Have you ever wondered how to be creative in your everyday life and spark new ideas effortlessly? Anyone can develop creative skills daily. Whether you want to solve problems more effectively, have a creative mind at work, or enrich your personal life, nurturing creativity is essential.
This article will discuss practical strategies to unlock your creative potential, enabling you to bring fresh, creative ideas and innovative solutions to everything you do. By incorporating these techniques into your daily routine, you will realize that the creative process is not an occasional spark but a way of life.
Understanding creativity
The whole world around us can be viewed from different points of view. Creative work can be an idea you express, a solution you propose, or an opportunity you find. It is the ability to combine the incompatible, try new perspectives, leave your comfort zone, and embrace the risk of failure.
In his book, ’Steal Like an Artist, ’Austin Kleon says:
"Creativity is about taking risks, and doing things that make you uncomfortable."
Today, there is much evidence that companies value creativity — experts have found a strong connection between creativity and financial performance. According to a 2023 Lytho study, 89% of professionals believe creative work is vital to achieving business goals.
There are several basic psychological features of a person that characterize their creativity:
High level of intelligence: Make sure to distinguish this from the level of education since some great inventors didn’t have a high level of education. Let's remember Edison, for example.
Flexibility of thinking: Logical and analytical thinking are needed for problem-solving, and we have already encountered this. The need for flexible thinking arises when circumstances change, and you are dealing with something new.
The creator’s life position: This is confidence in your choices, rejection of stereotyped thinking, excellent imagination, and a great need for freedom of self-expression. Also, it is the ability to see a new essence in a long-known subject and generate creative juices for its transformation.
Common barriers to creativity
The use of template approaches is a severe barrier to the development of creativity. To overcome it, it is necessary to decide on at least minor changes in everyday behavior, habits, and daily routine.
Stereotypes, including age, profession, gender, status
Excessive focus on approval, including the desire to do right and a neurotic need for approval
Low self-esteem
Criticism
Stress factors of the current situation
Overcoming the fear of failure
Often, people are unaware of their desires but are simply afraid of not meeting the commonly imposed standards or scenarios of a "successful life." A person can depend on public opinion, and if they don’t meet specific standards or live up to other people's expectations, this can lead to intensely negative experiences and the perception of failure as a personal defeat.
Overcoming the fear of failure helps develop analytical abilities and an understanding of your needs. Desire is formed in a conditional place in the human mind. Learning to look at yourself from the outside is essential to understanding its origin and controlling the fears associated with failure.
"The only way to find your voice is to use it." – ’Steal Like an Artist’ by Austin Kleon
"You don’t need to take a lot of time, or wait until you’re in the right mood. You just need to get started." – ’Steal Like an Artist’ by Austin Kleon
Actionable tips to boost creativity
Creative thinking requires practicing, improving, and experimenting with original ideas. Ultimately, different tactics work for each of us. Here are three simple things you can start doing to awaken your inner creative potential.
Daily practices
Creativity can be a ritual added to your daily routine, such as exercise or healthy eating. Find time each day or week to engage in creative activities you enjoy. Allowing your brain to enjoy and explore creative space will help strengthen it when you need to "turn on" creativity in other areas of life.
Freewriting is considered writing everything that comes to mind without the rules and standards of conventional writing. It is unnecessary to edit such a text. Most often, it needs to make more sense. But rereading it with a "fresh mind" in search of creative thoughts can be helpful.
Freewriting is not about excessive mental stress but about expressing thoughts on paper in an accessible format. Allow the flow of thoughts, and refrain from limiting yourself to lexical or grammatical norms. This will only slow down the process. The faster you write, the less chance you give analytical thinking to criticize the text. It's a great way to look at a situation differently and give your brain the green light for the most creative, unique, and daring decisions.
"The universe buries strange jewels deep within us all, and then stands back to see if we can find them." – ’Big Magic’ by Elizabeth Gilbert
Doodling not only relieves stress but also helps people understand new information better. During a meeting or a phone conversation, we often pick up a pen and scribble something on paper, such as an unconscious drawing. This is not because of boredom but because it is easier for the brain to maintain concentration and remember information. There are no rules in doodling. Patterns can be both abstract and thematic. You can apply and combine classic drawing techniques. In this technique, neither the paper nor what the drawing is applied to is essential. You can use colored or simple pencils, pens, markers, felt-tip pens, or liners. Listen to favorite podcasts or book summaries in the Headway app, take a beautiful sketchbook, and start your creative endeavors, combining the pleasant with the useful.
For years, people have used journaling as a way to relieve stress. In-depth research by American professor Joshua Smith has shown that written emotional expressions can significantly improve a person's physical health, psychological well-being, physiological functioning, and overall functioning. You might have seen stylish and beautiful diaries on social media, but that doesn't mean yours has to look like them.
