How do they do it? How do artists, authors, and creative people keep the juices flowing? Where do they keep coming up with so many good ideas? That blank white canvas can be so overwhelming!
Stay tuned for 10 ways you can keep the creativity flowing.
What? You said you're not creative so why keep reading? Do you ever write e-mails, plan a small birthday party, have dinner guests, plant flowers, go on a road trip, or teach?
Okay good,stay tuned...
10 Ways to Boost Creativity
Stress is the number one killer of creativity. Just about every project is going to have a deadline of some sort so the potential of stress is always there. If pressure helps you finish a project that doesn't mean this is an irrelevant point, stress and pressure are two different things. You can use pressure to your advantage, but don't assume that you must work under pressure to get good results.
2) Take long walks outside
There are two greats points here, 1) exercise, 2) nature. They will work best done together as nature and exercise are great stimulates for creativity, but they can work alone as well if you are unable to do one or the other. Imagine you are writing a short story and you are stuck on a characters behavior. Stop, go outside for a walk and some fresh air and then come back and work it out.
3) Put away your phone/device
Your smart phone is what is smart. Your smart phone is making you dumb. If you want to get creative put away google, messenger, and all forms of research and just think.
4) Be aware of your surroundings / Engage with people
Good characters in books are realistic, beautiful pictures come from places you've seen with your own eyes, party decor might come from another room or another object that could be taken apart, a good letter is full of events that have been happening around you. Be alert to your surroundings, take it all in. Talk to people face to face. Get deep in your conversations. Be curious.
5) Read, Read, Read
Reading the works of other creative people will get your own creative juices flowing. Especially if you want to write, you must read other good writings. If you want to draw or paint, look for books with good illustrations.
6) Don't try to multitask
Multitasking does not get more things done, it gets more things started. Set aside time that you can focus fully on your book, art, e-mail, lesson planning, etc...
7) Keep a notebook
Good ideas come at crazy times, so keep a small notebook and pen with you at all times. Jot down notes and then look back at them later when you are stumped for ideas.
8) Accept failure
It takes practice to get good at something, so be sure to schedule in several failures before getting the product you want.
9) Find your spot
Do you need an office space that is quiet and keeps you secluded? Do you need to sit in the park and be surrounded by people? Find where you work best and then do what you can to be there when you are ready to work.
10) Take away your options
We have too many options today, options that don't develop creativity. We buy groceries when our cabinets are still full, we buy clothes for special occasions when our closest are bursting, we try to write a book with too many options laid out in front of us. You will become more creative when you are forced to be creative. Push aside the clutter, run yourself out, scrape the bottom of the barrel.
Do you do any of these? What am I missing? What ways do your creativity take you - art, writing?
Sarah
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