15 Ways to Boost Your Creativity

You know how some people are just naturally creative?  I am always in awe of that.  I kind of have to work at it.  I like doing creative projects–but they take a little effort.  I am always glad I put the effort in, though, because creativity is therapeutic.  It makes you kind of feel original and unique, even if it is just for a minute.

So, if you want to get your creativity on, whether it is at work, home, or otherwise, here are some easy ways to give yourself a boost:

1. Read.  Yep, sometimes the best ideas come from being informed.  You may get an amazing idea to fill a niche that you’ve read about, or an idea on tweaking an already existing idea to make it better.  Either way, “the more you know, the further you’ll go”–or at least, that’s what the commercial on the Saturday morning cartoons always said.
2. Meditate.  It sounds all new wave, but sitting in complete silence takes effort, and when you actually achieve it, it opens up your mind to possibilities that would have been silenced had you never given yourself a moment of peace and quiet.
3. Exercise.  Exercise releases stress and endorphins.  The better you feel, the more apt you are to come up with original and doable thoughts.
4. Listen to music.  Ever heard of the Mozart Effect?  Studies have shown that listening to Mozart boosts people creativity and concentration.
5. Get out and socialize.  New people bring new perspectives.  New perspectives bring new ideas.  Keep your social circle fresh.
6. Start a new hobby.  Challenging yourself with something lends itself to creativity.
7. Eat anti-oxidant rich foods {think:  blueberries}.  They boost your brain function, which leads to…drumroll please:  creativity.
8. Practice.  Sometimes, you got to put a little work in to perfect your “creativity.”  Write everyday, play an instrument religiously, paint, whatever, just make sure to practice and hone your skill so that you have the ability to get creative with it.
9. Block out time for creative endeavors.  Whether you’re crafting or dancing, carve some time out of your day to pursue it.
10. Drop your expectations.  Try, if possible, to drop any expectations you have of an outcome.  It will lead to disappointment.  Leaving your mind open for any possibility makes pretty much any attempt a success {in that you can learn and adapt from it}.
11. Research.  Learn everything you can about your creative activity.  The more you know, the more you will find ways to be innovative.
12. Jostle your routine.  Try to do something everyday that is a little out of the ordinary.  Start shopping in the back of the grocery store and work your way forward.  Try a completely new dish or food each week.  Expand your mind {imagine me saying that in a very Yoga-like way}.
13. Brainstorm.  When  you are stumped on how to move forward, brainstorm with someone.  Don’t feel like you are using their creativity to “be creative.”  You won’t implement it exactly as they would have anyway.
14. Give yourself restrictions.  For example, as an exercise, if you are  a painter, try painting with only 2 colors.  The restrictions will force you to see your outlet in a new way.  It will force you to get, well, a little creative.
15. Consider other people.  When you create, imagine  you are doing it for someone else.  It spurs you to bend the limits and push past just okay.  Studies show that when people are doing something for someone else, they tend to put more effort it and demand more from themselves.

How do you get your creative on?  What helps you when  you hit a creative wall?

~Mavis