Creativity is for everyone – it isn’t just for artists, musicians, writers, or photographers. We use creativity in our everyday lives, whether finding solutions for problems at work or cooking dinner, or anything.
I personally use creativity tools and skills throughout the day. Many of them have become second nature, and creativity has become a way of life.
Creativity can do so much for us! Here are some simple habits that have helped me become more creative:
Morning Pages
When I was healing from creative burnout, I found the daily practice of morning pages to be healing. There’s nothing better than it for clearing away the mental clutter and using it to spark creativity!
The magic here is that it gets rid of all the icky, internal thoughts, which makes room for creativity and reaching our greater potential. Thank you, Julia Cameron, for sharing with us such a helpful tool!
Walk in Nature
This activity works in two ways. First, being in nature is grounding, which can spark creative thought. Moving our bodies can do the same thing. When we walk in such a beautiful and meditative environment, it can make room for some freer thinking. This can spark inspiration.
Say it in Pictures
Our journals aren’t only for writing with words. We can saw what we need to say in pictures! For me, this means doodling and photography, since I don’t take a lot of pleasure out of drawing. (I don’t know how to do it!) This activity activates our brains in a different way.
Get Inspired by Reading
Reading can change our perspective and open us up to new ideas. To tap in, it helps to read a lot. On any given day I could read some poetry, news snippets, articles on a favorite blog, and even a novel. I also vary the subjects. I feel that this practice opens my mind to be more creative. It gives me new connections, information, and insights that I wouldn’t have otherwise gotten.
Change Locations
What happens when you feel stuck? When my energy feels stagnant, I like to change my environment. This could be spending some time creating in a coffee shop, changing rooms in my house and even going outside. A change of scenery does wonders for my creativity.
Learn to Be Mindful
Do you feel blocked creatively? It could be because you’re spending too much time in your head. To tap into a more creative state, you need to learn how to be more mindful and present. You can do this by practicing meditation or doing the “in the present” journal exercise. To do the exercise, set the timer for ten minutes, and then write about what is happening around you by using all five senses.
Creativity isn’t just for those we think of as truly “needing it”, like artists, musicians, or writers. We can all use creativity every day to solve problems, heal our energy, and enhance our lives. These tips can be practiced every day to build the creativity habit.