Ideas and inspiration can sometimes come to us at unusual times and places: in line at the store, at the bus station, or in the middle of the night. Your journal doesn't have to be just words. Do not hesitate to conduct it in a free form: draw, make diagrams, paste photos, use watercolors, and make collages. Everything depends on your imagination because sometimes words are not enough.
Mindset and lifestyle
Solitude has mental health benefits and positively influences mind wander and creativity.
It is a freedom of self-discovery and allows you to focus on your thoughts, emotions, and aspirations without external influence. It helps to define your values and set priorities, considering only your inner feelings.
Researchers have found that social isolation increases activity in neural circuits associated with imagination. When the brain lacks social stimulation, it activates its capabilities to fill the void.
So, go for a walk. Imagine yourself as a tourist—plan a route, visit a place you have long dreamed of, or visit a museum. To make the walk more pleasant, turn on your favorite playlist. Use your alone time to recover and do something you enjoy. It can be drawing, self-care, dancing, or knitting.
“A river of material flows through us. When we share our works and our ideas, they are replenished. If we block the flow by holding them all inside, the river cannot run and new ideas are slow to appear. In the abundant mindset, the river never runs dry.” ― Rick Rubin, ’The Creative Act: A Way of Being.’
“Ideas are always coming through. And an artist is free to release them with the faith that more will arrive. If we live in a mindset of scarcity, we hoard great ideas.”― Rick Rubin, ’The Creative Act: A Way of Being.’
Environmental changes
It has been proven that body movement stimulates our mind. A simple walk or bike ride can spark ideas and inspire you to think creatively.
Nature serves as a great reset. Constantly staring at your computer and phone, bombarded with information, can overwhelm your mind. Take a walk in a local park or go on a short road trip. Unplug from your phone and allow your mind to relax. Disconnecting from the rest of the world can help break free from a creative rut.
“Of all the great works that we can experience, nature is the most absolute and enduring. We can witness it change through the seasons. We can see it in the mountains, the oceans, the deserts, and the forest. We can watch the changes of the moon each night, and the relationship between the moon and the stars.” ― Rick Rubin, ’The Creative Act: A Way of Being’
Leveraging сreative tools and techniques
Creative thinking can be developed through learning and training. Try new things, don't fear experiments, and develop creative thinking. If you want more, learn how to generate fresh ideas and find unusual ways out of difficult situations.
Brainstorming
Brainstorming is a technique for generating many ideas in a short time, and mind mapping is a technique for visually organizing and structuring those ideas. During a brainstorming session, participants freely generate ideas without preconceived structure or order. Once the brainstorming session is complete, the ideas can be organized and structured using a mind map.
"Divergent thinking is about generating as many ideas as possible, no matter how wild or impractical they may seem." – ’Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All’ by Tom Kelley and David Kelley
Mind mapping
Mind maps can help you organize and understand detailed knowledge, making it easier to study and learn. They can also be used to take notes and summarize information, making it easier to review and digest information.
"Visualization can be a powerful tool in the creative process, helping to clarify and organize your thoughts." – ’Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All’ by Tom Kelley and David Kelley
Brainstorming can be used as a team-building activity to encourage collaboration and creativity. It is often used in product development and innovation to generate new ideas and concepts.
"Instead of narrowing your focus, widen it. Allow all possibilities to be on the table." – Rick Rubin, ’The Creative Act: A Way of Being’
Here are some exercises that will help stimulate your brain and train your creative side:
In one minute, write the maximum number of ways to use napkins/candles/bread, etc.
Set aside 30-45 minutes for the creative activity you liked most in childhood. This activity can be drawing, appliqué, sculpting, or writing poems.
Delusion generator: List what, for example, a webinar and a bear have in common (at least 10 points!). Or feet and pictures.
Unusually perform an ordinary task. It can be anything: do with your left hand what you usually do with your right, go to work by a different route, and change your interface settings.
How art can spark creativity
Art is a window into the past, allowing us to study and understand historical contexts and cultural changes. Through art, we can share stories and experiences, and it promotes compassion and understanding between different generations and cultures.
Art evokes emotion, challenges perception, and encourages conversation. Art allows us to express ourselves and, at the same time, find a common language with others. Self-expression, self-awareness, and the development of emotional intelligence are all facilitated by art. Creating or consuming art develops creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills.
Art therapy, in particular, is recognized as an effective way to improve mental health. Through painting, sculpture, or other art forms, people can work through their psychological trauma, find peace, and improve their emotional well-being. When we create art, we lift our spirits, improve our problem-solving abilities, and open our minds to new ideas.
Professor Semir Zeki at the University of London claimed that when we look at great art, our brains are stimulated in the same way we are stimulated when we fall in love. Art increases dopamine levels, a neurotransmitter that helps control the brain's reward and pleasure centers.
In-depth solutions to creative blocks
If you are still in a creative rut or encounter other obstacles on your way to unlocking your potential, here are some tips on how to deal with them.
