Daily Habits To Boost Your Creativity
Most people believe that creativity is something we are born with, an innate talent.
But creativity is just a skill like any other. A skill that requires practice.
While we may think of creativity in terms of playing an instrument, painting a masterpiece, or writing a novel, creativity is actually about finding new ways of solving problems, approaching situations and the ability to challenge traditional assumptions.
Deepak Chopra said it best, ''Instead of thinking outside the box, get rid of the box''.
So, how can we boost our creativity and find new ways to solve problems?
By embracing the creativity mindset; one of curiosity, persistence, belief, and growth.
Here are some simple ways to get those creative juices flowing:
1.) SLOW DOWN & TAKE MORE BREAKS
Ever notice that when you're in a rush, you block your creativity? In our hectic, busy and overwhelming schedules, we have no room, time or space just to BE. We’re programmed to want to do more. But this doesn’t leave any room for our mind to wander.
When we take regular time out of our day to slow down by taking breaks, we clear our minds, remove our blocks and our creative juices start to flow. Ever notice that some of your best ideas come to you at random times, like in the shower, on your commute or just before you go to sleep?
When our mind takes breaks, it continues to work on our ideas subconsciously, enabling us to organise our thoughts. I get all my best ideas meditating, journaling, practicing yoga, in the car or in the shower.
2.) FREE-WRITE
Do you get up in the morning and start thinking about everything you have on your to-do-list that day? Or jump right into your work as soon as you sit down at your desk? Instead, start your day with a free-write.
In her book The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron suggests starting our day by writing out 'Morning Pages’. This is three pages of longhand, about anything and everything that comes to mind. The idea is that we clear our mind, release our creative flow, and reduce anxiety. Try it!
If you struggle with what to write about, here are some ideas to get you started: write about your dreams, a problem you have, a shopping list, 3 things you're grateful for, 3 things you hope to get out of your day or write some positive daily affirmations.
3.) RELEASE YOUR INNER CHILD
When we were children, there were no limits to our creativity. We saw everything as an adventure and let our imagination run away with us. We didn’t hold back.
But as we get sucked into the world of ‘adulting’, we forget to play, and we become self-conscious. We start doubting our ideas, become fearful of ridicule and start to believe that we’re not good enough.
Instead, channel your inner child; let go of inhibitions, rules and responsibilities and be willing to take risks to push your creative limits. Don’t take everything so seriously; play more, laugh more. Be silly. Question everything. Be curious. And above all, believe in yourself and your ideas.
4.) CHANGE IT UP
Changing our surroundings helps to encourage new ways of thinking and gives our creativity a massive boost. This simple trick has helped foster my creative thinking in all areas of my life - as a coach, a project manager and as a parent. Especially when it comes to problem-solving and coming up with new ideas or strategies.
Take advantage of flexible working arrangements by alternating between office and home. If you have your own business, try changing things up by going to the library, a coffee shop, or the park, or try a co-working space. If you don’t have much control over your work environment (i.e. stuck in the office), try working in different areas; a breakout space or meeting room, or sit with different colleagues at lunch.
I regularly do all the above, but my favourite thing is to take a walk outside and pop in my headphones. By combining a change of scenery, getting outdoors, exercising, and listening to ambient music, I get a supercharged boost of creativity, all at once. Research shows that they all help to facilitate divergent thinking. Winning!
5.) PUT ON YOUR ‘THINKING CAP’
As kids, we were often told to ‘put on our thinking caps.’ This usually indicated that it was time to think seriously about how to solve a problem (usually some horrific maths equation).
In 1985, physician and author Edward de Bono took this idea and incorporated it into his brainstorming technique called ‘Six Thinking Hats’. This method identifies six different ways of brainstorming and approaching problems, each represented by six coloured ‘thinking hats.’
You can use this technique on your own, wearing each ‘hat’ to find all possible options or solutions, or you can use it as part of a team, each wearing a different 'hat' and approaching all aspects of a problem together.