Most people assume that “Creativity” runs in the blood. But, what if I told you otherwise? What if, I told you that everyone has the same amount of creativity?
And all you need to do is, know how to light that tiny flame that will unleash a torrent of inspiration you require to finish that project.
I find creativity in the littlest of things. Be it, writing on a post-it note, or telling a story to my dogs. You don’t have work that hard to be creative. Here are some easy tips to help you tap into that box of ideas in the corner of your mind.
1. Constantly Doodle.
It doesn’t have to be perfect. Let it be a cookie, or a nuclear reactor… just draw it! Drawing anything, something will give you new and fresh ideas. You’ll become a more keen observer.
READ MORE: 10 SIGNS YOU ARE A NATURAL BORN ARTIST
2. Read more books.
Not only will you gain some valuable insight, but it will also take you to another world. I have created an account on Goodreads. And I’ve even set a goal to read 50 books this year. I’m super stoked and I can’t wait to actually hit my goal!
3. Call a friend.
It will make you happy, bouncy and might just light that spark of inspiration you needed to finish your chores. I usually call my best friend (who lives in another city) once a week, and we chat for a good 2-3 hours.
4. Listen to music.
Music relaxes and stimulates the mind. It could give you the inspiration you need to start a new project.
5. Take a quick nap.
A tired mind is incapable of brainstorming, and napping usually always makes me feel refreshed.
6. Keep a Dream Diary.
Keep a notepad and pen at your bedside table. You have no idea how many dreams have been the solution to my life’s problems. Unfortunately, they all happen at around 3:00 am. So keeping a diary/notebook by my bedside table has actually helped me note down dreams/ideas.
READ MORE: 35 THINGS TO DO WITH A BLANK NOTEBOOK
7. Constantly ask yourself Questions.
This will help you expand your mind. A little curiosity never hurt anybody. (Not speaking for that one particular cat)
8. Cook something new and exciting.
Try out that recipe which has been handed down generations but is lying locked away in your kitchen drawer.
9. Watch a movie.
It can be a Classic, an animated movie or a foreign film. Either way, it will help your mind take a long and much deserved break.
10. Paint.
The colors and shapes will fuel your creativity.
11. Take up a new hobby.
Life is short and you should enjoy it.
12. Carry a notebook everywhere you go.
At any unexpected moment, an idea might pop into your head. Be ready to take it down. I have 2-3 notebooks that I use for different things.
If you love drawing and writing in notebooks, I have a few interesting posts you might like to read:
- 35 Things to do with your Blank Notebook
- 15 Things to do with your Notebook (if you’re a Blogger)
- 10 Beautifully Illustrated Books that teach you to journal
- 7 Stationery Brands No Woman can Resist
- Best Feminine 2019 Planners for Ladypreneurs
13. Learn a new language.
You can choose to learn just the basics or go all the way. Have you tried Duolingo? It’s a brilliant app that you can download on your phone. I was able to brush up on my French.
14. Play a video-game.
Slashing zombies is a wonderful way to not only pass time, but to increase your reflexes and give you a little experience. (In case, zombies take over the world and all)
15. Drink a glass of water.
Your brain should always be hydrated, in order to work amazingly well.
16. Go out for a walk.
That catchy window display might make your day a wee brighter. I usually find interesting things to draw when I take a walk outside. Just the color combination of someone’s outfit or some hot samosas in a street vendor’s cart will light up my mind.
17. Tidy up your desk.
An organized desk, will de-clutter even the mind. There are times, when I have major art-block. And re-arranging thing clutter on my desk actually makes me feel loads better!
18. Browse Pinterest.
If you’re looking for fresh ideas and inspiration, this is your best bet. And if you’re looking for a creative buddy, you can follow me! I pin creative pins everyday!
19. Go somewhere new.
Don’t take that boring old route for your morning jog. Turn left. Or right. Venture new places!