Overcome your fear
"I don’t want to be afraid of bright colors, or new sounds, or big love, or risky decisions, or strange experiences, or weird endeavors, or sudden changes, or even failure." – ’Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear’ by Elizabeth Gilbert
In her book, ’Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, ’ Elizabeth Gilbert suggests that fear is the first and main obstacle to a creative life, which does not necessarily have to be the life of a great writer or actor.
Take a walk
"The best way to get over a creative block is to walk away from it." – Austin Kleon, ’Keep Going: 10 ways to stay creative in good times and bad.’
Kleon advocates the power of physical movement, like walking, to clear the mind and spark new ideas. Stepping away from work can also help reset your thinking.
Create a “bliss station”
"You need to have a place to go to be creative. A place where you can be yourself." – Austin Kleon, ’Keep Going: 10 ways to stay creative in good times and bad.’
A “bliss station” is a dedicated space to focus entirely on your creative work. This space is free from distractions and designed to inspire you, making it easier to get unstuck.
Stay playful
"Play is the work of the child, and sometimes the work of the adult, too." – Austin Kleon, ’Keep Going: 10 ways to stay creative in good times and bad.’
Embracing a playful mindset can help overcome creative blocks. Kleon suggests that approaching work with a playful attitude can open up new possibilities and alleviate the pressure to perform.
Further learning and resources
These books can help you boost your creativity and learn more about the comprehensive development of your personality. This book list inspired this article. Dive deeper.
’Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear’ by Elizabeth Gilbert
Creative life is a much broader concept. It is a life driven by curiosity, not fear. Although the paths and results of a creative life differ for everyone, I can guarantee you one thing: a creative life is a fulfilled life. Life is fuller, happier, more spacious, and a lot more interesting. Living this way constantly and persistently extracts hidden gems, which is already an art. Great magic never disappears from creative life.
’Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative’ by Austin Kleon
“Your brain gets too comfortable in your everyday surroundings. You need to make it uncomfortable. You need to spend some time in another land, among people that do things differently than you. Travel makes the world look new, and when the world looks new, our brains work harder.”
“Read deeply. Stay open. Continue to wonder.”
The author builds the book on the theory of healthy inspiration. It's about finding ideas and tools to help you create your style. Thanks to examples, illustrations, and tips, you will learn to process and rethink other people's ideas and make your masterpieces.
Nothing is original, so embrace influences, learn from others' work, remix, and reinvent to forge your path. Follow your interests wherever they lead you - what seems like a hobby can become your life's work. So search, imitate, create!
’Keep Going: 10 ways to stay creative in good times and bad’ by Austin Kleon
The book aims to help individuals overcome creative blocks, navigate challenges, and produce meaningful work despite obstacles. Kleon recommends establishing a daily routine or ritual to maintain a consistent creative practice.
’The Creative Act: A way of being’ by Rick Rubin
The Creative Act: A Way of Being offers 78 philosophical reflections on being an artist and creator. Rubin emphasizes that everyone is an artist, offers mental frameworks for creating and overcoming obstacles, and helps readers understand how to operate as an artist. He delves into the creative process and how it shapes our lives.
Rubin draws on diverse sources such as philosophy, psychology, and spiritual practices to explore the nature of creativity, the role of intuition and inspiration, and the importance of embracing failure and uncertainty.
"The act of creation is not about making something out of nothing, but about uncovering the hidden truth that already exists within you."
Rubin revolutionized the music industry by merging popular and underground music and creating an innovative sound. He achieved critical and commercial success, receiving numerous awards such as a Grammy, an honorary degree from New York University, and Hitmaker of the Year at Music Week's 2020 Awards.
’Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All’ by Tom Kelley, David Kelley
This is a valuable book about design thinking, which is discussed more and more now. Design thinking means finding the middle ground between technology (feasibility), business (viability), and people (desirability). Apple, Google, General Electric, and leading companies use design thinking. However, more than one technology is needed to develop a successful product. At the center of their development, they put a person in and, at the same time, apply empathy. This helps them better understand the real needs of people and develop products that meet their needs.
The best news is that design thinking can be developed, of course. The book describes the methodology for developing innovative solutions.
’Awaken Your Genius’ by Ozan Varol
Varol emphasizes that genius involves more than intelligence; it's about perspective and the courage to act on unique insights. His main message is to stay curious and open-minded.
"Genius isn’t about being the smartest person in the room. It’s about seeing what others don’t and acting on it."
Cultivating curiosity and openness to new experiences and ideas is crucial for unlocking your creative potential.
"Curiosity is the engine of creativity. The more curious you are, the more doors you open to innovation."
Unlock your creative potential with the Headway app
Creativity isn't a rare gift; it's a mindset and yours for the taking. You can develop your skills and deepen your knowledge with our best creativity, art, and design book list. But many may think that this is a ton of information! Yet, Headway knows how to help you.
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