How to Increase Creativity
Raise your hand if sometimes you feel like you’ve used up all of your creativity for, like, the rest of your life… is your hand up? Cool. Me too. I wouldn’t classify myself as a naturally creative person, but I want to be (and for my job certainly need to be!) so figuring out how to cultivate creativity when I can’t seem to find it, has been a such a helpful tool when I’m feeling fresh out of ideas.
For the past week, I’ve started my mornings by reading a few chapters from the book “The Big Moo” by Seth Godin. It’s a collection of short chapters written by various creators and entrepreneurs giving their best business advice. It’s a great way to spark creativity and get motivated first thing in the morning. Many of the tips are super helpful, and often written in a playful, conversational tone. I’ve been loving it!
One chapter I read that really stood out to me was called “Get Out!” and it talked about how to increase creativity when you feel like you’re stuck in a lull. The writers simple tips highlight just how important it is to mix up our surrounding and the content we consume in order to keep our ideas fresh and abundant. Check out the three tips below!
Get out!
1) Get out of your comfort zone
When we become comfortable with our roles, we are less inclined to seek out ways to innovate or improve. When you try something new (and even scary!) you force yourself to engage parts of your mind, body and emotions that don’t get exercised on a daily basis. Find small or big ways to get out of your comfort zone as often as you can!
Here are a few ways to do this: Go hiking or biking somewhere new. Sign-up for an improv workshop. Try throwing pottery or taking an art class in a style you’ve never done before. Go to an event that is related to your industry and challenge yourself to make new friends and connections. Write. Sing. Take a dance class. Go on a trip by yourself.
2) Get out of your frame of reference
Intentionally engage in something unfamiliar and see how it helps shake up your thoughts. Our brains naturally form pathways and connections between our different thoughts and habits. What we think about and do often will become deeply engrained in our brains. This is great for making common projects easier and less mentally draining, but it can also cause us to get stuck in those patterns. Doing something new, or just doing something differently, can help you build new pathways in the brain and spark new thoughts and ideas!
Here are a few ways to do this: If you usually read books, try listening to them instead. Go to an new coffee shop, grocery store or restaurant. Cook something you’ve never eaten before. Listen to a new style of music. Watch a foreign film.
3) Get out of your own skin
Stir up your passions, dreams and the projects that are rolling around in your mind. Take one step toward a goal you’ve had for a long time. When we allow our big dreams and ideas to gather dust inside our minds, we miss out on the opportunity to explore something that could be truly incredible. Even if what you’re thinking of feels silly or incomplete, let your ideas get out of your head and into your life!
Here are a few ways to do this: Tell a friend about a goal you have and ask them to keep you accountable on working toward it. Turn your thoughts into a song or poem, or simply write them down. Get involved with a community project to work on something outside of your own life. Commit to trying something you’ve been interested in doing for a while, but haven’t taken the time to try yet.
What’s one way you can use these tips to increase your own creativity this week? Let us know in the comments below!!