20. Play with your pet.
Your pup is lonely and just wants some love. Don’t deny her your affection. After all, she lives her whole life for you and only you. (No, this isn’t blackmail)
21. Sing while you do your chores.
It will keep your spirits uplifted even during the most mundane of chores.
22. Research randomly.
Research articles on line. I love reading articles about Lifestyle/Health/Fitness/Design/Marketing/Blogging when I’m bored. And it really help me increase my efficiency, when I’m coming up for ideas, or trying to work a pitch for a deadline.
23. Don’t be afraid to fail.
You can’t be perfect, no matter how much you try. Cut yourself a break, a maybe a big slice of chocolate cake. Yum.
24. Daydream.
This is probably one habit, I was born with and can never get rid of. Random thoughts strung together will help you land on one that is extremely useful.
25. Write down a fantasy.
This is just for fun.
26. Drink your favorite tea.
Relax your mind and your throat with a nice old fashioned cup of freshly brewed tea.
27. Have an open mind.
This is very crucial if you want to be creative. You can’t dismiss an idea because it is too modern or not to your liking. Being open minded helps you connect with different people and together you can achieve something beyond your wildest dreams.
28. Dance.
(like no one is watching –except your dog because she can’t tell anyone what she saw) 😉
29. Make an interesting list.
I love making lists. In fact, this blog post you’re reading is a list.
30. Share your ideas with friends and family.
They might add to your ideas and you will be fueled to get more ideas!
31. Watch an old cartoon.
This will not only kick in nostalgia but will also bring back many more ideas you may have stored away for a rainy day. Now that I have two dogs, I love watching Arthur with them.
32. Take a deep breath.
Do this when you’re angry, frustrated and have reached your creative block.
33. Cut out some magazine articles (that you love) and keep them in a box.
Open this box, when you are totally stumped. You may be surprised at how many you’ve forgotten about.
34. Forgive yourself for your past mistakes.
We are all human. Nobody is perfect. Learn to live with yourself and accept others for what they are. It will help make the world a better place
35. Reset your goals.
Wake up every morning and write down your goals for the day. It will help you keep a track of what you need to finish.
36. Listen more, talk less.
This one is a toughie for most people. But I learned, that if I talk less and listen more, I get to acquire so much knowledge. I get to observe people and learn from their mistakes. I become aware of people and my environment. This is very important if you want to grow your business.
37. Write a story.
You can do this when you’re stuck waiting for your partner to finish his shopping. I usually write down little stories that I make into comics later.
38. Light some scented candles.
This relaxation technique works wonders. The gentle dim flame helps your mind focus and concentrate better. Also, did you know that scent is connected to your memory?
39. Travel to exotic places.
Be it a religious pilgrimage or a relaxing holiday, this is the best way to unwind and have a fresh start.
40. Spice up your work desk with DIY fancy items and photo frames.
Yes, you do require some amount of creativity to make this happen. But today DIY is a fast growing hobby and not only is it fun, but it has beautiful results.
41. Focus on one thing at a time.
This is crucial to not only being creative but will also help you finish your projects. Take it easy. One step at a time. Break big projects into little parts. Completion should be your ultimate goal.
42. Wear clothes that you love.
Don’t be afraid to show who you are and step out to dazzle the world. I’ve recently started developing a liking towards clothes. And I want my clothes to reflect my personality. So, I take extra effort in picking out what I like.
43. Solve a sudoko puzzle/crossword.
Nothing beats training your mind to do something harder.
44. Try something new.
Don’t be afraid to take risks. Learn to say “Yes” more often.
45. Laugh at yourself once in a while.
Taking criticism constructively will help you grow as a person.
46. Be thankful for everything you have.
Gratitude promotes self-contentment.
47. Go to a factory and learn how something is made.
*Chocolate Factories can be your number 1 Option*
48. Get a good camera and learn to take photos.
This is one hobby that will take you very far in life.
49. Look out the window.
This will relax your mind and help you come up with great ideas.
50. Practice Yoga.
I’ve never tried yoga until recently, and I realized that it improved my posture and flexibility to a great extent. Simple breathing exercises can result in wonders to your overall system.
