that you can be more creative? I’d love to hear about them! Leave a comment below or send an email to contact@nataliekeye.
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Everyday Creativity