What’s your favorite way to light up your creativity? I’d love to know!
READ MORE: 23 SURPRISING WAYS TO OVERCOME CREATIVE BLOCKS THAT ACTUALLY WORK!
I really hoped this list helps you overcome whatever obstacles are blocking your path to awesomeness. Don’t forget to subscribe below so you never miss out on future blog posts and little promo codes to my new product launches.
Good one, very inspiring!!!
Thank you! 😀
Love,
Ang
Love these. My mom always sings and dances while she does chores, it’s really cute and helps to motivate her.
Thank you Shannon. Glad you did. My mum would play music while she ironed and I’d sing along. The good ol’ days… 🙂
Lots of love,
Ang
Great list, many I already do but some great reminders too! Loved the link to the interesting list, I love list writing ?
I’m really glad this helped you. 🙂 I’ve never tried list writing, until recently; and it really helps me pour out my feelings and keep track of a lot of my preferences! Have a lovely day!
Lots of love,
Ang
Great tips! I have been feeling like my creativity flow has been a bit slower (stifled?) of late so I could definitely do a few more of these things more consistently. I’m off to read my book!
That happens to all of us Artists, at some time or another. This is exactly why I wrote this post. To help us overcome writer’s (or artist’s) block. It is important for us to focus and come up with great ideas. Glad you loved this post, and thank you for your lovely comment! 🙂
Lots of love,
Ang
Great ideas! I love all of them and could and should do them a lot more than I should but I get caught up in the hustle of everything and getting stuff done.
I guess most of us do. I am so wrapped up with family and work, that I rarely manage to make time for myself. Even if it is just for a few minutes, I always make time to read a little bit of a novel. It takes me ages to complete one, but it makes my day so much more awesome and I feel fresh and rejuvenated. Glad you enjoyed reading it, thank you for your lovely comment.
This is such a nice read! It brought me many ideas (and creativity 😉 ) just by reading it. I used to daydream a lot but I kind of got out of the habit! I really should get into it again, it is great for coming up with interesting subjects Thank you so much for the great article!!
~ Sofie
(p.s. Your comment section looks really cute, I love these lines)
Daydreaming is one pleasure, no one should lose. It takes you to another world all together! 🙂 So glad you loved these and they proved useful you. Thank you so much for your lovely comment.
Lots of love,
Ang
P.S.The comment section comes with the theme I use.
First time over here Mary Angela, or is it Angela Mary??
Love this post n firing up your creativity it will certainly get the
juices going to do some creative marketing.
Thanks for sharing
Hi James,
It’s Mary Angela, whereas in reality, my name is Angela Mary. I respond to both, though. Thank you so much for your lovely comment. So glad it helped! Loved going through your blog as well. 🙂
Great post!! So many different ideas. This is wonderful. I’m definitely going to keep some of these in mind. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much Hera for the lovely comment. Glad I could be of some assistance.
Lots of love,
Ang
Great list!! I definitely do some of these, but didn’t think of them as ways to fire up creativity! Like drinking a cup of tea 🙂
Some of my great ideas have stemmed from drinking a cup of tea. Glad you liked them Kasey, thank you for your lovely comment. 😀
So many great ideas here! I definitely need to change things up whenever I’m feeling less creative and these are all great ways to do that. And my dogs always appreciate an extra play or snuggle too haha.
Hello Jackie,
So glad you loved the ideas. And dogs are just precious. They never get tired of playing. Lol. Thank you for your lovely comment.
Lots of love,
Ang
This is so inspiring. Every post coming from you and the great ideas that you share are a great motivation to keep going. Thaaankoyuuu. I am surely going to follow a lot of them to boost up my creativity levels.
Hello Tim Toons!
Thank you so much, I’m so glad you love it. <3 You definitely should. I'm going to focus a lot more on my blog and try bring as much valuable information as I possibly can. <3
Lots of love,
Angela